Skill Leveling

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         As part of my continual self-improvement crusade, I've decided to try out blacksmithing. There are local forges throughout Utah that offer courses for reasonable prices. The forge I went to offers classes in three-hour blocks.

         Why blacksmithing? I thought it would be a great skill (or even just for the exposure). Back in the mid-2000s, I used to play Runescape with my siblings and friends. One of my favorite skills was smithing. I've always leaned towards skills that most players hated to spend time grinding. In a way, it's almost like I'm turning a boyish dream into reality 20 years later.

         Ultimately, I hope to practically utilize this skill and even forge sentimental gifts for friends and families.

         I learned how to make an S-hook and a bottle opener. The lesson did feel like being hosed by a fire hydrant. The class included safety, tool usage, and proper posturing/positioning. Even though it felt overwhelming, doing it was the best way to learn the trade.

         The hook I made is on the right. You may not see the difference between my work and the blacksmith. If you look closer, you will notice the finer details.

         Here's the comparison between the bottle openers. The blacksmith made it with a more noticeable bent. The functional part of the opener also has a better finish and smooth transition compared to mine. The good thing is, mine works nonetheless.

         Not bad for a first-timer. The color difference is due to the finishes I applied. For the bottle opener, I used brass and beeswax. The brass gave the color, and the beeswax made it more rust-resistant. For the S-hook, I used oil. The oil gave it a darker hue. If you ever want black armor, that is one way to go about it.


         It was three hours of hard work, and I liked it. I plan on taking more lessons to hone my skills. The forge I went to offers lessons on toolmaking and knife making. They also offer even more specific instructions depending on what you are trying to make. Seasoned practitioners could rent time to use the shop during the blacksmiths' work hours for a price.

         I will keep you all updated.



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23 comments
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Bang, I did it again... I just rehived your post!
Week 103 of my contest just started...you can now check the winners of the previous week!
!BEER
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Now get a !BEER and put your new bottle opener to good use.

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Not a drinker myself, but I do have bottles I can open.

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Thank you for your witness vote!
Have a !BEER on me!
To Opt-Out of my witness beer program just comment !STOP below

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I saw the difference in the first photo , then you say that your hook is the one on the right , well you 're the student , the other hook has the s at the end more closed , I think you take advantage of the 3 hours invested , when reading I feel motivated you and it is the most important thing when it comes to doing what we want
I wish you a happy weekend

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When do you get to fold steel hundreds of times to make the Honjō Masamune?

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When I become better than my teachers.

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boys never grow up I guess :P we just get bigger and more expensive toys :)))

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Great work @enforcer48. I can't imagine the time and effort put into producing the bottle openers. I kind of have the experience of working in a mechanical workshop when I was studying Electrical and Electronics Engineering at a Federal Polytechnic here in Nigeria. We had a mechanical course in which we had practicals and one of the practicals was working in the workshop in producing a bottle opener which some also did a key holder. It was fun and at the same time very challenging. We had to do lots of hard work to finally produce the bottle opener.

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Making the indent (the functional part) was the hardest step.

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Wen till we see you forging blades with glowing rocks attached emanating unholy energy?

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The harder you pray, the faster it’ll happen.

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