Metalworking occupations

A blacksmith is a metalsmith who creates objects primarily from wrought iron or steel, but sometimes from other metals, by forging the metal, using tools to hammer, bend, and cut (cf. tinsmith). Blacksmiths produce objects such as gates, grilles, railings, light fixtures, furniture, sculpture, tools, agricultural implements, decorative and religious items, cooking utensils, and weapons. There was a historical distinction between the heavy work of the blacksmith and the more delicate operations of a whitesmith, who usually worked in gold, silver, pewter, or the finishing steps of fine steel. Th

thumb|The Baqdadi goldsmith by Kamal-ol-molk

thumb|right|Welders at work, . A welder is a person or equipment that fuses materials together. The term welder refers to the operator, the machine is referred to as the welding power supply. The materials to be joined can be metals (such as steel, aluminum, brass, stainless steel etc.) or varieties of plastic or polymer. Welders typically have to have good dexterity and attention to detail, as well as technical knowledge about the materials being joined and best practices in the field.

thumb|A tinsmith at Old Sturbridge Village thumb|right|Tinware desk lamp, late 1930s, Bandelier National Monument. Made by a [[Civilian Conservation Corps tinsmith.]] thumb|Tinsmiths on the roof of Storkyrkan, Stockholm, 1903

thumb|Repoussé and chasing|Embossed silver sarcophagus of Saint Stanislaus in the [[Wawel Cathedral, created in the main centers of 17th-century European silversmithery – Augsburg and Gdańsk]]

thumb|300px|Re-creation of part of a gun shop in Harpers Ferry Armory from the 1850s (photo circa 2015) A gunsmith is a person who repairs, modifies, designs, or builds guns. The occupation differs from an armorer, who usually replaces only worn parts in standard firearms. Gunsmiths do modifications and changes to a firearm that may require a very high level of craftsmanship, requiring the skills of a top-level machinist, a very skilled woodworker, and even an engineer. Gunsmiths perform factory-level repairs and renovations to restore well-used or deteriorated firearms to new condition. They

thumb|Machinery repairman creates helicopter part aboard an aircraft carrier

thumb|right|200px|An illustration of a German locksmith, 1451. Locksmithing is the work of creating and bypassing locks. Locksmithing is a traditional trade and in many countries requires completion of an apprenticeship. The level of formal education legally required varies by country, ranging from no formal education to a training certificate awarded by an employer, or a full diploma from an engineering college, along with time spent as an apprentice.

In medieval and early modern Germany, the '''''' (; Latin ) was the head or manager of a mint, a moneyer with responsibility for the minting of coins, or specie. His duties were defined differently at different times and places.

thumb|250px|Bladesmith, Nuremberg, Germany, 1569 Bladesmithing is the art of making knives, swords, daggers and other blades using a forge, hammer, anvil, and other smithing tools. Bladesmiths employ a variety of metalworking techniques similar to those used by blacksmiths, as well as woodworking for knife and sword handles, and often leatherworking for sheaths. Bladesmithing is an art that is thousands of years old and found in cultures as diverse as China, Japan, India, Germany, Korea, the Middle East, Spain and the British Isles. As with any art shrouded in history, there are myths and misc

Bellfounding is the casting and tuning of large bronze bells in a foundry for use such as in churches, clock towers and public buildings, either to signify the time or an event, or as a musical carillon or chime. Large bells are made by casting bell metal in moulds designed for their intended musical pitches. Further fine tuning is then performed using a lathe to shave metal from the bell to produce a distinctive bell tone by sounding the correct musical harmonics.

thumb|right|Statue of a boilermaker by the sculptor Jef Lambeaux.

300px|thumb|upright=1.5|The Iron Bridge of Abraham Darby's [[Coalbrookdale works]]