It’s mighty hot in there:fun facts about blacksmithing

MONTREAL – Les Forges de Montreal, which teaches the ancient techniques of forging metal, is involved in a lease dispute with the City of Montreal. Some facts about blacksmithing:

— Traditional blacksmithing uses the four elements: earth (the iron); air (to increase heat of coals); water (to cool the metal); and fire (to forge).

— Coal forges in a blacksmith’s workshop reach temperatures of roughly 1,600 C.

— All that is needed to forge metal is coal, an anvil, hammer and borax powder (to prevent oxidation).

— Basic skills needed to learn to be a blacksmith are punching holes through metal, welding two pieces of metal together and cutting metal.

— Preferred metals are iron and steel because of their strength and durability.

— A good student can become a blacksmith in about three years.

— Source: Les Forges de Montreal