Blacksmithing demonstrations continue all week

All it took was some banging, clanging and 1,800 fiery degrees for Brandon Bentley to make a J-hook right in front of his audience's eyes.

"It's a little toasty in here," he joked. "I forgot my marshmallows at home."

Wearing a thick leather apron, he used special tongs to insert the metal into the forge until it was glowing orange. He set it on the 106-pound anvil he had wrapped with a chain and secured on a stump and continued to bang and clang, turning the metal and knocking it with a piece of wood to add a literal twist to his work.

"And there you have it," he said as he held it up for the onlookers to see. "A twisted J-hook."

Bentley has been blacksmithing for about six months, but it's become a passion. He runs Bentleys' Rock N Steel in Post Falls.

"You know that show, 'Forged in Fire?'" he said. "My dad and I binge-watched two and a half seasons in five days, and we kind of looked at each other and went, 'We could do that.'"

On the lawn of Building 7 at the North Idaho State Fair, Bentley is wowing spectators with the Amazing World of Blacksmithing live demonstrations at 1 p.m. each day continuing today and lasting through Sunday.

"I've always been interested in blacksmith work," said Earl Weese, who watched Wedneday's demo. "It's interesting seeing old crafts still being used."