My name is Cory Nevitt and I’m an ornamental blacksmith that lives just a little ways outside of Menlo Iowa. I have 14+ years’ experience in blacksmithing and metalworking. I try to focus my work on both contemporary and 18th/19th century styles of ironwork. I use a traditional coal forge and very little power tools, but the ones I use mostly are over 100+ years old and have plenty of history; I also enjoy using the traditional blacksmithing methods such as punching and drifting rather than drilling depending on the work. Nothing leaves my shop looking half assed. Every product I sell is always made right the first time. The passion I have for making new things is definitely shown throughout my work. I am here to prove that even in the 21st century there’s still a use for blacksmiths. The need for blacksmiths isn’t like it was 100 years ago, but if you want something built to stand out from your neighbors or need something restored correctly for ironwork a blacksmith is what you need. I’m always a phone call away for any questions you may have. If I don’t answer don’t be afraid to leave me a message or shoot me a text.

What is a blacksmith?

Now you might think a blacksmith is someone who shoes horses, makes only knives, or welds bridges. But I do none of those. I can forge a shoe, but can’t trim a horse. I can make a knife, but it doesn’t excite me, and I used to build bridges at my last job, but I never welded them. A blacksmith is someone who works with steel or iron and shapes it under heat and hammer, but that’s not all we do. We also do a lot of work cold too. To create works of art, and even tools.

What is an Ornamental blacksmith? So I call myself and ornamental blacksmith since I specialize in both ornamental, and architectural ironwork along with doing reproductions/ restorations of original pieces of ironwork.

What’s the difference between a bladesmith, farrier, and a welder?

A bladesmith is a knife maker, a farrier is a horseshoer, and a welder uses a machine to weld bridges together along with other things. We all may use the same tools, but we are all are different. It’s like saying a framer and cabinet maker are the same, but they aren’t. Just because the 3 above use the same or similar tools doesn’t make us all the same thing.