Fall 2012 A - Northeast Blacksmiths Association

Northeast Blacksmiths Association
Fall 2012
Next Ashokan Hammer-In
September 28th, 29th & 30th
Register Online
at Our Website
www.northeastblacksmiths.org
Fall Forging Project
A miniature forged anvil.
Hands-On
Workshop
Beginner and not so
Pocahontas Pea Coal is still Available
It is better than the last load, very clean & makes a good dense coke. See the analysis on page 8.
It has become more and more difficult to purchase good clean soft blacksmithing coal, so be sure to stock up.
Northeast Blacksmiths Association
page 1
Officers
President
Jonathan Nedbor
496 Tow Path
High Falls, N.Y. 12440
[845] 687-7130
jonned@hvc.rr.com
Vice - President
Frank Shaw
58 Hogsback Rd.
Greenwich, NY 12834
Treasurer
Tim Neu
511 Beaverkill Rd.
Olivebridge, N.Y. 12461
[845] 657-7553
neuhouse511@verizon.net
Secretary
Hank Rehm
59 Arlington Blvd.
N. Arlington, N.J. 07032
[201] 998-3860
hrehm@Comcast. net
Editor
Carl Davison
112 N. PuttCorners Rd.
New Paltz, N.Y. 12561
carlrd@att.net
President’s Message
We had a good turnout at the Spring Meet. It was good to see a few new
faces in the crowd. Maybe some of the Boy Scouts will continue with
smithing and join our group.
I am leaving in a few days for the ABANA Conference in Rapid City,
South Dakota. It is a long trip and I understand that it is too far for many
of us. I have missed only 3 ABANA conferences since the one at
Carbondale, Illinois in 1976. These events are a unique opportunity for a
total immersion smithing experience, well worth the expense of the trip.
Imagine a gathering of 1000 smiths from around the world, multiple demo
sites, lectures, video and slide shows, tailgating, trade show with books
and tools, and the Conference Gallery Exhibition. It’s an exciting
opportunity to visit with old friends, make new ones, network, have some
fun, and leave with a ton of new knowledge and inspiration, and maybe a
few books and tools.
It is through the hard work of the new ABANA board that the organization
is once again viable and back to putting on quality educational
conferences. Let’s hope the next conference is closer to home.
Regarding our Survey:
Only 8 people returned the survey that was in the newsletter and also on
the table in the dining hall during the Spring weekend. The survey was an
attempt to gauge your interest in the type of demonstrators we get and
what you want to see at our meets. We don’t ask much of our members:
come to the meets, maybe bring a couple of items for the iron in the hat. I
am not surprised that of the responses we did get, food ranked high as a
reason to attend the meet. Our chef, Michael, will be glad to hear that. I guess, that in a way, the survey told us what we need to know, just
continue to do what we are doing and keep the food coming.
Fire & Iron is the official newsletter of the Northeast Blacksmiths Association. The projects and processes described in
the newsletter are potentially dangerous. The Northeast Blacksmiths and its members do not manufacture, distribute,
sell, test, warrant, guarantee, or endorse any of the tools, materials, instructions or products contained in articles in
the Newsletter Fire & Iron. The Newsletter Editors, Officers and Members of the Northeast Blacksmiths Association
disclaims any responsibility or liability for damages or injuries as a result of any construction, design, use,
manufacture or other activity undertaken as a result of the use or application of information contained in any articles
or features in the newsletter Fire and Iron.The Newsletter of the Northeast Blacksmiths Association assumes no
responsibility or liability for the accuracy, fitness, proper design, safety or safe use of any information contained in
the Newsletter Fire & Iron.
Northeast Blacksmiths Association
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2012 Fall Hammer-In
James Austin from Oakland, California is our demonstrator for the
weekend. I saw Jim demonstrate at the 1992 ABANA Conference in
San Luis Obisbo, California and was impressed with the quality of
his work and his ability to explain what he was doing. His demo was
full of good information. We are lucky to have him for the whole
weekend.
Born in 1957, James grew up on the West Coast. After earning his
M.S. in Chemistry from UC Berkeley, he moved to Germany to
serve a traditional three-year apprenticeship with a master blacksmith. He graduated as a distinguished journeyman in the guild of
blacksmiths and then continued his study of artistic metalsmithing
for three more years in Germany, northern Italy and England.
Additionally he spent a year with a master woodworker doing
historical building restoration. In 1988 James returned to the U.S.
with a large collection of traditional German tools, antique ironwork, and historical reference material with which to pursue his
craft. He currently lives and works in Oakland.
Jim’s demo will include some traditional German work as
well as showing his approach to the Viking bearded axes.
Jim’s website: www.alchemymetalworks.com
Axe video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQaaS71yfvM
As always, bring some examples of your recent masterpieces,
interesting or mystery tools, and donations for the Iron-in-theHat lottery.
This will be a good weekend and our first time in the new buildings!
Frank Turley to demonstrate next Spring
We are pleased to announce that Frank Turley is our scheduled demonstrator for the
Spring 2013 hamer-in. Frank is an excellent smith and has been teaching forging for
over 40 years. Google his name to learn more about him.
Frank’s website: www.turleyforge.com
Northeast Blacksmiths Association
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Spring Hammer-In
Our demonstrator for the Spring Hammer-in,
Kim Thomas, started the day by making a
fireplace trammel. The anvil hardy tool
shown below was used to make more of a
slope to the teeth of the trammel.
Another item Kim made during his
demo was the forge welded
compound scroll pictured to the left.
Following the forge welding of the
scroll Kim gave an interesting tip on
how to check if your weld took. If
the weld is good, all the pieces at the
weld joint when heated will glow at
a uniform color.
Rather than using a screwdriver to
try and open up or separate two
pieces of the scroll Kim had a simple
tool for this purpose. A piece of
stock bent in the shape of an “L”
with the short leg flattened. This
could be easily tapped in between
the two pieces and then the long end
gave great leverage to tweak open
the metal however much you
needed.
Northeast Blacksmiths Association
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While drawing out the large strap hinge on our Little Giant
power hammer Kim commented on the importance of the
full guard we have surrounding the toggle arms & spring.
Some people put a cable through the spring as their safety
guard. The idea behind this is if the spring breaks the cable
will keep it from flying out and doing harm. If a spring
breaks in two pieces then the cable system may work but
you can’t know how the spring may give way. If small
pieces shatter they will not be contained by the cable. A
full guard is the only way to insure that pieces are
contained if there is a failure. The variety of Kim’s
demonstration gave everyone something useful to take
home.
In addition to the demonstration, the hands-on
area , run by Bob Cerny, was busy. Mark Emig headed a
hands-on merit badge area. Many thanks to Bob and Mark
and to anyone else who assisted in giving their time to help
out. Passing on knowledge and generating interest in
blacksmithing is part of our mission statement.
Before dinner we were given a tour of the new
Ashokan facilities, the upgrade
was quite impressive and will
be experienced this Fall.
See you there,
Carl
Simple guillotine tool Kim
used
Northeast Blacksmiths Association
page 5
Minutes of Spring 2012 Hammer -in - May 5, 2012
Meeting Called to order at 6:38 by Jonathan
Reading of minutes of last meeting - Jonathan
Green Coal tools-rakes still needed
Membership data base finished
Software for newsletter was purchased
Inventory of NBA Tools- marked and written- scheduled for Fall Hammer-In on Friday
Equipment trailer for green coal needs to be repaired or replaced in the future
Set up and take down has improved
Extra forge still needed
Name tags have improved
Whitaker Tapes are back- will be loaned with copyright notice
Greg Phillips Hammer-In (Berkshire Blacksmiths)- NBA has made a donation to support
Kent Reeves plaque- still in limbo- Tim will contact Dacon Moorhouse
Boy Scout merit badge session was a big success
Tim Miller-info about hammer making session with Nathan Robertson
Fletcher- discussion on holding additional events at off-site locations with insurance coverage
Jonathan-attract new visitors to our hammer-ins by offering a promotion fee of $10-put on our
web page
Discussion on treadle hammer
Blacksmithing event at Fletchers in August-contact Fred Morse for info
Discussion on disappointment at lack of improvement for blacksmith shop while everything else
around it is being re-done
Discussion on how we can improve shop appearance
Work crew to repaint shop sign on Friday
Lee Harvey-Blacksmith Meet at Hancock ShakerVillage-1st weekend in August. August 4&5
Demonstrator at Fall Hammer-In - Jim Austin from San Francisco- Jonathan to make arrangements
Discussion on ABANA conference
Tim- 5 memberships for ABANA ?
Meeting adjourned at 7:44 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Hank Rehm
Northeast Blacksmiths Association
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