If Joseph Smith created the gold plates himself, is it likely he spent potentially 480 hours in a blacksmith shop hammering them out?

In 2021 Kyler Rasmussen estimated the total time of 480 hours needed to hammer out the gold plates. This is the total time required, so the work would likely span a much longer period of time. 

The times are also based on a low estimate of 80 plates rather than the high end of up to 1,000. The above figures at the Blacksmith’s are only for hammering out the plates so we would also need to add in the figures required to:

• Learn the skills involved
• Gain access to the facilities and tools required
• Cut the plates
• Punch holes in each plate
• Insert the D-rings through each plate
• Create the seal for the sealed portion
• Give the plates the appearance of gold

If Joseph Smith created the plates on his own, where did he learn the skills? How did he afford the materials? How did he keep his work a secret? Where did he go to do the work? How did he find the time to do it? 

See: 

• Kyler Rasmussen – Estimating the Evidence – Episode 5: On Witnesses

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