I started blacksmithing in 1987 shortly after beginning to shoot muzzleloaders in competition and starting to attend rendezvous. I needed a set of H bar fire irons for my kit. Not being a wealthy man and being a cheap one, I borrowed an anvil and torch set and made my own. I was hooked! The next week I found an anvil and built a simple forge. Donnie Fulwood was a novice blacksmith at the time, but invited me to his forge and taught me the basics of blacksmithing. I bought all the blacksmithing books I could find and read them cover to cover. I joined the Appalachain Area Chapter of ABANA which was the closest blacksmith group to me. I attended some of their meetings and learned from their talented members that demonstrated. Finding there were no blacksmithing groups in central Georgia and having to drive 3 to 4 hours to attend Appalachain Area meetings, I helped organize the Ocmulgee Blacksmith Guild in Georgia in 1992.
I have studied under master blacksmiths Michael Sauri, Clay Spencer and Jerry Darnell at John Campbell Folk School. I have taught and demonstrated the craft of blacksmithing all over the southeast. I also appeared on the History Channel's "Forged In Fire " in 2017. I forge tools, knives, tomahawks, axes, hinges & hardware, strikers and many other items.