What would be the best books or DVD's for my 14 year old son to sart out with?

Thanks

Mark

The Backyard Blacksmith by Lorelei Sims is an excellent book to get going with.
There are several others reviewed in the book review section.
Finnr

New Edge of the Anvil by Jack Andrews is a good one to start out with, IMHO.

Along with the books you may also try the blacksmith organizations in your area. I have found, at least in our area, that the blacksmiths that attend these meetings and events are very sharing with their knowledge and skills.
Good luck,
Jerry

I highly recommend Lorelie Sims book 'The Blackyard Blacksmith' and can be found at Lorelei Sims - Artist Blacksmith / Welcome to the Vortex of Hot Metal. Also George Dixson's book 'The Blacksmith's Craft, A Legacy of Francis Whitaker' Vol. 1. Vol.2 is due out sometime later this year, I've been told. ALSO check out this site Blacksmith Guild of Viriginia - Home . A little far for me to attend but this is a VERY active group. I'm sure they would love to have you. Not sure how far of a drive that would be for you... Good luck and glad to hear your son is interested in the HIGHLY ADDICTIC art/craft! Better than ANY drug you can take!

IForgeIron.com > Lessons in Metalworking > Blacksmithing > LB0008 Reference material and LB0008.0001 Reference Material.

Glenn beat me to the punch...

I'd suggest the following online sites:

Top 50 Blacksmithing Sites< informative/inspartional

Diamondback Ironworks< good Gas forges

Anvils can be Improv.(Tractor/bulldozer parts) made DIY (Steel plate/slegehammer head in cement *!*not as long lasting as real anvil*!*) Or got from Nortern tool, harbor freight, or NC tool-NCTOOLCO.COM< anvils

Edited July 9, 200818 yr by Golden_eagle
Fixing up

the modern blacksmith

I would get the Backyard Blacksmith , Lorelei Sims - Artist Blacksmith / Welcome to the Vortex of Hot Metal . Also check out the IFI Gallery they `re some great Ideas for forges and anvils.

The Complete Modern Blacksmith by Alexander Weygers. This book will absolutely draw your son into the wonderful world on smithing, maybe you too. ;)

The Blacksmith Primer by Randy Mcdaniel in either the book form (easy read and informative on a level a new smith can understand) or in the 3 set DVD. Would recommend the book first. Least expensive.

Recommended by the Blacksmith Guild of Central Maryland Blacksmithing Accademy.

For a beginer, The complete modern blacksmith is an exellent book. Easy to read, easy to understand, beautifuly illustrated, very complete, shows how to improvise any equipment you don't have, insirational. A good follow up would be Bealer's Art of the Blacksmith.

I second the recommendation for Randy McDaniel's "Blacksmith Primer". A great book for a beginner.

Yep!! I completely forgot to mention that one. I think ic counts as one of the very best for beginners
Finnr

And if he is inclined to come over to the "other" side(knifemaking) Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife Shop is a great starter read.

Good one I have that book on my list since I have been lured over to the dark side!!! LOL!
Finnr

Mark, my 13 year old son started doing this stuff in early May. We had met a couple of guys from the Arizona Artistic Blacksmith Association a couple of months earlier and they let us know about an upcoming class. The class ran one day per week, 3-4 hours in the evening, for 8 weeks. It was great. They covered a lot of territory, the hands-on was priceless.
They used two books, one was by Mark Aspery, The Skills of a Blacksmith vol.1,
and The Blacksmith and His Art by J.E. Hawley
I also have The Backyard Blacksmith by Sims.
The book by Sims has is nicely done and the pictures are in color. It's a nice initial presentation of the subject and might appeal to a youngster. Mine liked it. But from the standpoint of usefulness later on, the other two books are content rich.
And there are lots of other books that are great too, I just don't know about them.

Try if you can to meet with the local or the closest Blacksmith people or association. I think you will find them to be very helpful to a young guy who is trying to start and a Dad who is picking up the tools.

For videos, youtube really has quite a bit on the topic.
But the easiest full access source when starting out is likely this place, iforgeiron.com

Thanks very much for all the info!

Mark

Mark.
AT the next guild event (BGV on the 19th) there should be a couple of the tailgaters selling books. One of them is Blacksmith Supply He lives near by and is a member and good friend. He usually has an assortment of books and tapes/DVDs.

Oh and welcome to the guild too!



Peyton