Shop safety for Blacksmiths 

When I first started blacksmithing about 3 or 4 years ago, I was a bit lazy about keeping the safety glasses on. That changed in an instant when a piece of hot scale bounced back and hit me directly on my closed eye lid. It left a scab that lasted weeks. If my eye was open at that time (if I hadn't taken just a split second to blink), I would probably be blind in my left eye. Please, everyone, always wear safety glasses. Always.

Love when there is someone that can properly explain basic safety, fire prevention and cessation without sounding like they hate it! Keep up the great videos!

Wow. Your very first tip about clearing your head explains why I have cut and/or injured myself so much in my knife and axe work. Seriously. I am an "over-thinker," almost to a debilitating degree. It's like you just gave me permission to not 'daydream' about life while I'm operating dangerous equipment. Thanks!

I also have a good burn scar on my ankle when some scale slipped down my shoe. I could have prevented it by wearing tall boots and pants instead of shorts and tennis shoes. Live and learn.

I am now in the process of making a firecabinet for all flammable solvents, paints, and other garage items to be stored in after having a full blown idiot attack that included my grinder and some gunpowder I forgot I had stuffed on a shelf. This is not a day anyone wants to have in their shop. I got lucky and didnt lose the shop or my life however I am not taking any more risks and will be building a shop specifically for blacksmithing in the coming months. In the meantime the garage will be made dummy proof and I strongly advise everyone to go through every nook and cranny in their shop and search for forgotten items that pose a threat. I have since found concentrated glass cleaner. Fire tested it and it is extremely flamable. It isnt always the common fuels and solvents that pose a risk when it comes to fire safety. Check everything!!!!!

On hearing protection, they have some very nice options out there, especially for hunters. Some actually enhance hearing while filtering out harmful noise. But of course you'll pay for it. Thanks for an important video

You have my utmost respect. I appreciate that you take the time to explain how to minimize injury.

Hi, Recently found and greatly like your RU-vid episodes. Numerous experiences have helped me appreciate your experience and recommendations. I’m a retired family physician who worked in rural Maine, much of my practice involving people who do physical work. I also worked, for the past 15 years, for a disability insurance company, reviewing medical records of people applying for disability benefits. Personally, I’ve experienced a few musculoskeletal injuries, surgeries and physical therapies, and have learned a lot from them. I worked for two years, in Malawi (Central Africa), in awe of what people were able to do with “almost nothing,” resonating with your comments about historical and prehistorical smithing and anvils. I liked this episode, about working reasonably and safely in the shop. You did a great job of being upfront about what comments were based on your experience and your decisions about your own care, and might not be endorsed by the medical profession. Your repeated recommendations for viewers to follow the advice of their doctors, rather than your advice, were appropriate and valuable. Doesn't mean the doctors know best, but it's important to get that disclaimer out there. I’d like to share some thoughts I had while watching that episode. Writing this does not indicate any unhappiness with your presentation. I thought enough of that episode that this feels like having a conversation with a colleague, rather than standing up in a class and lecturing (the “colleague” issue is interesting; if I get another life, I’d really like to be a blacksmith/machinist and musician; I do some tinkering, so your show and comments about working safely are valuable to me). In this life I submitted to my first love, medicine. Now I can move on and be a blacksmith/machinist musician when I grow up. • Tendinitis of the elbow: Technically, “lateral epicondylitis,” inflammation of the point at which forearm extensor muscles (extend the wrist, bending it up away from the palm) attach. Repetitive, forceful extension of the wrist causes and aggravates this condition. I got a nasty case, left arm, lifting pieces of firewood on to a stump for splitting with a maul (did not want mechanical splitter, with kids around), when I was late doing it one season and had to do several cords quickly. Rest, ice, massage, and ultrasound all helped; very valuable to recognize that resisted extension of wrist causes and aggravates this, so if you have it, try to use opposite muscles (picking up things, as much as possible, with palm up and flexing the wrist, uses the forearm muscles that attach at the inside of the elbow (medial epicondyle) rather than the outside (lateral epicondyle); when pulling, pull with wrist flexion, rather than extension); I had several setbacks when something important, and heavy, started to fall and the only way I could grab it was with palm down and wrist extension taking up the sudden load (think of full iron skillet falling off a stove when you already had a grip on the handle); each episode set me back weeks; eventually got back to normal and planned my wood splitting better, ever since. • Hearing protection: With and without fixes to reduce anvil noise, I could guarantee you’re having some hearing loss. Hearing loss due to noise exposure starts in the high frequency range and is often not noticed until it is severe enough to get down into the speech frequencies and you start missing things people are saying. I’ve had loads of people come into the office from the local mill or a life of shooting and chainsawing and want me to clean the wax out of their ears because they recently noticed hearing difficulties. Surprise, no wax! Unfortunately, the hearing loss from noise exposure accumulates over the years, from numerous sources, and is permanent. I’ve always had some hearing loss in the speech frequencies, so have been religious about avoiding loud noise exposure when I could, with earplugs in my toolbox, car (lost some hearing left ear driving particular car, for years, with loud wind noise when driver’s window open; started using earplug left ear when realized this), shop, etc. If I have to drive a couple of nails into a live board the earplugs go in, even for a couple of shots with the hammer. If your ears ring after a loud noise, even for a couple of seconds, you’ve done some damage. The noise does not have to be particularly loud: constantly exposed to the whine of a motor at a constant pitch, even if not loud, will cause damage to the nerve endings that pick up that pitch; I would also expect the recurrent ringing of a hammer blow, at the same pitch, would do the same thing. I use earplugs when I vacuum around the house, mow the lawn (even with electric mower), etc. I’m 73 and just started using hearing aids because my high frequency loss from age and noise exposure finally connected with my inherited mid frequency (speech frequency) loss and became a real problem. Ironically, I now take out my hearing aids to put in earplugs, or use hearing protective muffs over my hearing aids. So, do the best to muffle your anvil and other tools, AND use earplugs and/or protective earmuffs. For me, it’s always a great experience, taking a break from loud activity, to remove my earplugs and suddenly hear all the small sounds in the woods, my shop, yard, etc. If you need to prove it to yourself or others, I advise getting baseline hearing test (free at Sam’s Club and other places); if it’s normal, be happy, repeat every several years, AND use hearing protection. • Eye protection: I have seen too many people with eye injuries due to pieces of wood or metal (especially with grinding) that ricocheted off their cheeks then hit their eyes in spite of wearing eyeglasses. Regular glasses don’t cut it. I have to use reading glasses for close work, so I took the temple pieces off a pair and glue-gunned them inside real safety goggles. If not doing this, consider a face protector over your regular glasses, but be sure it goes low enough to avoid ricochets. You can get prescription safety goggles but they’re more expensive than glue-gunning an old pair into safety goggles. • Eye protection II: Long term exposure to hot materials, especially red-hot (infrared radiation) can cause cataracts: glassblower’s cataracts, foundry workers, blacksmiths, bakers, etc.; IR protective eyewear needed • Tendinitis: Excellent recommendations but I also tell patients to change what they do every 30-45 mins, if possible; I’ll chainsaw for a while, then physically handle the results of my work, refill gas & oil, take a leak, sharpen the chain, get a drink of water, etc. Splitting wood, I’ll do a bunch and then take a break to throw it into the shed, stack it, rearrange last-year’s left-overs so they’re used first, etc.; this gives changes of postures, muscle groups used, etc. (unfortunately, did not prevent my one lateral epicondylitis episode that hung me up for months) • Gripping: It takes a stronger grip (more stress on joints, tendons) to handle something small, with force, than something large. Try turning a tough screw with a screwdriver that has a slim handle, and then try with a larger-handled screwdriver. Patients with muscle weakness and/or severe arthritis can get special cooking and eating utensils with thicker handles, to allow appropriate use with less gripping force needed; I’ve got my share of hand arthritis and often use thick gloves to handle tools with less need for strong gripping, while being able to use the tools with the same effectiveness; you mentioned roughing up a hammer handle with coarse sandpaper for a better grip; I wrapped the handle of my favorite (masonry) hammer in friction tape (start at the bottom, work toward the head), making it easier to grip and use; hammering with the tape and a thick glove is almost a dream. Non-blacksmithing tools like hoes and rakes can be fitted with tough, sponge rubber tubes to increase diameter and decrease need for strong grip. • JUST WALK AWAY!: Have seen too many injuries due to fatigue, inattention, rushing or pushing through to complete a job, etc. The most aggravating case was a carpenter who actually visualized himself removing his thumb and index finger on a table saw, just before he actually did it. That cost him a lot more than it would have if he had just shut it down and walked away, completing the job late. And I’ve seen too many fingers and hands damaged in logsplitters, after long, sweaty, tiring days of splitting, getting refreshment from a 6-pack (doesn’t take much when you’re fatigued and dehydrated), and wanting to finish up that last little bit. Listen to Kenny: “…know when to hold ‘em, Know when to fold ‘em, Know when to walk away, Know when to run.” Just sayin’ Dan Krell

Your point of view and your experience make it very easy to understand and above all they are inspiring to "get on board" so to speak. Thank you for your effort my friend. I ran in to my neighbors house after a grease fire was on her stove for a good little while. The top half of the "air" was black and the bottom half was shrinking fast. Two small household extinguishers later I was able to buy her enough time and evacuate her pets until the fire fighters came to save her house ! The fire was indeed licking the ceiling and roasting the cabinetry above the range hood. After getting treated in the ambulance for slight smoke inhalation I still think that I would NOT do it again just because it felt very dangerous only AFTER the emergency was over. My journey into metal working is underway after a lifetime of custom woodworking and I truly get a lot of value from videographers such as yourself. Advise is free, but it ain't cheap! -thanks again, and look for some of my work soon! 😃

As an aspiring smith I find your videos massively helpful. Thank you so much for posting them.

thanks John. We all need to take safety a little more seriously. It is a big part of my job at work and I do take it home with me. Again thank you.

I have a CO2 extinguisher, I got it just for the oil barrel fire senerio, would you recommend having an abc chemical extinguisher and water extinguisher as well? Or will the co2 do everything I need? Also I can get the co2 recharged for free or very little, so I’m not hesitant to use it if I need it.

great video, addressing issues that need to be talked about.

Hi would US military glasses qualify as safety eye protection

I utilize an enclosed forge that draws well, and have openings on all four walls for observers. (I work at a historical museum). I get the occasional puff of smoke, but all in all, the work area is quite clear. It always smells like a coal fire, but not smokey. My nose blows pretty clear at days end! Gross but a decent indicator. I do find that my sinuses/ throat are irritated at days end. Do you experience any such discomfort??? Thank you so much for all your videos and advice, Greg Tucker

Brilliant video thank u 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

I’ve made made mistakes in the past; this is great information. I couldn’t find the mask / respirator guide, and it looks like I’m not doing things as safely as I should. Could you consider doing a video on masks? Many thanks!

Thanks for addressing safety. With this and the gloves video, I really learned a lot.

As I am just beginning to pretend to be a blacksmith, I appreciate the safety info. Thanks

Thank you! This was a great overview!

Thank you for the great tips.

Great

Thanks a lot for this very important topic. You should bring a short safety instruction in every video, please. You save peoples health!

Hi would US military glasses qualify as safety eye protection

another good video john. I was unable to find a video on the respirator. Can you provide a link?

A must-have talk with any eager soul that rushes to get started and oft gets hurt while it could be avoided.

Top advice, many thanks!

Hi John thanks for a great video. When you say jersey gloves - do you mean 100% cotton or the Kevlar jersey gloves like at blacksmith depot?

Good point

Ahhhh.....I thought you had my helmet

Hi John. Have you done the additional video on dust control and respirators? I'm wondering if you have a specific, or even a general, respirator recommendation.

What are your thoughts regarding halon?

Listen Hall monitor anyone that is smart enough to create their own blacksmithing shop is going to be shop enough to understand the