2 minute read
A local blacksmith forges ahead
FORGING AHEAD
Local blacksmith makes his mark
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Written by TRICIA LYNN STRADER
Blacksmithing seems to be in Zach Shoop’s genes.
The owner of Shoop Forge and Ironworks LLC in
Shepherdstown, West Virginia, has been working in the age-old trade since 2000.
He became interested while delivering feed to the racetrack at Hollywood
Casino at Charles Town Races, when he saw someone shoeing a horse.
He already was a jack-of-all-trades, and had some diesel mechanic, electrical and carpentry certifications.
“I started doing some research and found a horseshoeing school in
Smithsburg, not 10 minutes from my house,” Shoop says, referring to
Maryland Horseshoeing School. “It was at that time my parents told me that my great- and great-great-grandfathers were both blacksmiths in
Pennsylvania.”
Shoop attended the local horseshoeing school in 1999 and started his career in January 2000. Lee Badger from Anvil Works in Hedgesville, West
Virginia, is one blacksmith he admires.
After learning to shoe horses, he started trying new things.
He makes knives, swords, tools, cutlery, gates, railings and furniture, to name a few items.
Shoop said he can make pretty much anything and does all sorts of repairs.
He specializes in commissioned metal art, furniture, interior and exterior architectural accents, and historical preservation.
Zach Shoop working on horseshoe.
“I will take on any kind of project that’s interesting or that I think will challenge my skills,” he says. “I blend together my knowledge and expertise to provide my customers with unique, custom-designed works of art.” – Zach Shoop
Finished Shoop Forge tables.
He makes his own line of farrier tools and puts computer numerical control (CNC) custom marks on items for other blacksmiths and bladesmiths.
A CNC machine is a computer-controlled mill, Shoop explained. The tool or part is drawn in a CAD (computer-aided design) software program. The operator then sets the tools and paths for the machine to run. The process is commonly used in manufacturing for machining metal and plastic parts.
Some blacksmiths are traditionalists, while others use modern methods like CNC. Shoop considers himself an artisan blacksmith, and he utilizes traditional and modern techniques.
“I will take on any kind of project that’s interesting or that I think will challenge my skills,” he says. “I blend together my knowledge and expertise to provide my customers with unique, custom-designed works of art.”
Shoop sells online and by word of mouth. He can be contacted at 301748-7247; www.shoopforgedesign. com; on Facebook at Shoop Forge and Ironworks LLC; and Shoopforge on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
