While most of us are buying things like jewelry and knives, junior Thomas Linsky is making them in his yard. Linsky is a student here at South who enjoys hobbies such as choir, reading and what might be least expected, blacksmithing. 

“Blacksmithing is the art of hammering metals, typically black metals such as iron, steels. Occasionally you do other works like silver [or] making jewelry, knives, small structures and stuff like that,” Linsky said.

Blacksmiths may be less heard of now, but were especially important in medieval communities because they provided tools, weapons for war and household items. Linsky, on the other hand has a different purpose as he makes things such as jewelry and knives and does it on his own time.

“I have made a couple knives that I eat with,” Linsky explained.

Blacksmithing is a very unique process. The first step to any blacksmith project requires a forge, which is a structure where the fire is made to heat the metal. In Linsky’s case, this structure is kept in his yard where his dad taught him the basics. Linsky went on to explain how this first step is one of the harder ones because you have to get the right materials and the forge to the right temperature. If the forge is not the right temperature you might melt the metal instead of getting it to the forging temperature. This process of getting the forge together can take a day to a week for it to settle before the fire can even be started. Once all of that is done correctly, it becomes just the task of heating the metal, taking it out of the forge and hammering it until you get the ideal shape.

“I’ve always had interest in medals and jewelry, I’ve got a couple pieces,” Linsky said, showing  me his bracelet, necklace and ring, “And I have always been interested in knives and swords and all that, so I always wanted to try making some.” 

This fascination in jewelry has helped lead Linsky to blacksmithing as he hopes to be able to make jewelry similar to the ones he wears.

Even with Linsky’s dedication to the hobby and interest in jewelry and medals, blacksmithing can still be very difficult and hard to execute.

“I’ve tried making bracelets,” Linsky said, “But none of them turned out very well; they were always too small.”

Although not all of us can relate to blacksmithing, like many other hobbies, it allows an out to busy, everyday life for Linsky. It not only allows him to create the things that inspire him, but it is a way to relax and take a step back.

“It’s helped me calm down because life can be stressful sometimes and being able to sit down and make something, it’s surprisingly calming,” Linsky said.

At the end of the day, Linsky takes on a challenging process that has great benefit to his life and the people around him.

“It allows me to put time and effort into making something that other people would enjoy using or just for the sake of making something that can be seen as handy,” Linsky said.