Upcoming Events - Northeast Blacksmiths Association

Upcoming Events
NewEngland Blacksmiths Association Spring meet At the time of printing there was no announcement for
NEB Spring meet but Check at…. http://www.newenglandblacksmiths.org/spring_&_fall_meets.htm
March 22 , Spring Meet at Greg Phillips, 8 am to 5 pm. This year Tim Miller will be demonstrating tool
making, how to forge bick irons and forging to dimension and more. Tailgating is encouraged.
Location: 937 State Route 17K, Montgomery, NY...8 miles West of the intersection of I-84 and the NYS
Thruway RT 87, the house & shop are on the left as you go West on Route 17K. Phone #845-590-5254
May 2nd, 3rd & 4th, 2014
Northeast Blacksmiths Association Spring Hammer-In
Demonstrator, Tim Zowada See pages 1, 3, 18 & 19 for complete information.
…...Aug 13-16, 2014…….
ABANA 2014 Conference will be held
at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in
Harrington, Delaware
For complete information and registration go to the website and select
ABANA Conference
< http://www.abana.org >
Sept. 14th, Red Mill Tool Swap, The Red Mill Museum Village is pleased to announce its
annual Hammer In and Tool Swap on Sunday, September 14th from 10-4pm. Hosted by the
NJ Blacksmith’s Association, for complete information go to the NJB website ………..
< http://njba.abana-chapter.com/ >
Northeast Blacksmiths Association
page 13
Northeast Blacksmiths Association Minutes, Fall Oct. 5, 2013
Meeting called to order at 6:55 PM by Jonathan
Reading of minutes from Spring Hammer-In from Fire and Iron
Discussion on NBA's inventory- Inventory to include : propane tank , chop saw, Bader grinder and
accessories, trailer. Propane tank to be noted as shared by NBA and Bladesmith's Guild.
Revised list to be sent to Jay Unger.
Kelly Anson- Trip to Higgins Armory has to be made by Dec. 31, 2013. Two week advance notice is
required. Kelly will coordinate trip.
MIG Welding demo will be given by Larry Brown at next Hammer -In (Spring). Check off box on
Spring registration form if interested.
Tools are still needed for Green Coal- i.e, fire pot forging hammers etc,. etc.
Purchase of fire pot approved to a max. of $250
Fred Morse suggested color coding tool sets to match anvils. Tool sets to be put in matching color
coded boxes.
Tom Ryan to bring in base-plate for demo anvil. Art - Tom - and Tim to coordinate activities.
Lighting needs improvement in demo forge area. Mike Hirsch to get LED bulbs and be reimbursed
for cost.
Old NBA trailer sold to Tim Neu for $200. Motion approved by membership.
Food Evaluation Forms- Food has improved but still needs improvement. Include positive suggestions.
Kelly made suggestion that NBA should provide a Port-a-Potty for Green Coal at the Pavillion. Frank
Shaw recommended provision to rent if cost did not exceed $200.
Phil Clark suggested that future attendees register on line but mail-in a check before the Hammer-In,
rather than use Pay-Pal in order to save the $9 fee.
Treasurers Report- Tim Neu
Meeting adjourned at 8:13
Respectfully submitted,
Hank Rehm
Northeast Blacksmiths Association
page 14
ABANA Conference Lottery Tickets
NBA Fund Raiser
Tire Hammer / Nimba Anvil / Bam Box
We will be selling tickets at our May meet for the 3 ABANA conference raffles. The ticket prices
are $1 each or 6 tickets for $5 or 13 tickets for $10.
The 3 different lotteries are: Clay Spencer Tire Hammer - a cool power hammer; BAM Box a wood chest with iron hardware; Nimba Titan anvil - a beautiful Italian pattern anvil.
The drawings will be held at the ABANA Conference in Harrington Delaware, which runs August
13 - 16, 2014. You need not be present to win, but are responsible for pick-up or shipment.
If you prefer to buy tickets by mail, please include a stamped self-addressed envelope with your
order. Mail to: Jon Nedbor 496 Towpath, High Falls NY 12440
Please remember that our group, the NBA, will get 1/2 of the money collected from the raffle tickets we sell. You are supporting the NBA and ABANA as well as getting a chance to win some great
items.
Next Fall Forging Project
The project for the Fall is an item with a distinctive forged texture as
a main design element. Including the method or specialized tool to
make the texture is optional.
Thanks to Nancy Zastro
For donating to our library a signed copy of her book Lives Shaped by Steel
See Fred Morse our librarian to borrow this or other great blacksmith titles
Visit Our Website
www.northeastblacksmiths.org
Many Thanks to Larry Brown for setting up the site ! Send Larry a picture of your work and he will post it.
brownln@hotmail.com
Northeast Blacksmiths Association
page 15
The Cosira Books are back in Print
Originally published by The Rural Development Commission in England, these books have been
recommended by many of our demonstrators over the years however they have been unavailable
for sometime. When Judy from Blue Moon Press contacted the publisher in England and found
they were not republishing them she secured permission to have them printed here in the U.S. Decorative Ironwork & The Blacksmiths Craft are now available thanks to her efforts.
Blue Moon Press Blue Moon Press, Ltd., 4988 Blue Moon Road Huntingdon, Pa. 16652 A very
comprehensive inventory of reference books & materials for blacksmiths, bladesmiths, sculptors,
jewelers and all areas of metalwork.
Interesting Gas Burner / Forge
While at the annual Bill Gitchner meet this past January these burners and Freon forge
were being demonstrated and they were quite impressive. Stephan Gensheimer adjusted
the pressure from 1 to 30 psi and the burner stayed stable.
PNB Burners
From Stephen Gensheimer Design
PNB Burners are fabricated steel propane burners intended for use in blacksmith’s forging furnaces and as heating torches used in open air
applications. Each unit is tested after assembly to ensure pro per function.
All new burners are fired at 10 psi (as registered by a Goss regulator guage) and then run from 1 psi up to 30 psi.
Normal operating pressures in a well insulated blacksmith’s furnace are in the 5 to 12 psi range though lower and higher pressures can
be used. As a preheating torch for welding applications the pressure may be varied from only a few pounds up to forty pounds or more as
needed if the gas pressure is available. At pressures near fifty pounds the burner flame may become unstable and subject to flameout so
very high pressures are not recommended.
The burners are not supplied with any automatic fuel cutoff devices or safety devices. It is the responsibility of the installer and end user to
provide any fuel flow controls and safety devices needed for a particular application.
While a flame retention flare is provided with each burner it is not required in most furnace applications. It is intended primarily for use
with the burner in free air. The burner will not maintain a stable flame in open air applications without the flare in place.
Each burner is sold with a mounting ring drilled and tapped for three screws to hold the burner in a furnace shell. These are steel and intended to be welded to the furnace shell. The input end of the burner is tapped with 1/4" National Pipe Threads. This will allow for plumbing with standard fittings including flare adapters or valves or allow the use of easily available adapters to 9/16-18 LH fuel gas fittings.
Wrench flats are provided at the tapped end of the burners.
For pricing and other options or information………..
Northeast Blacksmiths Association
page 16
Some Different Tong Holder Ideas
Cut from 1/4”
stock this has 3
size positions
The traditional a welded
ring can be adjusted a bit
by squeezing to an oval.
A piece of square steel
tubing squeezed to a
trapezoid gives 2 size
positions
A piece of black iron
pipe is similar to the
welded ring
An eye bolt or
other like threaded piece & simple bent flat
stock is
adjustable
A simple hose clamp
gives limitless
adjustment
By Carl Davison
Northeast Blacksmiths Association
page 17