FAQ's

Don't all blacksmiths shoe horses?
In the past, the local smith would do a bit of everything involving ironwork, including shoeing horses and even draft oxen. Nowadays
however, the business of horseshoeing, properly called farriery, is a specialized trade and few general blacksmiths do it.

Do you do wrought iron work?
"Wrought iron" is a term that properly refers to a specific type of iron produced by a process that results in a piece of iron having little or
no carbon and interlaced with siliceous inclusions. True "wrought" iron has not been produced in the United States since about 1950 and
is only found in antique ironwork. Today, most so-called wrought iron is actually mild steel, which has a small amount of carbon added
for strength. These days, the phrase "wrought iron" has come to mean ironwork that is used for architectural purposes such as railings,
grilles and lighting items.

Do you use a hammer and anvil just like old time smiths?
I certainly do. While many things have changed over the years, the basic processes and tools of forging remain much the same as they
have been since before the Renaissance. The steel is heated to yellow hot and hammered into shape on the anvil.

Do you only work with small items, or can you work with big pieces of steel?
I can comfortably work with stock sizes up to 3" square in cross-section, or even larger. Smaller work is usually done with the hand
hammer and for heavier stock I use a powerful pneumatic forging hammer with a 65 pound hammer head. The tools and techniques are
selected to be appropriate to the stock used and the end result desired.

Is all your work strictly forged, or do you also do welding?
I will use welding where it is appropriate. I have the equipment to allow me to do welding by several different processes, from
oxygen/acetylene gas welding to the most modern of tungsten/inert gas shielded welding (TIG). For historical restoration work that must
use only traditional joinery, rivets, tenons and collars are used, as well as forge-welding or forge brazing.

Why is forged work better than mass-produced, welded pieces?
Metal is a substance that is plastic in nature; that is, it can be manipulated and coaxed into a different form than it came from the steel mill.
It is malleable, and that characteristic allows the artist the opportunity to create forms that simply cannot be made by sticking together
pieces of standard stock from the steel mill. The hand of the artist is visible in forged work, giving it character and a life of its own.

Can you repair antique ironwork that has been damaged?
Sometimes, though not always. Damage caused by accident can usually be repaired. Old iron that has been badly deteriorated by
exposure to the elements for a long period may not be repairable. If so, it can be duplicated by utilizing the same traditional techniques
used to make the original.

How can I stop my ironwork from rusting?
The best way to stop ironwork from rusting is to not let it ever begin to rust. Iron is an active element and has a high affinity for oxygen,
making it prone to rusting. The only way to stop the process is to exclude oxygen from coming into contact with the iron. To prevent rust,
ironwork must have a properly applied finish that is impermeable to oxygen. This usually involves two coats of specialized primers,
followed by two or more coats of high quality exterior paint. Prior to the application of any finish, however, the surface of the iron must
be properly prepared to receive the coatings. Failure to prepare the surface will result in a paint job that fails very quickly.

What if I want my ironwork to look rusty?
It is possible to create a surface effect that appears old and rusty, but that is still durable and will not continue to rust to destruction. This
is sometimes necessary when making pieces that must match very old work in appearance.

How should I care for my ironwork to keep it looking new?
Think of your ironwork like you would the painted surface of your automobile. Keep it clean and wax it periodically with a high-quality
automotive wax that does not leave an unsightly buildup in crevices and corners. If the paint becomes chipped or scratched, these areas
should be touched up promptly to prevent rust from gaining a foothold and spreading.

Can you make forged items from something that doesn't rust?
Yes. Although it is a more difficult material to forge, stainless steel can be used to good advantage for certain items, as can bronze and
copper. Aluminum and titanium can be used, too. All these materials have their advantages and disadvantages. The chief disadvantage to
most of them is their price. Stainless steel can cost as much as ten times the price of mild steel for the raw stock, and takes about twice
as much time and effort to forge.

Will you make something that I design myself, or do you only do your own designs?
I can work either way. From your design, a design from your architect or designer, or from my own design. The important thing is to
produce a piece that fits your needs and tastes, and that will continue to do so for many years to come. I prefer to work together with
the client to achieve the best possible final design.

If I bring you a picture of something that I like, can you reproduce it?
As long as the design is not copyrighted, I can copy it. As an artist/designer myself, I protect my copyrights, and will not violate the
copyrights of other artists or designers.

Can you work with other materials besides metal?
I not only can, I do. I enjoy combining metal with wood, glass, ceramics and other materials to create pieces that are unique and visually
satisfying.

Do you use a coal forge, like old-time blacksmiths?
I primarily use propane-fueled forges, due to the difficulty and expense of shipping in coal, but I do use coal and/or charcoal at times.
Each type of forge has its merits, and I use whatever is most appropriate for the job at hand.

How long does it take to make a driveway gate, for instance?
The actual construction time will vary with the size of the gate, the complexity of the design and the availability of materials, as well as
my existing work load. It would be unrealistic to expect such a project to take less than a month, and the time could be considerably
longer. Quality work cannot be done hastily.

Do you do installation work, or do you only work in your shop?
Generally, I do my own installations in order to ensure that the job is performed to my standards.

Can you come to my location to fix a broken gate?
Typically, I recommend that you engage the services of a shop that is geared toward doing portable welding work, unless the broken
piece is of historical value and requires specialized techniques to repair. For jobs that are outside the scope of what I do, I will be happy
to refer you to someone suitable if I can.

Do you guarantee your work?
All my work is guaranteed. Should any problem ever arise, I will work to remedy the situation as quickly and correctly as possible.

Do you ever do demonstrations of blacksmithing?
I do demonstrations at various events on an irregular schedule. I have demonstrated at historical sites, museums, the Botanical Gardens
and at blacksmiths' gatherings in the States.

Do you ever teach blacksmithing?
I provide advice and answer questions on several blacksmithing-related internet forums on a regular basis, and have taught
metalsmithing at the university level in the distant past.

Do you ever take on apprentices?
I would be pleased to do so, if I could find a person who had the requisite aptitude and a sincere desire to learn the craft. Unfortunately,
there are few young people these days who have both the sort of background necessary to learn blacksmithing and the willingness to
work that hard.