70th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion | Blacksmith The Blacksmith trade continues today. The blacksmiths at the Threshermen’s Reunion made various objects each day. “Black” refers to black fire scale, a layer of oxides that forms on the metal being heated. Blacksmiths heat pieces of wrought iron or steel until the metal becomes soft enough to shape with hand tools. The metal is heated in a forge fueled by coal, charcoal, coke, etc. As iron heats, it first glows red, then orange, yellow, and finally white. The ideal heat, forging heat, is a bright yellow-orange color. To learn more, see 70th Annual Threshermen’s Reunion | a 7 Image Story.
