What anvil should you buy?
How much do they cost?
How big should your hammer be?
This page is dedicated to answering those questions and providing links to the best online (and offline) resources for getting your blacksmith shop up and running.
Let’s get into it!
Blacksmithing Equipment Reviews
Anvils
I use two NC Tool Company 70 lb. anvils in the shop. My students use them on weekends in class and I forge hardware on them during the week.
They can take a beating and they’re my #1 recommendation for an inexpensive, well-made anvil.
They’re also easy to come by online. Here are a few places to find them:
Forges
At Brown County Forge, we use a Two Burner Blacksmith’s forge from Forgemaster.
It’s very similar to my first gas forge, the Whisper Momma from NC Tool Co.
Between the two, I’d recommend the durability and lower price point of the Whisper Momma.
For the potential for Free shipping with Amazon Prime, you can find it here:
For full details and specifications, go straight to the source at nctoolco.com.
Hammers
No need to get fancy when you’re first starting out. My original hammer is the same one I use today (pictured above fresh from the package).
It cost $28 in 2011 and I still use it every day.
Vaughn still makes the hammer (as of this writing the head is painted blue) and it’s about the same price almost 8 years later.
Tongs
I use a wide variety of tongs in the shop, but my favorite style is the bolt tong.
I have different sizes and configurations from Picard, Centaur Forge, and Blacksmith’s Depot.
The Picard Wolf Jaw tongs pictured above are a very sturdy, versatile piece of equipment.
When you’re starting out you don’t need a ton of tongs. Just one pair will serve you well. So you want something sturdy to start.
As you go farther down the road, you’ll start adding more sets to your collection.
Thanks for reading! With these 4 essential items, you’ll be well on your way to forging in no time.
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