After bending the feet of his anvil while making metalwork pieces, blacksmith Will Branson had to stop using the 26-pound hammer he made. Branson and Charles Vincent spoke Friday to a small crowd at the North Idaho State Fair about forging.
August 23, 2025
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Forge talk ignites blacksmithing sparks at the fair
A piece of metal being forged can heat up to almost 2300 degrees Fahrenheit while it’s in the forge, but when shaping the metal, blacksmiths like Will Branson only have a short window of time to shape it into its intended shape before it cools too much to use. Whether it’s a hammer, knife or metal rose, understanding how to achieve the end result is an important step he instills in his classes. “We want to make the knife for the way you’re going to use it,” Branson said.