Hand Forging and Wrought-Iron Ornamental Work cover

Hand Forging and Wrought-Iron Ornamental Work

by Thomas F. Googerty

Here the author shows you the basics of blacksmithing but then takes you into decorative ironwork. Twelve chapters cover introduction, equipment, working at the forge, various forms of welding, twisting, scrollwork, box forging, embossing, drawer-pulls and hinges, door plates, iron lamps and more. This is not about straightening the axle on an early automobile. It's about creating art, attractive items that almost anyone would want, both then and now. You'll learn the basics, but you'll get more ideas than the author has time to jump into like how twisted flat bars can be riveted into an impressive "scroll and twist grill". You'll learn to make braided handles, spirals, raised forms, rosettes, lamps and much more. The text gives plenty of how-to, but I've seen more detailed texts. Googerty will show what is possible, and that's the strength of this book: ideas. Some of the constructions are very simple that any beginner should be able to do. Others look like Sam Yellin himself fabricated them. Any one idea can start you off in a new direction. If you're into blacksmithing, this is worth having.

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?