The stock for working into small forgings comes from the rolling mill as rods and bars of various sections. This material, at the present day, is principally mild steel, this having displaced most of the wrought iron used before the days of mild steel. However, many blacksmiths use only wrought iron in work which must be welded, as this material has the quality of becoming very plastic at a high heat before melting. High-carbon steel and cast iron cannot be welded on the anvil because the carbon in them begins to burn out before welding heat is reached, and because the melting point is not preceded by a helpful condition of plasticity.

Oftentimes for special work in marine use, the stock of the blacksmith shop includes rods and bars of certain bronzes which can be forged and welded as can iron.

A shop always carries in stock some bars of high-carbon or alloy-crucible steel for making metal-cutting tools.

For steam-hammer forgings, billets and blooms, of designated dimensions and quality, are ordered from the rolling mills. These are usually of mild steel, but may be of wrought iron. For high-grade forgings, nickel steel is much used.

Steel castings are occasionally heated and shaped differently from the shapes given by the mould, though this adds much to their cost and they should be annealed afterward.