The Soup Can Blacksmith Written by Smith

Behold the tin can. Storer of food. Muser of art. And, if you follow these instructions, forger of metal objects.

A forge is basically a small oven used to heat metal up enough to shape it into a useful object. They were traditionally the domain of blacksmiths and industrial factories, but, according to online DIY-er Ben Cusick (a.k.a. NightHawkInLight), anyone armed with an old soup can, some sand, plaster moulding and a run-of-the-mill LPG torch can build their own by following the instructions in this simple video.

If we’re being honest, crafting your own backyard forge is going to be a little more involved than, say, building a spice rack. But not by that much. The real challenge is in making something with it once you’re done. The possibilities are virtually limitless. Ben recommends making a knife – and has even produced another video showing you how to do it.