Subject: Re: blacksmithing

From: [email-masked] (Dan Hughes)
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 1996 11:24:18 -0500

To Whomever,
I just punched the wrong button sent George Dixion's message without any
comment. That was not my intention. Sorry.
What I intended was to comment on the question, "What is blacksmithing and
what is it not?" My comment is that what distinguishes "blacksmithing" from
"whitesmithing", "silversmithing", tinsmithing", "goldsmithing", or just
"metalsmithing" is the material being used and to some extent the finish on
the material. "Black" refers to iron or steel "smithing" while retaining
the "black" finish. "White" refers to iron or steel or maybe pewter
"smithing" with a bright work finish (using files etc. to leave a bright
finish). The materials used in the other forms of "smithing" are obvious.
Traditionally the black finish resulting from "blacksmithing" iron or steel
comes from the oxide formed during hot forge work. How you define
"blacksmithing" is important to you. How the customer defines
"blacksmithing" usually depends on their level of sophistication and the
size of their pocketbook.