Blacksmithing Basics for the Homestead
By Joe DeLaRonde
136 pages, softcover: $14.99
Reviewed by Bill Scurlock
If you’ve been around rendezvous and buckskinning in the Rockies for the past 30 years, you probably know Joe DeLaRonde and his blacksmithing work. Joe has been known for high quality axes and knives and general blacksmithing for that long. Not only is he a fine craftsman, he’s also been a big supporter of the Rocky Mountain National Rendezvous for many years.
Back in 1987, we published a chapter on traditional blacksmithing in The Book of Buckskinning IV. That chapter was written by Joe DeLaRonde, and it’s one of the best short works on basic blacksmithing that I know of. But, perhaps the best has recently been published by Gibbs Smith, and once again, DeLaRonde is the author. Joe is great at taking the mystery out of blacksmithing and obviously enjoys sharing his knowledge and techniques with all who wish to learn.
Among other things in Blacksmithing Basics for the Homestead, Joe covers setting up your shop and safety tips, basic techniques, firing up your forge and forge tools. He then proceeds to basic projects such as kitchen gear, cooking gear, amenities and tools. Next is a chapter on tool-making, covering forge welding and tempering of all sorts of farm and edged tools. Projects covered include: pokers, shovels, tongs, hooks, cooking forks, spoons, spatulas, skewers, nails, hinges, latches, awls, screwdrivers, chain, chisels, pry bars, hammers, adzes, axes, and knives.
Finishes and patinas is the last major chapter in this book, but he doesn’t leave without a short discussion of additional resources for the beginning blacksmith. Blacksmithing Basics for the Homestead is full of good quality color photos of the tools and processes. In addition, there are many nice line art illustrations to help the reader comprehend the techniques described.
If you want to pound on hot iron and learn to make tools and items you can use around the homestead or in a primitive camp, Blacksmithing Basics for the Homestead to a great place to get started. You can order your copy by calling 1-800-228-6389 or online at <www.muzzleloadermag.com>.
@ 2009 ScurlockPublishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved.