All Tibetans know the sayings: "Flexible as tools used by blacksmiths," and "Hammers, pliers and bellows are indispensable for blacksmiths."

Other tools used by blacksmiths include files, awls, molds and welders. Believe it or not, charcoal is also indispensable to them. The charcoal mentioned here includes dried wood charcoal, wet wood charcoal and kiln-oriented charcoal.

When forged iron or steel pieces are dipped in cold water, they tend to crack. Only those dipped in buttered tea mixed with oil and butter become soft.

When the pieces are to be used to make pencil sharpeners and other tools with sharp blades, they are coated with greasy sheep wool, the blood of antelopes and Tibetan fruit.

When they are to be used for swords and knives, they are coated with salt and butter. After being dried in the sunlight, they are re-coated with the blood of antelopes. When dried again, they are coated with a mixture of medicinal soda ash, boron, sugar, blood from deceased humans, antelope blood, animal horn paste, dirt and salt. Then, they are re-forged and dipped into snow water. Knives cast in this way are sharp enough to cut iron as if it were mud.