The Backyard Blacksmith: Traditional Techniques for the Modern Smith

by Lorelei Sims

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.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Crafts, Art

174 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2006

Reviews

[Bazingo Bro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good beginner book, with a lot of projects to learn from. I made the mistake to read this book without having built my forge so unfortunately I can't try to replicate said projects.

Lorelei goes into detail about everything you need to know to get started, covering topics as the color temperature of steel, different variations of iron and steel, tooling, the forge itself and a lot of techniques that are often illustrated or photographed.

There is one review to this book saying that "blacksmithing can't be done half assed", which in my opinion is really small minded as throughout the ages men found ways to forge metal without the need of tens of thousands of dollars on tools and materials. Atleast from what I remember, medieval blacksmiths weren't walking about with angle grinders, welding machines and power hammers (but I guess I'll leave it up to "very knowledgeable" people on Goodreads and archeologists to prove me wrong on that one).

All in all, a great start for anyone interested in this great trade, whether it be professionally or as a hobbyist. Keep in mind to build your forge first before going too deep in the book!

[Koen Crolla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This genre of book—the nearly blind leading the blind in the general "maker" subculture—is very prevalent in woodworking, but it makes a lot less sense for blacksmithing. The target audience for these is ostensibly the dad who bought a couple of tools and materials at a DIY store and intends to get into it over some weekend any day now, which is a demographic that really cannot exist in blacksmithing: the sine qua non here, apart from a hammer (which you may indeed be able to find at a DIY store), is a usable anvil (which you won't), a coal or gas fire, and (a handful of Youtube/Reddit idiots notwithstanding) a safe place to put those things—an up-front investment of thousand of dollars. Who is half-assing blacksmithing to the degree that one of these coffee table books is going to teach them anything?
(The actual reason books like these exist, of course, is not for their audience, real or imagined, but to feed the author's ego, which is fair enough.)

Anyway, this is exactly what you'd expect it to be. I don't know enough about blacksmithing to tell if Sims commits any crimes on the level of pocket-screwing breadboard to a table top (my experience with metalwork is limited to welding and some cold work; I don't think she does, though), and while she does believe obviously stupid things about some of her materials (e.g. that wrought iron is so pure it doesn't oxidise), it's probably fair to characterise this book as harmless.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Backyard" is a word that somehow found its way into the title, but is absent from the remaining content of the book. I assume it suggests a book for beginners, or a book that can be approached by anyone with a backyard, but does not address blacksmithing in an _actual_ backyard at all.

Example 1: "There are a variety of spaces that can be used as your smithy: a garage, a barn or metal storage shed, or you may opt for a structure not located at your home."

Example 2: "It is imperative that your smithy has high ceilings, good lighting, and proper air ventilation."

BUT: "If you decide to work outside under a tarp or beneath a lean-to, the need for a chimney is no longer necessary."

Takeaway: To readers hoping for ideas about setting up a smithy in a backyard, you'll need to look elsewhere or use your imagination. This is not what the book is about.

Overall, the book presents basic information about blacksmithing for a beginner audience. There are areas that could use additional photos or illustrations to more clearly illustrate the ideas presented in the text (or display projects in greater detail). Some descriptions are lacking in sufficient detail (although maybe my expectations are too high). A number of metric conversions are inconsistent or wildly off: 3/8 inch (.075 cm).

I checked this book out from my local library. Was it worth reading? Yes. Would I like to own it? Probably not.

[Shaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is nearly identical to Sims' other book 'The Beginner's Guide to Blacksmithing' - save for additional projects in the advanced level at the end of the book. Granted, I didn't compare word-for-word, page-by-page. But flipping the pages and skimming, it looked to be the same as what I had just read in the other book.
So I'm still giving it 5 stars. As for which one to pick if you were to read just one, I would go with Backyard because it has the additional projects as well as better photo quality. The images in the other book are just really dark. Backyard also has a section in the back listing various resources as well as a glossary. That wasn't in the other book. However, Backyard is copyrighted 2006 and Beginner's is 2022 - so the resource listing could be outdated.

[Daryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is pretty much what the title says it is. The explanations and photos in the book are well done, to the point that I'd name it the most inviting of several blacksmithing books I've dipped into over the last year. It's a helpful resource especially for learning some of the tools and terminology if you're a new blacksmith.

I've read and reread bits of the book since I got it in June. I never read it start to finish, though I've covered the bulk of the book at least in my piecemeal reading.

[Jason Bloom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Making things with metal takes talent, Blacksmithing is an art as much as it is a practical skill - and Lorelei Sims is an excellent teacher. Breaking down things from where to source your metal, setting up a forge, arranging your shop and tools, and beginning projects, this is a very helpful book for the burgeoning blacksmith. Solid (like scrap steel).

[Bernie May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beyond the "let's make a knife" plethora of blacksmithing books that seem to be hitting the market these days. Including an actual, usable set of instructions on keeping the fire going. Thank-you Lorelei.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

As most reviews indicate, The Backyard Blacksmith is a great primer. Worth the read and money spent. I found the book to explain and encourage you to try it yourself; as that is the best way to really learn. I look forward to trying the suggested projects at the end!

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book for the beginning smith. Lorelei Sims presents a good primer for the modern metalworker, from assembling a proper shop with tools from yesterday and today, to material choices, to projects designed to help a smith develop his or her skills. Sims particularly focuses on metal art, and this book is a much-needed entry-level book for that field. While farriers, cutlers, swordsmiths, historical smiths, and general repair smiths will find some help here too, this won't be a be-all end-all source for them. Still - a good read, and a good reference for those who want to shape the black metals.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

My forging experience is limited to some shop projects in junior and senior high (which dates me!), some small, miscellaneous tools and cold working, so I'm not an expert, but this book looks like it would help get you started. The photos and writings on fire management are good as well as the safety tips and the basic techniques look good. The projects are basic, advanced work is not explained in this book.

Still a great beginners book.

If I were to have a place to do it, (my condo association would not approve) The Complete Modern Blacksmith
by Alexander G. Weygers would be my preferred go to book on the subject, however a living teacher may be more appropriate for this craft.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't speak to how well this book is as a manual for beginning blacksmiths, but I can say that as a writer looking for a book on how blacksmithing works it was quite brilliant. Well written, clear, with plenty of pictures and descriptions, it covers the basic techniques and tools. I read it after watching some YouTube videos and I recommend this course of action. It gave me more context for what I was reading about, and then after I read the book, I watched additional videos and understood more of what I was watching.

Recommended in conjunction with blacksmithing videos if you're interested in learning more about the craft.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers all the basics very well. I enjoyed the presentation and the photographs are wonderful. Lorelei conveys the information in a clear, well-written prose without being didactic or repetative, something I sometimes find in many instructional books. The projects presented are well chosen to illustrate the techniques covered in the text. Overall, a real prize. Well worth the investment in time and money.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book to introduce the art of blacksmithing. The author gives consice explanations of all the basics: equipment, materials, techniques and the colour illustrations are great. The pics are one of the reasons this got 5 stars; so much better than a couple other books I read on the subject. There are a number of projects in the book that I hope to attempt with more practice.

[Aryanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Much of the technical details of building a fire/using complicated tools/etc was *really* hard to visualize. I wish it had been a bigger book and taken more time on these details- felt like it was rushing through things. Much better in the early chapters. I wish smelting had been covered, but apparently its "not technically a part of smithing". I was just less than impressed w/ it all.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book came with a lot of good information for beginners. I would have liked a more in depth look at some of the technical aspects, but this is obviously not meant as a compete blacksmithing treatise. I liked the variety of projects at the end. This book is definitely worth a read for anyone with a burgeoning interest

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lorelei does a great job laying out the art of black smithing. Love the projects at the end of the book. She gives excellent guidance on setting up a shop, gathering tools and build a fire/coals. A must read for anyone interested in smithing.

[Stanley Hall]

I'm looking forward to practicing blacksmithing at Boy Scout Camp this summer, so I'm trying to get an edge up.

[Smellsofbikes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent. Easy to follow, good discussion of how to do the standard blacksmith tasks. The projects weren't great but that was more than made up for by the discussion of technique and tools.

[Mark Balson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book. It made me realize I should probably get some hands on instruction before I start banging on red hot metal. That was a true service.

[Kasey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This will be a good reference book for the future, but not the most enthralling read out there.