The Backyard Blacksmith: Traditional Techniques for the Modern Smith

The Backyard Blacksmith takes the mystery out of blacksmithing, but not the magic…There is an increasing interest and revival in the art of blacksmithing as a hobby and art, and both men and women are becoming at-home blacksmiths. Blacksmithing is a simple, rewarding craft anyone can enjoy in their backyard or home workshop — even beginners can produce useful and beautiful projects on their first try.

The Backyard Blacksmith shows you how blacksmithing can be easy to learn, and a rewarding hobby, with some patience and a working knowledge of metals, basic tools, and techniques. Through instructions and illustrations, readers will learn to make simple tools and useful items, such as nails, hinges, and handles, and also an interesting mix of artful projects, such letter openers, door knockers and botanical ornaments.

This book has really helped me learn about blacksmithing.  While right now I am working out of a basement and have to set up and take down a collection of rigged up tools, one day I plan on having a full time set up so I can beat metal whenever the urge hits me.

I hope that one day my son WT will learn to be a skillful metalworker.