As an Open Die Forging Blacksmith, you manipulate the workpiece using skill and technique to produce the final shape required. The Open Die Forging Blacksmith works as part of a 4 man production crew. Open die forging involves heating and working the raw material through repeated blows between a flat top ram die and a bottom flat anvil die. Work begins with an ingot which is put into a furnace until it is heated and ductile. Once in this state, it is moved to the anvil or the press depending on the size, where the Open Die Forging Blacksmith and team hammers the pliable ingot into shape. To get the desired shape with open die forging, the blacksmith moves and orients the workpiece between hammer drops to force the metal to flow a certain way.