The Webb Blacksmith Shop also includes a wainwrighting and wheelwrighting demonstration - wagon and wheel makers. The wagon is 3 feet by 11 feet which is the size suggested by Brigham Young in order to have interchangable parts. Brigham asked that 2,000 wagons be made. Of course, each wagon needed four wheels so everyone was very busy.
Prairie Diamonds rings are made in the blacksmith shop and each visitor receives one as a momento. We make them by bending horseshoe nails.
Steel rods are used to make the souvenir horseshoes. We bend them on this tool in the backroom.
The bent rods are heated red-hot in the coal-fired forge. When the forge is the proper temperature it takes only a minute or so to heat the rod.
The bent rods are pounded flat and then put into the vise and the ends bent as horseshoe cleats.
The horseshoes are secured to the vise with this tool and we use a punch to put holes into the shoe to simulate nail holes.
A box of recently made horseshoes - they will be put into storage for next summer.
The blacksmiths are also farriers and we use these to show how horseshoe and oxshoes are attached.
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