Blacksmiths forge and repair metal parts; make striking and cutting tools; make, sharpen or harden drills; chisel; and perform custom work including ornamental railings, gates, grilles, and furniture.
Job Related Skills, Interests and Values
- Reading and interpreting engineering drawings/plans and weld-processes documentation to prepare the sequence of work
- Performing calculations and determining the type and profile of workpiece material
- Learning about and applying occupational health and safety knowledge to the job
- Gaining knowledge and expertise in metal pre-cutting, heat-treating, and forging technologies
- Cutting templates and tracing features on workpiece material; rough-sizing preliminary cuts so that completed layout conforms to job specifications
- Correctly using a variety of tools, including saws, presses and pneumatic tools
- Performing hot or cold forging of metals using appropriate tools and equipment
- Inspecting final products to ensure compliance with engineering drawings or job specifications
- Communicating effectively with customers, co-workers, and supervisors to get the job done
What Preparation and Training Do You Need?
- Secondary school diploma required; credits in math, science, and English recommended
- Completion of a 6,000-8,000 hour apprenticeship, including a combination of on-the-job training (5,280 hours) and industry approved theory
What's Your Future as a Blacksmith (600P)?
- Various specializations, including industrial, farm equipment, and ornamental/artistic
- Resurgence of interest in ornamental or artistic blacksmithing; these blacksmiths are usually self-employed
Wage Rate
Apprentice wage increases with skill and experience. Fully qualified workers earn an average of $25.63-$43.50 per hour.
Self-Rating
Blacksmith (600P)
| Ask Yourself: | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Do you have a valid driver’s license? | ||
| Do you enjoy learning about, mastering and applying different forging, heat-treating and metal pre-cutting processes and techniques? | ||
| Do you like looking at a diagram and figuring out how it comes together? | ||
| Are you able to follow Health & Safety guidelines? | ||
| Do you enjoy working with tools, different pieces of equipment? | ||
| Are you detail-oriented? Do you take pride in completing tasks perfectly? Are you a creative person? | ||
| Are you reliable, a self-starter and able to work with minimal supervision? Do you have great communication skills? |
If you checked YES to the majority of these questions, a career as a Blacksmith (600P) may be for you!
You might want to look at these similar trades as well;
- Welder
- Welder-Fitter
- Ironworker
- Industrial Maintenance Mechanic
- Composite Structures Technician
- Sheet Metal Worker
- Boilermaker
- Tool & Die Maker
Sheet metal workers fabricate, assemble, install, and repair sheet metal products.
Construction Boilermakers build, repair, test, and maintain all types of boilers, tanks, and pressure vessels. They also perform all types of structural and plate work on dust, air, gas, steam, oil, water, and other liquid-tight pressure vessels. Work may occasionally be done on scaffolds to repair and maintain existing boilers.
Pressure systems welders use shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding and flux cored arc welding processes to weld metal plates, tubes, and other structures in boilers and other pressure systems. They cut pipes and tanks and assemble these pieces, and may have to repair defective welds in boilers and pressure systems.
Industrial Mechanic Millwrights install, maintain, repair, and remove stationary industrial machinery, mechanical equipment, and automated and robotic systems. They most often carry this work out in industrial plants and factories.
Tool & Die Makers are skilled craftspeople that make, repair, and modify custom-made, prototype, or special tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and gauges to very specific and precise dimensions. The work involves the operation of lathes, grinders, and milling and boring machines.