Forged a Guide to Becoming a Blacksmith

by Liam Hoffman, Jim Thompson (Translator)

Blacksmithing, “The king of trades,” is arguably the most enduring craft known to man, a craft virtually synonymous with humankind’s progress since the Bronze Age. This book breaks down blacksmithing’s fascinating, if somewhat daunting, skill set into attainable fundamentals that show you how to become an accomplished smith. My goal is not to teach you how to make a hook or a knife. Rather, I focus on the core aim of becoming a successful blacksmith or weekend hobbyist. What results is a collection of paramount blacksmithing practices and lessons, distilling what I and others have learned over many years. In this book, I aim both to motivate you, and to educate you concerning the nuances of starting a shop and becoming a blacksmith (without breaking the bank). You will learn how much space is needed for a shop, and what you can expect that amount of space to do for you in terms of quantity and quality of output. You will also learn which tools are essential, and which are a luxury, as well as how much these tools cost, where to acquire them, and how long it will take to acquire them. Safety and ergonomic practices are a must in the shop, and a section in this book reflects this with appropriate “real world” safety education. But what about the most important question? How to teach yourself? Have you even thought about it? This IS the book for anyone starting blacksmithing, or even for someone already at an intermediate skill level. The book answers the most simple yet complex and thought inducing questions confronted by anyone getting started in blacksmithing.

161 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 26, 2017

Reviews

[Matthew Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son, a budding blacksmith, loves this book, and I can see why.

By providing tips on everything from workspace to tools to safety to teaching your self, Hoffman acts as a personal guide to anyone today who wants to learn this ancient art.

I don't know anything about this stuff myself, but my son is quickly becoming proficient, and he says that Hoffman's self-published book is spot on. Recommended.

[Jared Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expected and wanted more of a specific guide to your first few projects, but this was a more thoughtful and insightful book about the mental side and some very basic prep work.

[Michael Leoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome way to learn about Blacksmithing before jumping in!

[Ilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

[Jimothy K · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great beginners look into what it takes to setup a shop suitable for introductory blacksmithing. All the basics are discussed but in no great detail. It's not a how to guide on becoming a Blacksmith; it's advice on what to consider. It's relevant and probably quite necessary information for anyone looking into becoming a beginner Blacksmith.