The Blacksmith’s Toolbox: Drawing, Upsetting, Punching, and Drifting
Every blacksmith, from ancient times to today, relies on a small handful of core techniques to manipulate metal. Mastering these fundamental moves — drawing out, upsetting, punching, and drifting — is like learning the alphabet before writing poetry. They’re simple in theory, but incredibly powerful when applied creatively.
If you're just starting your blacksmithing journey, understanding these basics will set a strong foundation for everything you forge.
1. Drawing Out
Drawing out means lengthening the metal by hammering it, making it thinner and longer.
Think of it like pulling taffy — except you're doing it with steel, heat, and force.
How it’s done:
Heat your metal to a forging temperature (bright orange/yellow).
Strike along the length of the stock with angled blows, working systematically.
Rotate the piece often to maintain even thickness.
Common uses:
Making tangs for knives
Creating hooks or spikes
Reducing thick bar stock to finer sections
Pro tip: Use the edge of the anvil or a fullering tool to speed up the process by creating a controlled "crease" to hammer out.
2. Upsetting
Upsetting is the opposite of drawing out — it makes the metal thicker and shorter.
It's used when you need to add mass to a particular area of a project, like forming a robust hammer face or a knife bolster.
How it’s done:
Heat only the area you want to upset.
Stand the bar on end on the anvil (hot end down).
Strike directly downward to compress the metal back into itself.
Common uses:
Thickening stock for structural strength
Creating rivet heads
Building up material for future shaping
Pro tip: Upsetting can make your workpiece go crooked — reheating and straightening as you go is normal!
3. Punching
Punching means driving a hole through hot metal without drilling.
This technique is essential for making things like hammer heads, axe eyes, and any forged item that requires a clean hole without cutting the metal apart.
How it’s done:
Heat the metal to bright orange.
Place it on the anvil (or better yet, a bolster plate with a hole underneath).
Position your punch and strike it firmly.
Drive the punch halfway through, flip the piece, and punch from the other side to avoid "blowing out" the back.
Common uses:
Creating holes for tool handles
Punching decorative elements
Starting points for drifting
Pro tip: Always cool your punch between blows to avoid it sticking in the workpiece.
4. Drifting
Drifting means expanding and shaping an existing punched hole to the size and shape you need.
A drift is a tapered tool that enlarges holes while keeping them relatively smooth and aligned.
How it’s done:
After punching a starter hole, reheat the metal.
Drive the drift through the hole carefully, rotating it slightly to avoid sticking.
Work gradually to expand the hole without cracking the metal.
Common uses:
Making hammer eyes
Shaping decorative slots
Enlarging holes for joinery
Pro tip: Drifts come in many shapes — round, oval, square — matched to the final hole size you need.
Why These 4 Moves Matter
Nearly every project you forge — knives, tools, railings, artwork — will involve some combination of these four moves. Whether you’re thinning a blade, thickening a joint, punching a rivet hole, or drifting a hammer eye, mastering these skills will unlock creative freedom at the forge.
Instead of being limited by pre-sized stock, you’ll start shaping raw material into exactly what you envision.
Forging is problem-solving with fire and steel — and these techniques are your first and most important tools.
Final Thought
The beauty of blacksmithing lies in its simplicity and power. Learn to draw out, upset, punch, and drift with confidence, and you'll be well on your way to crafting pieces that feel alive with skill and character.
Fire up the forge — your next masterpiece starts with a few good hammer blows
