Resources for CBA or ABANA Level 1 Certification
This reference guide was created using resources and content created by the California Blacksmith Association (CBA) or Artist Blacksmith Association of North America (ABANA) and their associated YouTube channels.
I created this reference because I wanted to gather materials for myself and my students. I will be adding references to books as well in the coming days.
This curriculum references a few different books. The book I will reference the most is Mark Aspery’s Mastering the Fundamentals of Blacksmithing Volume 1. There are also books by the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas (CoSIRA), and you can download them for free from the CBA website. If you would like a physical copy you can order from Abe Books.
I’ll use videos references in this post, but I highly recommend reading the blacksmithing books referenced as well as taking relevant classes through the CBA or ABANA. If you are in the SF Bay Area you can work on your certification during lab time at my blacksmith shop after taking a first time blacksmith class. Find lab times on my class calendar and contact me to sign up.
To begin your certification journey I recommend reading through the requirements on the CalSmith website and print out the student packet.
1.0.1 Safety
Every blacksmith shop may have their own specific safety concerns but there is a checklist for the CBA and national curriculum here. On page 2 Section 1.0.1. You can read in depth about safety on pg 5 of Mark’s book.
1.0.2 Nomenclature of the anvil, forge and vise
Some common names for the parts of a London Pattern Anvil
The horn is often referred to as the bick as well.
Diagram of a Coal Forge
Persimmon Forge made this great diagram with an exploded view of a post vise. It’s more in depth than you need, but is a great reference.
1.0.3 Types of Hammers and Hammer Blows
Here is a good video about different types of hammer blows.
The thing about a lot of blacksmithing vocabulary is that it varies in different regions and by different people. It’s good to have a place to start the conversation though.
I don’t have a good diagram or video to share with you about the different kinds of blacksmith hammers. So I guess I’ll have to add that to my to-do list. I continually update my blogs, so you can bet that it will eventually be added here. You can read about hammers on pg 27 of Mark’s book.
1.0.4 Tapers: Square, Octagon, Round, Chisel and Diamond
ABANA has this unnarrated video showing Mark Aspery drawing tapers. Truly in my opinion this is the best example of the technique but you also need to read the description in Mark’s book. It’s an older video, so it looks like it was recorded with a potato. His book has a great chapter on forging tapers pg 41-18.
This example by Black Bear Forge is also pretty good.
1.0.5 Forge Staples
1.0.6 Forge an S-Hook or Figure 8
I have to admit, I can’t find a video that I like on this subject. Everyone seems to be forging tapers in the middle of the anvil while making full contact with the face. I can’t recommend that as an example. I guess a video on the subject is needed.
Victoria Ritter wrote a really great article showing how she forges a figure 8 in the Nov/Dec issue of the CBA magazine pg 4 and 5
1.0.7 Forge a J-hook or a leaf
I made this video eight years ago and it holds up well. It doesn’t go into a lot of detail but I forge hooks the same way today as I did back then.
This is a video I made showing how I forge a rose leaf
Mark has a chapter on stylized leaves in his book on pg 51-57.
1.0.8 Handheld center punch or round punch
Again, Mark Aspery’s forging for ABANA is the most competently done, but there is no accompanying audio. However, if you know how to taper you should be able to follow along.
I am in the process of writing a blog called Heat Treating Made Simple. I start with the very basics, making it an easy to follow process and then write a more in depth explanation. I will have it published and linked here within the next few weeks.
1.0.9 Handheld Chisel
Once again, Mark Aspery’s book skills of a Blacksmith covers this in great detail. It is a pretty standard class that a lot of places associated with the CBA or ABANA teach. If you can get into one of those classes, I really do recommend it. For now Mark’s video also shows you how to forge a chisel.
You can find Mark’s instruction for creating hand tools, including the chisel starting on pg 61 in his first book.
1.0.10 Hammer Eye Drift
This video shows the project and specifications really well. One small piece of advice, is to treat your hammer and anvil like a set of dies. You’re trying to trap the approximate shape in between those dies. So pay attention to the angle your hammer is landing and ensure that your tool steel is making contact with the anvil as you forge it. Supported material means your metal will squish between the hammer and anvil, unsupported material causes bends, which means more time spent straightening.
Mark goes through the process of a hammer eye drift on pg 87-90 of his book.
1.0.11 Hammer Eye Punch
Black Bear Forge has a lot of good video tutorials. This is a good one for the Hammer Eye Punch in the CBA Curriculum.
1.0.12 Heat Treat Cold Chisel and A Center Punch
Derek does a pretty good job showing how to forge and heat treat a center punch. A cold chisel is essentially the same thing, but with a blunt two sided taper instead of a four sided taper. I personally prefer a smaller piece of steel for center punches, but it’s a matter of preference. I also sharpen the end of my center punches into a four sided pyramid, as it is easier to see such marks while the metal is hot.
The chisel and punch is shown in detail on pg 91-93 of Mark’s book.
1.0.13 Monkey Tool or Top Tool
A great video showing the tool for the CBA curriculum. Thanks again Mark! He goes into great detail about this tool in his first book pg 151-155
1.0.14 Forge a Handheld Fuller and a Simple Z-Fuller
Forging a Handheld fuller and a simple z-fuller. I’ll be honest with you, I’ve never made or used a z-fuller. I’m not sure how I feel about the design. I guess I need to make one and find out.
You can find detailed instruction written by Victoria Ritter in the Mar/Apr 2024 copy of the CBA magazine pg 4 and 5.
1.0.15 Forge a 5/16” tenon from ⅜” round stock
Another excellent video by Mark Aspery.
You can find a detailed explanation of this tenon in his book on pg 159-160
1.0.16 Round Drift/ Pin Drift
Once again, can’t beat Mark’s instruction.
1.0.17 Forge Welded Flux Spoon
This video shows the method and desired specifications for the forge welded flux spoon. As you create your spoon I would pay extra attention to the rounded shape of your spoon and create a long elegant handle. I found this to be a very fun project. I rarely use a coal forge, and the opportunity to do so many forge welds was a joy to me.
Mark has instruction for this spoon on pg 175-180 in his book
1.0.18 Forge Chain Links
1.0.19 The Gate Hook
Another little project that I found to be a lot of fun to forge and surprisingly elegant. I ended up using these hooks to hang some of the lanterns I had been forging. Here’s Mark’s video on the subject.
The Hammer’s Blow Magazine has a detailed instruction for the Gate Latch in the2023 Spring and Summer issues
That’s it! Good work. You’re on your way to your level 1 certification. You do need to be a member of the CBA or ABANA to get either certification and you need to get an instructor to approve your projects. All of this information is available because of those two organizations. It doesn’t cost a lot to join and it supports the continuation of our craft.
