Editing Blacksmith (section)

== 20th and 21st centuries ==
[[File:Iron gates designed by Samuel Yellin at Church of the Good Shepherd, Rosemont, Pennsylvania, USA.jpg|left|thumb|200px|[[Chancel]] iron gates designed by master blacksmith [[Samuel Yellin]] at [[Church of the Good Shepherd (Rosemont, Pennsylvania)]], USA]]
[[File:Kolme seppää - 3 smiths statue - panoramio.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Three Smiths Statue]], situated at the intersection of [[Aleksanterinkatu]] and [[Mannerheimintie]] in [[Kluuvi]], [[Helsinki]], [[Finland]]]]
During the 20th century various gases ([[natural gas]], [[acetylene]], etc.) have also come to be used as fuels for blacksmithing. While these are fine for blacksmithing iron, special care must be taken when using them to blacksmith steel. Each time a piece of steel is heated, there is a tendency for the carbon content to leave the steel ([[decarburization]]). This can leave a piece of steel with an effective layer of unhardenable iron on its surface. In a traditional charcoal or coal forge, the fuel is really just carbon. In a properly regulated charcoal/coal fire, the air in and immediately around the fire should be a [[oxidizing and reducing flames|reducing]] atmosphere. In this case, and at elevated temperatures, there is a tendency for vaporized carbon to soak ''into'' steel and iron, counteracting or negating the decarburizing tendency. This is similar to the process by which a '''case''' of steel is developed on a piece of iron in preparation for [[case hardening]].
[[File:4 artist blacksmith forging with power hammer.JPG|thumb|left|An Artist Blacksmith working with a power hammer in Bodom, [[Finland]], 2011]]
A renewed interest in blacksmithing occurred as part of the trend in "do-it-yourself" and "self-sufficiency" that occurred during the 1970s. Currently there are many books, organizations and individuals working to help educate the public about blacksmithing, including local groups of smiths who have formed clubs, with some of those smiths demonstrating at historical sites and living history events.  Some modern blacksmiths who produce decorative metalwork refer to themselves as artist-blacksmiths.  In 1973 the [[Artists Blacksmiths’ Association of North America]] was formed with 27 members.  By 2013 it had almost 4000 members. Likewise the British Artist Blacksmiths Association was created in 1978, with 30 charter members and had about 600 members in 2013<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baba.org.uk/About_Baba |title=About |publisher=BABA |date=2013-08-04 |access-date=2014-02-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306053833/http://www.baba.org.uk/About_Baba |archive-date=2014-03-06 }}</ref> and publish for members a quarterly magazine.

While developed nations saw a decline and re-awakening of interest in blacksmithing, in many developing nations blacksmiths continued making and repairing iron and steel tools and hardware for people in their local area.
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[[File:Blacksmith shop at Hoover 2002.JPG|alt=Interior of shop|thumb|Jesse Hoover blacksmith shop, [[Herbert Hoover National Historic Site]]]]