How to get into wrought iron design

Wrought iron is worked iron, or iron being repeatedly worked under a hammer. It consists of iron and a slag that is glass-like and contains siliceous slag. This article provides a guide on how to get into wrought iron design.

Become a blacksmith

Traditionally, wrought iron is the metal that blacksmiths used in their trade. While it is true that it can corrode of not properly protected, its long life is also evident in its presence at old graveyards and outside properties in the form of wrought iron fencing. To get into wrought iron design, the first step is to become a blacksmith. You may do this by joining a blacksmith and working as an apprentice. A directory of blacksmiths in the UK is available at the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths. If you wish to become an industrial blacksmith, then you can do an apprenticeship in engineering as well as NVQs in Fabrication and Welding. If you prefer, full-time courses are also an option. With this training, you will gain useful information that will help you in your pursuit of wrought iron design.

Continue your training

Work with a blacksmith or join a company that hires blacksmiths. Learn all that you can while being there, and work with wrought iron. The training you have had in the previous step will help you in learning more about the metal and how to work with it - shaping it as you wish. You can learn to make smaller designs with wrought iron such as hooks, hinges, and other decorative details.

Work on your own

As you feel more confident in your skill, you can take on your own forge. There, you will be able to do the work you enjoy with wrought iron. Take on projects that require you to either help or fabricate decorative wrought iron details for houses and gates. Maybe you can even work with architects who require wrought iron finials or iron art or iron railings on the buildings that they design. You may also find that you will be able to work with historic properties that will need to have custom-wrought iron gates and other metal designs created to replace those that have been damaged. In this way, you will be working with wrought iron design.