Junior Austin DeLano Learning the Blacksmith Trade

Aztec Austin DeLano is an aspiring blacksmith, who wishes to turn his inspiration into a paying hobby.

“I was inspired due to the Medieval Times and the Renaissance,” said DeLano.

Despite it being a dying art, he is one of thousands that still have great interest in it. “I want to forge my own tools. It’s cool to work with hot metals and shape them, and sometime repair them,” said DeLano. “I could get money from melting computer scraps for the gold in them and selling it.”

While he currently has no place to forge anything, DeLano has been trying to learn through videos and books.“I like to watch people meltdown different metals. Some people who are into guns will melt down the bullets and reuse them.” DeLano also referred to two books he has read, The Backyard Blacksmith by Lorelei Sims and and The Art of Blacksmithing by Alex W. Bealer.

Unfortunately, he does not have any place to learn and is unable to forge anything. “There’s no room yet, I have a problem finding places for it. If I forged anything in my garage, it would be a disaster.”

Currently, he shares his passion with his grandma, a former welder who repaired planes and cars.