The New Spruce Forge Manual of Locksmithing: A Blacksmith’s Guide to Simple Lock Mechanisms

The New Spruce Forge Manual of Locksmithing: a Blacksmith’s Guide to Simple Lock Mechanisms is a totally revised and expanded version of the original work from 1999. This new hardcover edition, at 304 pages and with more than 800 color photos and illustrations, is more than double the size of the original manual.It is divided into two distinct sections:Technical Information - This section is a reference manual in itself that covers the specific tools and techniques needed to build all the parts for each lock, as well as providing the information needed to understand the assembly instructions outlined in the second section.The Locks: Patterns & Instructions - This section provides the plans and detailed instructions for each of the 14 lock projects in this new edition. The clear assembly instructions describe when and how to use the technical information provided in section one.The authors have maintained their original trademark style that relies on well-illustrated step-by-step instructions that guide you through the whole lock-making process. They have also kept their low-tech approach that demonstrates how to go about creating good work using only a handful of simple tools.Making blacksmith locks is an age-old skill the authors of this manual are helping to preserve by passing on their knowledge to this book’s readers. The New Spruce Forge Manual of Locksmithing is also an excellent introduction to benchwork, which is a useful skill for any blacksmith to acquire. This manual will become a valuable, trusted and often referred to sourcebook in your blacksmithing library.

Denis Frechette has spent his entire adult life working with hand tools. He started woodworking at an early age, set up his first forge in 1979, studied pottery in college and worked for several years as a professional craftsman. In 2005 he began producing videos documenting his approach to early technology. In 2008 he transfered his collection of videos from his website to YouTube. As of 2021 his channel - DF InTheShop - has a library of over 300 instructional videos that have given many people the confidence to pursue blacksmithing. William Morrison’s interest in blacksmithing began over 40 years ago, about the same time he was beginning his career as an art instructor. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Michigan University in 1970. William developed and taught both a blacksmithing course, offered at the high school level, as well as a week-long summer blacksmithing camp at Michigan Tech University for its Summer Youth Program. His blacksmithing experience includes working summers on Mackinac Island, both demonstrating in the Island Blacksmith Shop making period pieces, and participating in specific projects such as the Fort’s weathervane, gates and railings, and consulting work in the restoration of locks from the 1700s. William currently owns and operates Spruce Forge in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, where he designs custom ironwork―everything from kitchen utensils to gates.