The Blacksmith's Craft - by Charles McRaven (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Learn how to build your own forge, acquire and make your own tools, and learn basic blacksmithing techniques to create lasting and beautiful items from iron and steel.

Blacksmithing is one of the traditional "lost arts" deserving re-discovery by anyone interested in DIY building and crafting. Charles McRaven, an accomplished blacksmith, discovered the craft when he moved "back to the land" in the 1970s and shares his knowledge in The Blacksmith's Craft. Creating one's own tools and instruments from metal enhances woodworking, stonework, building, and restoration work. In his readable and humorous style, McRaven tells readers all they need to know to begin blacksmithing to craft everyday items. Simple and clear instructions, supplemented by step-by-step photography, show how to build a forge from accessible materials, how to make and/or acquire tools, and how to use those tools to create items of lasting beauty and durability. Working under his tutelage, you'll find yourself encouraged and confident that you, too, can create items of lasting beauty and durability from iron and steel.

About the Author

Charles McRaven is a stonemason and blacksmith, nationally known for building and repairing dozens of stone structures and log homes. He is the author of five books including Building with Stone and Stonework, and has written extensively on historic American building techniques in articles for Country Journal, Fine Homebuilding, and several other regional magazines. His preservation work has earned him recognition as America's leading authority on the preservation of the nation's structural history. Charles lives in Virginia.