Description
This three volume set by Mark Aspery contains all the books in the Skills of a Blacksmith series (Mastering the Fundamentals of Blacksmithing, Mastering the Fundamentals of Leafwork, and Mastering the Fundamentals of Traditional Joinery):
MASTERING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF BLACKSMITHING (The Skills of a Blacksmith Volume 1)
Learn Blacksmithing with Mark Aspery’s bestselling book – Mastering the Fundamentals of Blacksmithing. This is an expanded collection of course text from the author’s own blacksmith school. This book represents 120 hours of student learning in a project based home workshop environment. The author leads the student from the basic tenets of blacksmithing through to more complex projects step-by-step. An emphasis is placed on guiding the smith through making, heat treating and using his/her own tools throughout the book. Each project builds upon the last. Mastering the Fundamentals of Blacksmithing starts with the laws and principles of blacksmithing and has a good section on working safely within the smithy.
This is a large (8 1/2″ x 11″) hardcover book of 304 pages with 1200 photos!
MASTERING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF LEAFWORK (The Skills of a Blacksmith Volume 2)
Mastering the Fundamentals of Leafwork by Mark Aspery offers detailed, step-by-step instructions on the processes involved in blacksmithing leaves. This information, like that in Volume 1 is an expanded collection of course text from the author’s own blacksmith school and his many demonstrations. Included is information on the related tooling needed to be successful in leafwork and how to make many of the necessary jigs, dies, and tooling.
Mark begins with a leafing hammer and takes you through the necessary tools to form many types of leaves. He then continues his instruction from Roses to Ginko and many more.
This is a large book of over 300 pages measuring 11.25″ x 8.75″ and contains an amazing number of images – over 1300!!
Mark Aspery is an exceptional smith and instructor. You will profit from the knowledge you will gain in this excellent book.
MASTERING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF TRADITIONAL JOINERY (The Skills of a Blacksmith Volume 3)
Mastering the Fundamentals of Traditional Joinery by Mark Aspery guides the blacksmith in developing the technical blacksmithing skills and understanding required for forging traditional joints. Mark Aspery’s concise step-by-step descriptions complement over 1,600 crisp photographs that demonstrate the techniques needed to complete a variety of traditional or period appropriate mechanical joinery and the tooling required. This book discusses many subjects such as heel tenons, collars, square corners, punching and drifting and tool-making. This marks the third book in a series crafted to guide novice blacksmiths through a curriculum of training and experiential learning. The joinery techniques in this book are indended for the intermediate to advanced blacksmith.
At 368 pages, this book complements the previous two books in The Skills of a Blacksmith series.
