The Skills of a Blacksmith, Vol One

" I have no illusions that this text will be regarded as being 'the complete text for the blacksmith' or the 'final authority' in terms of techniques. It is neither. Knowledge, I have found, is a place-holder until it is replaced with better knowledge. I offer this as the best help that I can give to a beginning smith via the written word, and I find nothing more intimidating than a blank page. The best instruction is still to be found by making what blacksmiths make the most of...'smoke, noise and mistakes'! Forge with your eyes open and look at your results. If the steel didn't do what you wanted it to do, then you hit it wrong. It takes a pile of shame before you can build a wall of fame...it's about time spent at the anvil." Mark Aspery.