Blacksmith

?Job overview
?Blacksmithing is a trade in which people make axes, saws, screw drivers, spanners and other tools for heavy duty work.

?They also make weapons, locks and keys, all of which, although it is laborious work, calls for plenty of planning and designing.

?The blacksmith's trade is a traditional one, often passed on from father to son in a family business.

What do people do in this job?
?Much depends on what a blacksmith specialises in, for example designing and making locks.

?There are many aspects to the design of a lock, so it is best to learn all of them before starting to design locks oneself.

?For people who would like to work as a blacksmith it is best to get trained under a professional blacksmith and gain experience before they venture out on their own.

?What kinds of people are suitable for this career?
?A prospective blacksmith needs to have a good understanding of metal, how to melt it, sharpen it and what metals can be mixed.

?He also needs to know a bit of the chemistry of metals so that he can use that knowledge in experimenting. That is why working knowledge is very important.

?He needs to get himself employed as an assistant to an established blacksmith who may not specifically employ him as a trainee.

?As he works he will slowly learn the job.

?It may take a year or two to become a professional blacksmith and when he has achieved this he can choose to specialise in, making tools, armour, weapons, locks etc, or may choose to be a general blacksmith.

?A specialist probably has more chance of being employed in a big factory which is looking for particular skills.

?What qualifications are needed?
?On-the-job experience.