The start of my blacksmithing journey

Hi, my name’s Joe Hughes. I’m a young blacksmith, learning and experiencing the craft of blacksmithing and metal work. I’ve learned a lot in the short time I’ve been forging. For example, about the way metal moves under the hammer and anvil, and how with the intense heat steel becomes like clay, soft and malleable.

It all started when I came across Alec Steele’s YouTube channel. I was fascinated. I watched lots of his videos and I knew I wanted to have a go. So, my dad organised a blacksmithing lesson for us both, with Master Blacksmith Bill Smith of Alcumlow Forge. After that, we decided to build a forge in Dad’s back garden and start forging - which was easier said than done! The forge had to be built on a large reinforced concrete slab with re-bar and fibers - it ended up being 7 inches thick! We decided to make the shed part out of wood, as it would be more aesthetically pleasing and wood was easier for us to get hold of.

I started actually making things in the forge in June 2019 and I’m producing all my work out of there now. It’s a great place to learn and develop my skills and it has all the perfect tools I need so far (although, as you probably already know, you can never have enough tools!).