Mechanical Engineering Senior Shows off Blacksmithing Skills

A knowledge of engineering supports skills in many fields, even blacksmithing. Mechanical engineering student Chuy Talavera showed off his skills on the anvil in a recent episode of the History Channel’s “Forged in Fire.” Talavera creates a variety of medieval weapons like swords and knives. He had been watching “Forged in Fire” for several years, and appeared on episode 28 of season 7.

Talavera spoke with This Is Tucson about his time on the show, including being tasked with making a samurai sword in three hours out of fish hooks and ball bearings.

He is also minoring in physics, mathematics and aerospace engineering, and he plans to continue making and selling equipment for forges on his website.

“With forging, the limit is your imagination,” he said. “If you can picture it, you can make it. It’s just so much fun, and that’s why I love it.”