The Backyard Blacksmith - Traditional Techniques for the Modern Smith

New York: Crestline Books - Imprint of Book Sales, 2009. 12th Printing . Hard Back. Fine/Very Good. 8 1/2" X 10 1/4. Wanke, William Michael. 175 Pages Indexed. Brand new condition. Gift Quality. Interior text and illustration pages are near flawless. This book shows you how -- with some patience and a working knowledge of metals, basic tools, and techniques -- blacksmithing can be easy to learn, and a rewarding hobby. 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 as letter openers, door knockers and botanical ornaments. Written by an expert in blacksmith and metal artist, this book provides readers with a basic understanding of blacksmithing, including an explanation of tools like an anvil, an anvil stand, hammers, and tongs. Heating techniques like coal forging and fire tending are explained in detail, along with different types of metal like wrought iron, cast iron, and steel. The Backyard Blacksmith walks readers through step-by-step, illustrated projects including hooks, door and gate pulls, wall-mounted hooks, knockers, racks, and more. These expert blacksmithing lessons come to life with full-color photography to illustrate the steps and provide a better understanding of the text. With this book, beginning blacksmiths can learn to turn metal from its raw shape into something useful and beautiful to behold. Contents in Eight Chapters: Your Smithy, Gathering Tools and Equipment, Iron, Preliminary Skills, Tool Usage and Forging Techniques, Forge Welding and Other Assemblage Techniques, Making Your Own Tooling, and Projects.