A Blacksmithing Primer

A Must Have Book and

Now Available as an almost

6 Hour Long DVD set!

Dragonfly Enterprises

Randy McDaniel

Artist, Author, Instructor

in Forged, Lasered & Fabricated Metals

“A Blacksmithing Primer”

A Book and a Movie By Randy McDaniel

Randy McDaniel

Finney Company &

Love of Art Productions

All Concepts & Designs

Randy McDaniel

Second Edition 2004

Original Book 1998

A Course In Basic and Intermediate Blacksmithing”

ISBN : 0-9662589-1-6

Text Box: Purchase this book at: www.chesterbookco.com

Some Comments from our Book Dealers and Book Owners:

"We have had an excellent response from novice and experienced smiths alike. They appreciate its' clarity and general user friendliness, as well as the reasonable price." National Ornamental Metals Museum Association

"This book is a winner, we're sold out already! Send more ASAP!" J.C.Campbell Folk School Craft Shop

"Having reviewed many instructional texts over my teaching career, I think this book rates among the very best, if not the best I have seen.

The book will move the student from the basic "Want-a-be" start through a very challenging level of instructions, beginning with tools, shop layout, fire building and a well planned sequential format of projects, advancing the student or experienced person through the skills needed to know in order to call oneself "Blacksmith".

R. Eugene Degenhardt, Master Craft Specialist

Professor Emeritus Metals Technology

"The drawings and text are clear and simple to understand."

"I like how it feels as if you are right in the shop with me..."

"I've been in this craft for 15 years and you still helped me understand more about forging."

"It takes the mystery out of tempering and forge welding."

"Just what I have been looking for!"

"I recommend this for all of my students."

"I want two. One for my home and one for my shop."

"A book that has been desperately needed."

"Finally a book that clearly shows me how to forge metal."

"...I have read it from front to back now, several times, I think it is great and every time I read it, I learn more...thanks again for the "Primer”!

More that 20 Projects and Over 400 Drawings

Used to Teach You HOW to be a Blacksmith.

Step By Step Illustrations and Text

You can follow the book page-by-page for a class

Or go into it randomly to retrieve the more than

Twenty projects from basic to intermediate.

Learn the Blacksmithing Tools

Setting Up a Shop

Building and Maintaining a Coal Fire

Forging and Heat Treating Tools

A Full Color Tempering Chart

Forge Welding

Forging Scrolls, Leaves and Animal Heads

Plans To Fabricate

Your Own Coal Forge and Anvil

How to Build a Working Chimney

Originally written, illustrated and self-published in 1998, ”A Blacksmithing Primer” quickly became a much sought after instructional/resource book on forging metals. Both total novice and experienced smiths have gained valuable insight into forging from this 174 page book. Many schools are now using it as their forging textbook.

In 2004 the success of this book led to Finney Company taking over the printing and distribution of “A Blacksmithing Primer”. It is now printed under Hobar Publications, Finney’s educational books division and sold through it’s Chester Book Company which handles craft books. One change was the new color covers and moving the all color tempering chart to the inside back cover. Another was the new autobind binding. A new binding technique that still allows the book to lay flat for easy access without damaging the book or binding.

See below for reviews, where to order and information on the almost 6 hour long DVD set.

Some of the Projects

How to Hammer

Blacksmithing Tools

Here’s a Sample of the Step-by-Step Drawings

Now the Companion to the book, “A Blacksmithing Primer, A Course In Basic and Intermediate Blacksmithing”, is the movie of Randy McDaniel actually demonstrating the techniques from his book. Almost 6 hours of Randy teaching you what you need to learn to be a blacksmith.

It is already sought after by schools, forging groups and individual smiths.

Love of Art Productions has produced a high quality video as has never been seen before on this subject. See the reviews below for more information about this program.

Text Box: More Information on this and other forging videos at: www.teachingtapes.net

I was so impressed with this DVD that I felt compelled to write this review.

I have recently had the opportunity to review the new video of Randy McDaniel’s book “A Blacksmithing Primer” and found it one of the best I have seen for a long time. I would highly recommend it for both novice and experienced blacksmiths. A person could really learn how to blacksmith from this film. The photography is excellent, the subjects covered are just right and Randy’s relaxed pace and experienced presentation provide the perfect medium for this valuable teaching aid. Although the price for good videos or DVD’s might initially seem high, comparison to total actual costs of attending workshops and training sessions including fees, hotels, travel, etc., quickly point out their advantage. We are fortunate that we live in an age where the technology allows us to view, and review and view again any and all portions of this nearly six hours of video.

Although not an amateur I was both surprised and embarrassed at some of the things I found I was doing wrong. It is so easy to pick up bad habits. The video covers virtually every significant process in blacksmithing and it is done while actually making an object. Whether it is fullering, drawing, bending, upsetting or whatever, Randy takes you through every step from beginning to end. I can har