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37th out of 39 books
—
2 voters
The Art of Blacksmithing
With more than 500 illustrations, this book is perfect for craftsmen who want to set up a blacksmith shop, and for lovers of history and craft alike. This book describes and illustrates the equipment and techniques developed in more than six thousand years of working iron by hand.
Indeed, this unique book covers every aspect of a fascinating and little-known art, the fundam...more
Hardcover, 440 pages
Published
November 29th 2009
by Castle Books
(first published June 1996)
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This book is a terrific introduction for those interested in working metal. It gives a wonderful historical perspective of the smith and his keystone position in the development of European and American cultural identity. It traces the history of European iron and steel manufacturing and gives a detailed description of the processes as they developed from the beginning, with large fires and iron ore mined from the ground, all the way through the 19th century, focusing on antiquated processes. It...more
I'm not kidding, I'm reading this book and really enjoying it. Excellent history of the blacksmith and technical details on making everything from everyday items to weapons. The best part is that it is well written and entertaining too.
1 like · like · see review
This book is awesome! The writing is both exhaustively informative and poetic, and even the reader with little interest in the blacksmithing will appreciate the passion with which Bealer writes. My personal favorite are the underhanded critiques of modern society that he sneaks into his otherwise objective exegesis.
People wrote differently thirty and forty years ago, making grand statements with no hint of irony: civilization would not exist without the noble blacksmith.
Many professions now turned into crafts will say this.
At any rate, this is the author's personal history of blacksmithing--enthusiast's histories--which are not the same as a scholar's--are often fun to read because their passion for the subject overshadows all and fills in the blanks in our knowledge with knowing speculation.
After the h...more
Many professions now turned into crafts will say this.
At any rate, this is the author's personal history of blacksmithing--enthusiast's histories--which are not the same as a scholar's--are often fun to read because their passion for the subject overshadows all and fills in the blanks in our knowledge with knowing speculation.
After the h...more
Not necessarily a fun read for the general public, but this book has everything, and I mean everything the aspiring blacksmith would want to know. It's the blacksmithing bible.
This book was an interesting read. At the time it was written, virtually no hobbyist blacksmiths existed. Much of the book contains historical information about blacksmithing and the author's proselytizing.
I was actually much more interested in hands-on instruction. While there is discussion of the tools and techniques, I think it would be difficult to transform the info into practical how-to steps for making your own working forge.
I was actually much more interested in hands-on instruction. While there is discussion of the tools and techniques, I think it would be difficult to transform the info into practical how-to steps for making your own working forge.
Feb 15, 2011
Joseph Monroe
added it
only for the blacksmithing enthusiast.
An old book, and frankly better than most written today about the craft. A few illustrations and such, but more important is the fact that it's got alot of info that i haven't seen elsewhere. I've finished it twice and still manage to learn something i somehow missed or forgot when i pick it up.
May 18, 2013
Rachel Elliott
marked it as to-read
May 10, 2013
Dms
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Apr 26, 2013
DoctorHatchet
marked it as non-fiction
Apr 25, 2013
Stephanie
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Apr 03, 2013
Mitch
marked it as to-read
Apr 01, 2013
Brian Rogers
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Mar 15, 2013
Ole-Morten Duesund
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Mar 03, 2013
Shannon
marked it as to-read
Feb 28, 2013
Benedikt Guðmundsson
marked it as to-read
Feb 26, 2013
Chaz Kaczorek
marked it as to-read
Feb 13, 2013
Cheryl Potter
marked it as to-read
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Dec 22, 2010 03:59pm