Reddit Reddit reviews New Edge of the Anvil: A Resource Book for the Blacksmith

We found 8 Reddit comments about New Edge of the Anvil: A Resource Book for the Blacksmith. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.

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8 Reddit comments about New Edge of the Anvil: A Resource Book for the Blacksmith:

u/WhoWantsThumbscrews · 13 pointsr/Blacksmith

Also see New Edge of The Anvil, also by Andrews. I believe it contains most of the same information with some slight revisions and updates.

Amazon (UK) Link:
New Edge of the Anvil: A Resource Book for the Blacksmith https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1879535092/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_GHFUCbR6D5GG9

u/FreedomFlinch · 7 pointsr/Blacksmith

Your question is legitimate, and you didn't insinuate anything. I just wanted to introduce terminology since you mentioned you were a beginner.

When forming metals, one does not need to always heat them up; this would be a type of planishing. And, more conversationally than precisely, forming is more about plate or sheet metals and sometimes casting or stamping. The terms forging and forming get stickier when discussing industrial methods versus individual metalsmithing. For this, I am sticking to individual metalsmith terminology.

Forging is heat applied to metal and where compression happens; it can increase the strength of the metal's properties versus casting or machining. In blacksmithing, hot forging is done which prevents work hardening. Work hardening (which can be desirable or not) is a product of hammering cold stock, not hot. You can draw out, or squish, or flatten, or upset when hot forging.

With forming, usually with sheet or plate, one can work hot or cold, (but cold can often be assumed) and one is deforming the metal in specific directions and/or processes.

There is a Venn Diagram of things that overlap forging and forming. Blacksmithing and metalsmithing often occupy the same space. I am a blacksmith that also works with copper, silver, gold, and bronze. I work with sheet and with bar stock. I sometimes cast metal as well. There really isn't a hard and fast rule for what defines a blacksmith (other than predominately working with ferrous), so don't get too hung up on these delineations. They're just a guide.

If you would like to make armor, I would go to the nearest hobby shop and pick up a few sheets of copper. Bang on it, heat it up, and then bang on it some more. Try to pick up a jeweler's saw and see how well the sheet saws before and after you anneal it. Make patterns (like in your link) and see how the metal behaves.

This will give you a relatively easy entry into forming metals, before tackling steel, which requires a lot more heat and a more detailed set up. I would also recommend to you a great book called "The Complete Metalsmith" by Tim McCreight

You can find the book cheaper elsewhere, but the website I linked is a good one for people wanting a metalsmithing resource. I also recommend "The New Edge of the Anvil" which our University uses in its degreed Blacksmith program.

Good luck, and feel free to ask me any questions!

EDIT: A more scientific definition of hot forging vs cold

u/Bent_Brewer · 4 pointsr/Bladesmith

Pick up a copy of The New Edge of the Anvil. Or go to either Project Gutenberg or the Open Library, search for blacksmithing books, download, and go to town. :)

u/Brave_Horatius · 2 pointsr/Blacksmith

Edge of the anvil is the only one I've ever read and it's quite good. Was recommended it by the blacksmith I did a couple classes with.


http://www.amazon.com/New-Edge-Anvil-Resource-Blacksmith/dp/1879535092

u/dannyr · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Not in my field, but my best friend is a Blacksmith, and his bible is The Edge of The Anvil. As a non-blacksmith, I've often referred to it when I've wanted to build something out of steel. A great book and worth buying.

u/Lephanour · 1 pointr/Blacksmith

The new edge of the anvil is a good book for traditional processes.

https://www.amazon.com/New-Edge-Anvil-Resource-Blacksmith/dp/1879535092

I haven't found a good blacksmithing book with information on heat treatment. You should attempt to look up the recommended schedule from whatever manufacturer made the steel you're working. Absent that, Alro has a good booklet that covers a bunch of steels.

http://www.alro.com/datacatalog/014-toolsteel.pdf