The Backyard Blacksmith

The Backyard Blacksmith 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 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.

• The Home Blacksmith: Tools, Techniques, and 40 Practical Projects for the Home Blacksmith (CompanionHouse Books) Beginner's Guide; Step-by-Step Directions & Over 500 Photos to Help You Start Smithing
• A Modern Guide to Knifemaking: Step-by-step instruction for forging your own knife from expert bladesmiths, including making your own handle, sheath and sharpening
• The Art of Blacksmithing
• The Complete Modern Blacksmith
• Practical Blacksmithing: The Four Classic Volumes in One
• A Blacksmithing Primer: A Course in Basic and Intermediate Blacksmithing
• The Everyday Blacksmith: Learn to forge 55 simple projects you'll use every day, with multiple variations for styles and finishes
• The Complete Bladesmith: Forging Your Way to Perfection
• Simple Knifemaking: A Beginner's Guide To Building Knives With Basic Tools
• Bladesmithing: Beginner + Intermediate + Advanced Guide to Bladesmithing: Knife Making Compendium for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Bladesmiths