The Blacksmith's Craft: A Primer of Tools and Methods

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 256 pages
• Published by: Storey Publishing, LLC May 24, 2005
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 1580175937
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1580175937
• Book Dimensions: 8.8 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Weighs: 1.1 pounds

Reader Reviews
If you are interested in blacksmithing, have no metal working experience and are short on funds, I cannot recommend this book enough. Originally entitled "Country Blacksmithing", when it was first published in the early 80's Charles McRaven: http://www.charlesmcraven.com/index.html has revised (slightly) and reissued this book as "The Blacksmith's Craft A Primer of Tools and Methods." The author is an expert in building with stone and timber framing. Finding himself in need of tools, he decided to make his own and so learned blacksmithing in a way which combines 19th techniques with 20th century materials "recycling". I discovered the first edition and immediately coveted it because McRaven writes WELL! He is lucid and the photographs are plentiful. Reading this is almost like having a conversation with an experienced "Country" or farm yard blacksmith as it is clear and concise and colorful. It's not what you would call comprehensive, with respect to the subject, but there is more than enough here to get a backyard toolsmith started making his own tools. If you are serious about banging on iron, this should not be your only metal working tome, but it is an excellent start IMHO and in fact might be about the only book you need. Comment | | (Report this)