Practical Blacksmithing and Metalworking (Paperback)

by Percy W. Blandford (Author) "When Stone Age man first succeeded in separating metal from ore and making something from it, blacksmithing was born..." (more)
Key Phrases: hardie hole, tue iron, anvil beak (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Blacksmithing and metalworking can be easier than you would imagine. This book shows you how - with some patience and a working knowledge of metals, tools, and techniques - blacksmithing can be a rewarding, inexpensive hobby. Using simple instructions and first-rate, detailed illustrations Blandford makes it easy for the novice to learn this craft, while offering project variations complex enough to challenge even the experienced blacksmith or metalworker.

From the Back Cover
A COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE TRICKS OF THE TRADE--FROM THE BASICS ON METALS, ALLOYS, AND THE METALWORKING PROCESS TO PROJECTS YOU CAN MAKE!

Blacksmithing and metalworking can be easier than you would imagine. This book shows you how--with some patience and a working knowledge of metals, tools, and techniques--blacksmithing can be a rewarding, inexpensive hobby. Using simple instructions and first-rate, detailed illustrations, Blandford makes it easy for the novice to learn this craft, while offering project variations complex enough to challenge even the experienced blacksmith or metalworker. You'll learn how to:

* use forges and anvils, bellows, swage blocks and mandrels, tongs, and a host of other tools
* work with sheet alloys, iron and steel, zinc, brass, tin, bronze, lead, aluminum, copper, and precious metals
* cut, shape, form, bend, solder, braze, weld, rivet, harden, anneal, flatten, punch, draw, twist split, loop, scroll, saw, shear, file, drill, hollow-out, planish, mold, and cast all types of metals
* make chains and hardware such as nails, catches, bolts, handles, hinges, hooks and latches
* create tools like punches, spikes, chisels, crowbars, tongs, hammers, sets, fullers, swages, stakes
* make built-up assemblies
* apply geometry to the construction of trays, funnels, boxes, cylinders, and more!

Percy W. Blandford is an internationally recognized master craftsman. A full-time freelance journalist and Fellow to the Institute of Journalists, he is the author or more than eighty books, including MASTER HANDBOOK OF SHEETMETALWORK...WITH PROJECTS; MAKING KNIVES AND TOOLS; and THE WOODTURNER'S BIBLE.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional; 1 edition (July 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830628940
• ISBN-13: 978-0830628940
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #286,338 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Percy W BLANDFORD: Practical Blacksmithing and Metalworking, January 6, 2002

By	Robert E Bogner (Norwood, South Australia, Australia) - See all my reviews

As a beginner blacksmith with a professional engineering background I bought previously Alexander G Weygers: "The Complete Modern Blacksmith" largely because it had many "excellent" reviews. However, Blandford wins on most points. I have found Blandford very helpful on specific details, on leading me through principles and methods, with much clearer illustations properly referenced in the text, and with a wider scope of nedded information. In contrast Blandford has much better information on welding, and detail on forges and on aprons and is far better indexed. I have learned a lot from both books, but if I had to choose one it would be Blandford.

63 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars General Introduction...Worth Owning, January 13, 2000

By	Ryan Lanham (Chicago) - See all my reviews

Percy Blandford writes on a lot of shop craft topics and has clearly thought about them a lot. He writes well. This is a general introduction to metalwork primarily from a smithing perspective...that is, carbon steel work. It touches on other areas but really isn't suitable to the beginning welder, sheetmetal worker, or tool and die hobbiest. It would be best for the person who wants to make historic replica items from a forge who one who wishes to supplement historical replica woodworking with some basic metal work in brass or iron/steel.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good, September 19, 2007

By	Thornflesh (USA) - See all my reviews

But still not as good as Sims "Backyard Blacksmith" A few more pictures would have made this book a five star.