Twgore

I'm sure if we searched the historical record hard enough we could find at example of blacksmiths doing nearly anything imaginable. Shops were businesses and would potentially do nearly anything within their means to make money, including the full breadth of the trade they performed and perhaps some unlikely stuff as well. This certainly was the case for isolated shops. I think these claims that blacksmiths commonly did off the wall things come from researchers scouring surviving ledger books, finding one example of something different, and extrapolating that it was a common practice throughout time. Will

Historically, a good rule of thumb is that the level of specialization of any trade related directly to its setting. More urban areas with a greater supply of workers required trades to specialize. Rural areas had a smaller supply of skilled labor, therefore the skilled workers who were there had to generalize and broaden their offerings to make money. An ironworker in a city might just shoe horses, or just make nails, or just make a certain type of tool. Lots of consumers meant shops had to pick an area and excel at it to secure that end of the market. Meanwhile, in the country blacksmith shops consumers had fewer options for skilled labor, and a country smith needed to be able to address a broad range of demands to make a living, Thus, the typical rural American smith had to be able to do a little of everything, shoeing horses, repairing tools, fixing farm equipment, maybe even working with wheels and wagons. Likewise in the woodworking trades the city woodworkers might be divided into joiners, framers, cabinetmakers, etc. who specialized in one aspect. "Country Carpenters" did a little of everything to make a living

Hello all, I'm seeking some instruction or help in making a garden tool for myself. I want to forge a 18th century style broad hoe or plantation hoe as close to the traditional method as possible. These tools had a round socket for the handle that was made by wrapping and welding in a similar fashion to the eye of a froe, wide blade roughly perpendicular to the socket. I can't figure out the stock to start from or the best technique to use to flatten out the blade once the socket eye is formed. Thanks for your help, Will

I'm no expert, but I have my doubts that the portable forge you saw at MTA was authentic to the 1770's. About the only context you'd have found a portable forge being used at that time is in the military, and there is some documentary evidence for the design used by the British military. You may find some info in Meuller's Treatise on artillery. Jymm Hoffman does exceptional work with not only 18th century ironwork in general, but artillery work in particular and has built and uses a military portable forge that is authentic in design. I'm sure if you contacted him he'd be happy to point you in the right direction. Generally speaking, the RW era cart forges I have seen in person or pictures are two wheeled, with a frame to support typically bellows and a side blast configuration on the hearth Will

http://vablacksmithing.org/ Virginia Institute of Blacksmithing. Its in Waynesboro, which might be a bit of a trip for you, but they offer weekend classes that focus on developing skills. Well worth it! Will

Ask 5 people about this and you will get 5 different answers. Fwiw I have developed some elbow pain from hammering and other work. I have tried ice heat straps braces, all the general advise. However, the most relief I have experienced has come from working my injured arm with a better technique, and using exercises (both those mentioned above as well as plain weight lifting). This has worked for me when nothing else has. You can google tendonitis exercises fr some great techniques. Good luck! Will