Hi there! Newbie from Berks County PA!

[fangedknight]

Hi everyone! I'm Jack and I'm from Berks County, PA. I'm actually not a smith yet, but I'm going to be starting my apprenticeship with our blacksmiths at the Daniel Boone Homestead, as a volunteer living historian.

(Translation: I'm going to be learning 18th century Blacksmithing!) I'll be starting during our Heritage Day event on the 29th and I'm really looking forward to it. My hope is that I take too it well and that I'll be able to not only forge things that we need for the Homestead but also stuff that we can sell in the gift shop of the Homestead to bring in some more financial support to our local historic site. 

A little bit about me, I'm 24, and have wanted to learn smithing for a very long time. My dad actually apprenticed to a blacksmith (alas not a historic one) back in his day and I've been wanting to give it a go ever since. 

I have a hobby farm at my house, along with a bunch of pets, so you'll always be hearing me talk about all my animals and how much of a zoo the house is! I'm hoping to build a forge at home so I can work whenever, not just at the Homestead.

Any advice is greatly appreciated, and I'd be happy to sit and listen till my ears fall off! 

[Al Stephens]

Hi Jack, you might look at pabasite.org. There is no greater place to get good information than at a local blacksmith group meeting. There is a lot of knowledge about period blacksmithing in that group. Just ask, and listen to the answers. Tell their president I said Hi.  Al

[JHCC]

Welcome aboard, Jack! If you haven't yet, please READ THIS FIRST!!!

[Daswulf]

Welcome aboard. Looking forward to hearing about how your journey goes.

It can be Very easy to build a forge at your home. The info is all here.