When I started blacksmithing, I asked this question. What should I wear when I blacksmith? I think the question was really a vain attempt at wanting to look cool, and in reality, I’ve come to realize that when you blacksmith, all you need to do is wear clothes and protective gear to keep you relatively safe (not to make a macho fashion statement).
When you blacksmith you should wear clothing and protective gear that keeps you relatively safe. Wear clothing made of natural fibers like cotton and wool and use leather aprons for extra protection around sparks and open flame.
Blacksmithing by nature is dangerous. If you choose to blacksmith you choose to accept the fact that you will get hurt, that you will eventually get burned and that you can’t prepare for everything. That being said, yes, you should be smart and dress appropriately.
So without further ado, here are my thoughts on what to wear while blacksmithing.
Don’t catch on fire!
This is a tip I often see spewed about in online articles, and unless you’re wearing a grass skirt, I don’t think you’re going to have a problem with this.
That being said, it’s a good idea to wear clothes that aren’t overly baggy or have tassels or other accoutrements that might get near the workpiece or the forge.
Generally speaking, natural fibers like cotton or wool or even leather work well. The key term here is natural. Wear clothing made from natural fibers and you’ll be okay.
When was the last time you heard of someone catching on fire? That’s just weird.
Don’t wear clothing that melts!
Anytime you wear clothing made from synthetic material, you run the risk of melting said clothing if it gets too close to a heat source.
This is especially important when you’re working with an angle or belt grinder. When those sparks hit that golf shirt made out of polyester, that shirt will melt and shrink and left unchecked, burn.
In actuality, you will probably be no worse for wear, but your shirt will be ruined. The basic rule of thumb is to wear clothing that stands up to heat and sparks and flame.
Synthetic material is a no-go! Stick with cotton or wool.
The Blacksmith’s Apron
This is as good a time as any to bring up the use of an apron. I think a common misconception is that all blacksmiths always wear aprons, and that is simply not the case. In fact, the apron was likely made popular by western blacksmiths and not regularly seen in the rest of the world.
Even so, a quality apron is a great thing to have depending on the blacksmithing task. The premise of wearing any kind of apron is that it acts as a layer of protection between you and what you’re working with.
So, if you insist on wearing a grass skirt and a polyester golf shirt, make sure you wear a leather apron to protect your outfit from the heat!
All kidding aside, a good time to wear an apron is when forge-welding and grinding.
Forge-welding creates a maelstrom of sparks and if you use flux, it too will shoot out an all directions, particularly when you first set the weld. These fiery emissions aren’t terribly dangerous if you’re wearing the right clothing, but may leave your clothes discolored where the flux makes contact.
This is a good time to wear an apron, using a belt grinder is another.
My 2 x 72” belt grinder by Travis Wuertz can really get after metal and create a jet-stream of sparks when hogging material. Even if you’re wearing cotton, there is a chance that your shirt will end up looking like swiss cheese if you don’t wear an apron.
So while you don’t always have to wear an apron, it’s a good idea to keep one on hand for moments like these.
Protect your assets!
We’re talking about your eyes, ears, nose, throat, hands, and feet!
So far we’ve only talked about clothing, with the exception of an apron, but we might as well also talk a little about other protective gear.
Clothing is actually the easy part. Personally, I mainly dress for the weather. If it’s hot, I wear short sleeves and shorts. If it’s cold, I wear pants and a long sleeve shirt.
Blame it on my time in the army, but for me, Comfort is King!
Regardless of the season (and the outfit) there are a few things like eye-pro and ear-pro that I always wear!
Eye Protection
I know what you’re thinking, there are blacksmiths out there who don’t wear safety glasses! Yep, there are, but why take the chance! Protect your assets.
I have three or four safety glasses in the shop and a few of them are bifocal. The bifocal lenses are great when I need that extra bit of clarity for detailed work.
For grinding, I suggest using a full-face shield. Personally, I don’t think normal safety glasses are sufficient for the sparks that come off a grinder.
Ear Protection
Nowadays, ear protection is difficult not to wear! I’m talking about Ear-buds and Over-the-Ear Cans – both of which can connect to your phone via Bluetooth.
So when you’re working, you can listen to your favorite tunes, podcast, or audiobook. For that matter, you don’t have to listen to anything. They work the same with or without audio.
Nose & Throat Protection
No, I’m not suggesting that you wear a Kevlar neck brace and a face shield. Here, we’re talking about air quality. We’re talking about protecting your lungs.
There are certain things that you do in the shop which create noxious fumes and gases, like welding. Use an approved respirator and protect your lungs!
Other activities like grinding and sanding can also create an unsafe breathing environment. Always use your best judgment. When in doubt wear a mask.
Not using a respirator can irreparably damage your lungs and even lead to cancer.
Hands & Feet
This is a territory with a little more flexibility and best learned through experience in your own shop.
Gloves
In general, you will find three types of gloves in my shop:
- Gloves to reduce friction and provide a better grip
- Gloves to protect hands from radiant heat
- Gloves that shield the wearer when welding
Footwear
What type of footwear you wear is largely dependant on the job you’re doing, though in general, if you follow the western tradition of standing at the anvil, I would say that it is important to wear footwear that provides some protection while at the same time is comfortable.
Wearing uncomfortable boots can fatigue the body and reduce the amount of work you could get done during the day. My goto pair of boots are plain pair of steel-toed Carhartts. They provide protection, but at the end of the day, I wear them because they are comfortable.
Interestingly enough, there are blacksmiths in other parts of the world who wear sandals or nothing at all. In fact, they more than likely sit or squat on the ground as they work, and instead of an anvil, they use the head of a stake the size of an orange pounded into the ground.