THE ART OF BLACKSMITHING IS ALIVE & WELL AT
ROUND LAK E FORGE WRITTEN BY WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH | PHOTOS PROVIDED
For centuries, the welcomed sound of a blacksmith’s hammer rang out in communities large and small where people relied on these skilled iron workers for everything from cookware, cutlery, carpentry tools, and farming equipment to horseshoes, locks, nails, and musket barrels. And that’s just a partial list! Community blacksmiths are a rarity today, but Saratoga County is fortunate to have one of its very own. Colin Roy, proprietor of Round Lake Forge in Charlton, spends his days doing what he loves, a mix of blacksmithing, metal fabrication, and architectural design.
Roy’s interest in iron working began in high school when he joined the FIRST Robotics Team at Shenendehowa High. “That’s where I learned to work with metal using a milling machine and metal lathe. I was also taught how to weld. That’s when I really started to figure out what I wanted to do in life.”
At Clarkson University, Roy earned a dual undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and aeronautical engineering, followed by a graduate degree in engineering and business management. Afterwards, with money he’d earned doing college internships, Roy decided to look into purchasing some welding equipment. Then he stumbled upon a blacksmithing video on YouTube.
“After watching that video, I decided blacksmithing looked even better,” he recalls. “So, instead, I bought my own anvil, built my own propane forge, and started out doing it in my parents’ garage in Round Lake.”
Several years later, Roy relocated to Jockey Street in Charlton where he built a large barn to house his forge. “I hired the Amish to do the framing. They do great work, and they move very fast. With my engineering background, I did the design for the building, coordinated all the contractors working here, and did a lot of the insulation, drywall, electrical, plumbing, and heating myself to save money.” Today, Round Lake Forge is a thriving two-man business. 52 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | SPRING H&G 2021
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