The Anvil`s Chorus - New York State Designer Blacksmiths

The Anvil’s Chorus
Spring 2004
Page 2
Volume 1, Issue 1
Executive Committee ( Board of Directors):
President Chuck Canterbury 585 591 2704 1165 Vernal Road, Attica, NY 14011
email: [email protected]
Vice President: R Scott Oliver 716 256 9978 76 Asbury Street, Rochester, NY 14620
Treasurer: Steve Joslyn 607 627 6580 1244 Rt 80, Smyrna, NY 13464
email: [email protected]
Secretary: Steve Kellogg 315 639 4294 POB 721 22 Williams Street, Dexter, NY 13634
email : [email protected]
Forgemasters:
Adirondack: John Scarlett 315 324 5635 email: [email protected]
Genesee: Dick Rightmyer 716 293 3299 email: [email protected]
Mohawk: John Brunell (315) 676-7359 e-mail: [email protected]
Niagara: Bob Corneck 716 741 4311 email: [email protected]
Southern Tier: John Fee 607 523 6677 email: [email protected]
The Cover
:
Shot of Old Fort Niagara, Peter Parry, Bob Corneck and Keith
Price ventured out in the worst possible weather to take these
pictures. They were in Fort Niagara with the barracks and
some of the armament showing. More of their photos are
featured on other pages also.
Attention all NYSDB members we now
have a new web site! www.nysdb.org
Send contributions to your editor or
Charlie Orlando, Webmaster directly.
For submissions to The Anvil’s Chorus:
We would prefer if your submissions be sent
electronically, meaning via email or US mailed to us
on disk/CD. For pictures, please submit them in
either JPEG, JPG or TIF file formats.
If not sent in these forms, submissions will still be
added to publication but it makes it much easier for
us to put all the input together for print.
The Anvil’s Chorus is composed and written by the editor except as indicated.
Material may be reprinted except as noted as long as proper credit is given to
NYSDB. It’s officers demonstrator’s writers, editor, and members specifically disclaim
any responsibility or liability for damages or injuries as a result of the use of any
information published in the Anvil’s Chorus. The use of any information published is
strictly at the user’s own risk.
Page 3
E DITOR ’ S
It isn’t noted in the schedule but the Niagara Forge has elected to
hold mid week, mid monthly meetings in the evening to help solve
problems, show movies or slides of blacksmithing problems that
any one is having, plus research how some ideas evolved through
the years. At the first meeting we talked about the planned
schedule plus Bob Corneck showed slides on the making of bog
iron which he plans on doing in the future.
The second such meeting will be at Medaille College the 17th of
March in the library at 7:30 pm. The third will be on April 23rd at
Isabelle’s studio at 7:30 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. These
meetings are in addition to the regular meetings. Click on our web
site, as topics of interest will be up dated as material comes, the
newsletter will also be posted and we will try to be on time.
NOTES
In case a lot of the membership does not know, the NYSDB is
inviting all the other ABANA affiliates to participate in building and
displaying a banner at the 2004 Conference. Plan on attending, as
this will be a first Regional forges. So get your banner stands
finished as we might take the best to the conference.
If you are planning on joining ABANA in the near future get a
specially marked application from the executive branch as the we
can get a free pass to the conference to be raffled off to some lucky
member.
DON’T FORGET TO USE THE WEB SITE TO FIND OUT THE LATEST
HAPPENINGS
wwwnysdb.org
Those wishing to download rather than wait for the mailing, please Al Butlak
notify the membership chairman Gene Beamer so you can be
deleted from the mailing list and be placed on the email notification
list. The print version currently and remains with possible delays.
Page 4
ABANA Affiliate Liaison Letter
February 2004
Hello and I hope that everyone had a good Holiday Season. Winter
is almost over for us here in southern Louisiana. I saw some
Azaleas blooming today, and Mardi Gras is right around the corner.
Folks are coming out of winter hibernation and lighting up their
forges. Please take a moment to check your chimneys for
blockages like bird nests and dried leaves, why there could even be
a possum living up in there for the winter. Please check before you
light a fire. Take a few extra minutes to be safe!
• The 2004 ABANA Conference Registration
http://www.abana.org/membership/conference/index.shtml
• We also have the Affiliate Liaison Representative e-mail list that I
strongly encourage the Affiliate Reps to join,
http://www.abana.org/affiliates/index.shtml this list will become
the basis for the Affiliate Liaison Program.
Conference Updates
Dave Koenig asked that we spread the word to you all about a few
things happening with the conference. The latest issue of the 2004
Conference newsletter is out and can be found at:
I get requests almost daily from folks all over the country asking
how to find other folks that share blacksmithing interests. Fifteen
•
years ago it was hard to find any information. Fortunately today you
http://www.abana.org/membership/conference
have the ABANA web site www.abana.org which will direct you to a
/newsletter.shtml
world of information. I have put together a preliminary list of places
You can also download the Adobe PDF file to include in your printed
that you can ask questions or give answers related to
newsletter. The link is on the page listed above.
blacksmithing.
In no particular order, there are at least four e-mail lists that you
can subscribe to.
• The Anvil, 152 members,
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Anvil/
• The Forge, 350 members,
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
• Blacksmiths @ Yahoo, 562 members,
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blacksmiths/
• Blacksmiths @ Metal Shapers
http://groups.yahoo.com//group/blacksmiths?yguid=62887795
Many Affiliates are taking advantage of the Free Conference
Registration offer. All you need to do is have 10 of your members
who have not been ABNANA members before or have not renewed
their membership over the past two years send in their
membership to the Central Office. Make sure that they mark their
affiliate name and mention on the form that it is for the 2004 Free
Conference Registration offer. Once your affiliate has reached the
ten members needed your affiliate will receive a coupon worth one
free registration. You can use this offer for your affiliate auctions,
raffles, Iron-in-the-Hat or whatever you deem fitting. Here are the
affiliates that are currently participating.
• There is also the News Group .alt.craft.blacksmithing that I reach
through Google,
Pittsburgh Area Artist Blacksmiths Association
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&group=alt.crafts.blacksmi Blacksmith Guild of the Potomac
thing
Balcones Forge
Western Canadian Blacksmith's Association-South Alberta Chapter
• There is the KeenJunk's Junkyard Forum
Blacksmith Association of Missouri
http://www.keenjunk.com/junkyard.htm
Western Reserve Blacksmith Association
• There is the ABANA Forums
Gulfcoast Blacksmith Association
http://www.abana.org/resources/forums/index.shtml
East Texas Blacksmith Alliance
Michigan Artist Blacksmiths Association
• There is the AnvilFire's Slack Tub Pub Forum
North West Blacksmith Association
http://www.anvilfire.com/slacktub/
• There is the ArtMetal Village Forums
http://www.artmetal.com/village/BBS/bbs_entrance.cgi
• There is the E-Z Town's Blacksmith Forum http://www.eztown.com/blacksmithing.htm
• There is also The Iron Man News http://www.ironews.com/
• And if you speak Swedish, there is the Antracit Forum
http://www.antracit.nu/
• And if you speak Australian, try Metal-Crafts Australia
http://www.yp-connect.net/%7etcents/metal/
• You can find an extensive list of links at ABANA’s
http://www.abana.org/resources/links.shtml
Speaking of TWO FREE conference registrations, don’t forget to
encourage your members to enter the ABANA Conference Poster
Contest. For more information visit:
http://www.abana.org/membership/conference/poster_contest.sh
tml or contact Dave Mudge for details.
Also included with this mailing is an announcement from Al Butlak
of the New York State Designer Blacksmiths. Al wants all the ABANA
Affiliates to make banners for the 2004 Conference, see his letter
for details and get involved! We will also be posting this on the
ABANA website.
Page 5
The President’s Message
I suspect all of you are as excited as I am to see the end of “old
man winter”, and the prospect of forging without the danger of
frostbite. The months of relative inactivity imposed by cold drafty
shops can dull our awareness of the inherent dangers associated
with blacksmithing. As you gear up for another season, take time to
think about your personal safety and the safety of others working in
your shop. Do a safety inspection to make sure your shop is well
organized, and the tools and equipment are in good working order.
Review safety rules and procedures, and resolve to follow them,
especially those regarding vision and hearing protection. With
advanced planning and a little healthy caution we can make ‘04 a
safe and productive year.
between our regions, between our members and officers, and
between our organization and the general public. Charley deserves
a great deal of credit for taking on this project, and we also need to
thank the officers and forge masters who met and worked on the
planning for the web site-thanks guys.
Henry Offermann will become the new chairman of the Events
Committee when Marty Snye steps down this spring. Marty will
continue to work on the committee in a secondary role. Thank you
Marty for the many hours you have devoted to organizing our all
members events over the last few years.
This is, as you know, an election year, and we are looking for
people interested in running for office. This search has, at this point
There are a number of upcoming events you will want to put on
in time, been unsuccessful. It is obvious, after observing people at
your calendar. The next all members meeting is April 24th and 25th
our various meetings and demonstrations, that we have a
at David DeSantis’s shop in Sylvan Beach, N.Y. The demonstrator
significant number of talented members with good leadership skills
will be Marty Reisig. Marty is the full time smith at the Hale Farm
in our ranks, but so far they have been reluctant to share their
Museum in Ohio. He is an excellent period blacksmith with some
talent. If our organization is to continue to run smoothly and provide
very interesting and unusual tooling. The Southern Tier Region is
the activities we have come to expect we will need members willing
hosting the annual picnic on August 21st and 22nd. The event will be
to step forward and volunteer to do their part. Contact your forge
held at Fernbaugh Campsites, 4682 State Road Rt. 414, Corning,
master and let him know you are willing to do your part to keep our
N.Y. This, as you know, is an informal event with time to relax and
organization going strong. We need fresh faces with new ideas if we
get to meet other members and their families, so bring your tent,
are going to grow and prosper as an organization.
your lawn chair and of course your forge, and have a great
weekend. While you are marking your calendar, don’t forget the
2004 ABANA conference. The conference will be July 7th to the 11th
at Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky.
Best Regards,
Other issues of importance include the establishment of our
own web site at www.nysdb.org. Charley Orlando has the site up
and running beautifully. There are currently a few “holes” in the
site, but these will be filled in as our committees and members
supply the appropriate information to Charley. I am confident that
the new web site will significantly improve the communication
Chuck Canterbury
Page 6
Scholarship News!
Many thanks to the Alabama Forge Council for the 2003 MAL
scholarship. The scholarship was used to attend the Forge Welding
at J.C. Campbell folk school in May. The instructor was Charlie
Orlando. Anyone attending a class taught by Charlie is in for a real
experience of learning. He is an outstanding teacher. The New
York Designer Blacksmith's were well represented by myself, Dick
Rightmyer, Charlie Orlando, Don Kieffer and Isabelle Pliesier. Don
was my traveling companion and Isabelle was there on a
scholarship from the NYSDB. There were seven other students
attending as well as well as Charlie's helper, Lyle Wheeler.
Charlie explained the importance of first upsetting the stock to be
welded to gain material for finishing the weld to size and the proper
shaped scarf for the weld.
Charlie did not waste any time and started right out with some
simple faggot welds which we practiced before doing the more
difficult welds. Everyone started with coal forges and later used
the propane forges. While Charlie is a proponent of gas, but he did
use coal, complaining all the time about fire management.
the weld so that I could scarf the joint, got distracted and burnt the
frame beyond repair. I started the frame again and forged the
corners square much faster than the first frame and welded it
successfully. I laid out the Quatrefoil, using ½" x ¼" stock and
Francis Whitaker's method. I had built 2 fixtures at home to control
the bends as suggested by my friend, John Rausch. They made it
much easier to form the foil to the correct dimensions needed.
Each sectional spear point was faggot welded and forged on edge
to the proper shape and the entire unit bent in a circle and forge
welded together. Forging the spear point on edge was a good test
of the weld. At this point, I discovered my second mistake. The Foil
was smaller than the necessary dimensions to properly fit the
frame. Fortunately, it was ½" smaller which I corrected with a RDC
(rapid design change) by bending a circle, welding to fit in the frame
and inserting the Foil. The result looked better than the original
design. Now, I need to make a second one for a project I was
working on.
As the Forge Master for the Genesee Region of the NYSDB, I have
plenty of opportunity to demo and train other members the
There were a variety of fluxes to try, EZ-weld, borax and Swan flux
procedures that I learned in this class. Again, I thank the Alabama
from England. I've used borax and EZ weld before but was
Forge Council for the scholarship grant that made it possible to
impressed with the Swan flux. There was very little cleanup
attend the Forge Welding class at the J.C Campbell Folk school. I
compared with EZ weld and no bleed thru as with Borax. As usual, I
plan to send a forge welded Damascus Knife for the annual
had problems with "drop the tongs" and blew several welds before
auction.
switching to EZ weld which I find to be more "sticky". I'm slow
getting the pieces lined up properly and the sticky EZ weld helps me If you are interested in viewing the welding class and projects, go
because I find it gives me more weld time.
to the internet and key in "orlandoforge" Charlie has a cool website
with good pictures.
My personal project was to make a Quatrefoil in a square frame. I
had intended to forge weld each of the 1/2 " square corners but
decided to forge them square instead as the welded corners were
Dick Rightmyer, New York Designer Blacksmiths
not quite up to the standard I wanted. There were still enough
welded joints in the project for plenty of practice. After forging the
4 corners and surprisingly maintaining the necessary dimensions,
Murphy's law struck. I was heating up to bend the side opposite
Attention all NYSDB members and any one reading this newsletter
The NYSDB is sporting a new web site
www.nysdb.org
Click in and find out the latest goings on Charlie Orlando is web master
He can be contacted at [email protected].
It’s up and running so go and use it, The newsletter will also be on it
If you wish to subscribe to the web form of receiving your newsletter
Contact the membership chairman Gene Beamer Or the editor AB
Page 7
To keep some kind of muscle flesh clinging to my bones, I venture
myself at the quilters, weavers, or other leaf-pounding people’s
tables, but meeting new interesting people generates a certain
amount of conversation, and the meal is often over before I have
started to eat. In a place where schedules are a done thing, I find
“NOT HOT ENOUGH!” (roaring sound coming from behind myself lagging behind more and more as the week goes by, for the
as I hopelessly try to erase my latest mistake on the stubborn piece greater joy of Don Kieffer (Rochester group), who keeps teasing me
of stock)
about my inability to adapt. But Don, you are the one who skips
lunch on the last day in order to finish your (I have to say, quite
“PUT IT BACK IN THE FIRE! “
beautiful) table!
Could I ever think on my third day that beating the iron could put
On the fourth day and as an act of rebellion, I subconsciously opt
some kind of heat back into it???
for a giant spoon as my final project (an eye-hook, basket weld,
Charley Orlando is back at the far end of the blacksmith’s shop,
drop-the-tongs and power-hammered “bowl” part).
where he has established his HQ around his gas forge. We are all,
here in Francis Whitaker’s beautifully organized shop at the John
Campbell’s Folk School, working hard on fire management and
The blacksmith’s shop heats up more and more as the
burning our pieces, but we all know that at least one hope lies here day, and the week, go by at lightening speed. We work mornings,
somewhere on the journey: The gas forge! Though Charley loves his afternoons, evenings: we live by the furnace.
gas forge, coal has no secrets for him. “Clean your fire!” he bellows.
On the last night, surprised not to find Dick (Rightmyer) hammering
away to finish his gorgeous “quatrefeuille”, I sneak outside to find
We have already made some lap welds and faggot welds him gazing stubbornly towards the darkness, a can of some local
beverage loosely hanging from his (smart) hand. Unwilling to
(for a beginner like me baskets look spectacular enough) and are
now working on our flat rings. Later tonight, under Lyle (Wheeler)’s interrupt such solemnity, go back inside to get my information: At
the point of welding the last corner on his chef d’oeuvre, a few
supervision, I’ll be hammering around the cone the one or two I
seconds of inattention and.... pffff.... went the quatrefeuille in a
succeeded in welding, and I remember this moment as one of
intense concentration, as for me the paradox of the blacksmithing whizz of smoke (an a few sparks). I feel like a brand iron strikes my
heart. At least, when you’re only a beginner like me, the stuff you
business is that the “good” hand does the “dumb” work
burn all the time is not that much worth it.
(hammering) and the clumsy one does all the management. . .
“Il faut battre le fer tant qu’il est chaud” (“better
beat the iron while it’s hot ”)(French proverb)
I seem to have understood the basics of forge welding: once again,
getting the metal hot enough. . . taking it out just before it burns. . .
yellow color. . . almost white. . . my next-forge neighbour, Mizrabill,
clenches his jaws once again and represses something I would not
like to hear anyway: it’s about the fifteenth time he has tried his eye
bolt weld and is calmly about to kick the hood. But he is good sport
and tries once more. I think his metal is NOT HOT ENOUGH. A few
minutes later he extirpates - after a quick exchange with Charliethe king of the klinkers, a megamorphous blob which he brandishes
like a reduced head on a pole. His next weld works great and it’s
time for lunch.
Better hurry! food is good at the Campbell’s and the
common dish goes down fast, especially at the blacksmith’s table.
But Dick being Dick, the next day his piece is all built up anew, and
sits (proudly) on the exhibition table on that last afternoon.
Sad to leave, hoping to go back, thanking Jim Robarr and the
NYSDB for awarding me with the scholarship, Charley Orlando and
Lyle Wheeler for their craftsmanship, wonderful teachings and
sense of humor, I wish everyone could experience a blacksmithing
week at the Campbell’s Folk School.
“If you have to ask yourself if something is hot, cold, ready, etc, the
This would be a good place to insert a short paragraph
about your organization. It might include the purpose of
the organization, its mission, founding date, and a brief
history. You could also include a brief list of the types of
products, services, or programs your organization offers, the
geographic area covered (for example, western U.S. or
Page 8
European markets), and a profile of the types of customers
Southern Tier or members served.
round,
twisted,
NYSDB held at BOCES , Rush ,NY had 21
forged to
members and guest in attendance. After
roughly the
coffee and donuts, Cleo Wright
demonstrated damaskas billet making using knife blank
shape.
strapping steel and band saw blades,
starting with 19 layers, finishing with a billet Cleo then
ground and
of 38 layers, the billet was then forged
The Feb. 21,2004 meeting of The
It would also be useful to include a contact name for readers who want more information about the organization.
sanded
the blank
to the
finished
shape,
then
etched
the blade
The Feb.15, 2004 Southern Tier
meeting of the NYSDB was hosted by Ernie
and Donna Neild at Ernie's shop. After
coffee and goodies Pete Robertson of
Stafford, VA
The Anvil’s Chorus
The January
18,2004 Southern Tier Meeting of the
NYSDB was hosted by John and Diana Fee
at John's shop.
After coffee and donuts, Mike Hutter
demonstrated the making of an ax using
traditional methods of the 17-18 century.
Mike started with wrought iron salvaged
from steam boiler tie bolts and an old file.
He forged,
forge
welded
the two
sides with the steel cutting edge, finished
and handled the ax.
New England School of Metalwork
2004 Workshop Season
Guest Instructors form Around the Country
May – Dereck Glaser, Susan Madacsi
June – Charley Orlando, Doug Merkel, Clay Spencer
July – John Rais
August – Steve Yusko
September – Rick Smith, Mindy Gardner, Bob Becker
October – Rob Kirchner, Zack Noble, Mike Greene, Todd Greene
Botanical, Welding, Colonial, Beginners, Tool Forging, Sculpture, Repousse’,
Damascus, Armor
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 9
Page 10
shovel
a
d
e
e
- Do I n
n
o
i
t
s
e
Qu
repair?
The other day I was going to add some coal to my
fire and in the process the end of the blade of the
shovel broke off Meanwhile Rick LaClair drops in
and volunteers to help We found apiece of sixteen
gauge sheet steel and proceeded to cut out four
blanks One for the forge one for Rick and two for
iron in the hat.
We laid out the pattern on the steel with soap
stone.
Then the material was cut in my
Beverly shear which is purposely
made for this operation
After cutting and the fire is going we
placed the blank on a specially cut
piece of on half inch steel which fits
inside of swedge block cavity. This
Piece of steel was welded to on side
of the mouth of a pair of tongs.
After heating steel it was picked
up by the tongs, with the tongs and hammered into the swedge
handle being reattached
formed
shovel
end
Finished
product
with old
Page 11
Volume 1, Issue 1
Tooling: One Tenon, Two Types of Monkey Tools
By George Dixon
There are projects which have a tenon that is an odd size or shape. The issue
becomes one of tooling up for that once-in-a- blue-moon tenon. The example is
of a rectangular tenon which is 3/8”x7/8” in cross section.
Quick, Fabricated Monkey Tool: Forge the tenon, keep it even and
true. Once cool, wrap the mid-point of the tenon with several wraps of
Lightly clamp the bar cuttings around the taped section of the tenon as
shown. Weld (electrically) or braze the corner of the bar cuttings together. Let
the assembly cool and knock it off the tenon. Cut 8” of the square tube and
weld the four-bar fabrication to one end as shown. If one of the tenon’s
dimensions exceeds the inside diameter of the tube, set the tub on the
diamond and drive the opposite corners together until this is no longer the
case (or get bigger tube, eh?)
Top-down view of tool-tenon interface
Hot-Drifted Monkey Tool: The more traditional approach makes
sense if there is a chance that more of the tenon which led to this are likely
in the future.
Take a piece of tool steel bar stock cut to the desired length. Layout three or
four drill center marks on one end as shown. In this three hole example, drill
the center hole a slip size for a piece of round stock (9/32” for ¼” rod).
Use a piece of ¼” round to fill the drilled hole. Now drill the right and left
holes. Remove what’s left of the rod from the center hole. This results in an
undersize and somewhat rough slot in the monkey tool blank.
Forge a drift with a working end that is the size of the tenon but longer.
With the drilled monkey tool blank at a high forging temperature and well
backed-up (as Shown), drive the drift into the drilled slot. This will stretch the
cavity, displacing the irregular inside walls and truingup the negative space of the tool. With the drift seated
in the hot tool, forge the sides down onto the drift to
further refine inside against the drift.
The last step making a hot-drifted monkey tool is to
dress the face of the drift. The drift drags the metal
around the opening inward as it is driven in. The face
must be cleaned up so that a flat surface at a true
right angle to the hole within. Otherwise, any
irregularity of the face of the tool or any degree off
square between the cavity and the face will be
transferred to the tenoned bar’s shoulder.
Taken from The Upset May 2003
Mississippi Forge Council.
Also from The Fire’s Edge–
Newsletter of the Great Plains
Blacksmith Association July 2003
Page 12
The Niagara forge is taking on the commission to fabricate a flag stand ABANA to be displayed at
the conference at Richmond, Kentucky in July. Anyone wishes to help call or email your editor.
Meetings will be in the evening. About four members have agreed to help thus far.
If are thinking of applying for a scholarship, do so now. There may be an opening or not, but you
can apply for next year. Application and information is posted on the web site.
Don’t forget to express your desire to download your newsletter from the web or wait for printing
and mailing. Our membership chairman has agreed to maintain this list.
Page 13
Volume 1, Issue 1
Niagara Region Schedule
Meetings will be on the first Saturday of the month
Apr 26 All State Meeting Dave Desantis- Sylvan Lake (Syracuse) Marti Reisic 18th century reproductions
Hale Farm Ohio
Resident Blacksmith
Apr 27 All State Meeting Dave Desantis- Sylvin Lake (Syracuse) Marti Reisic 18th century reproductions
Hale Farm Ohio
Resident Blacksmith
May 2nd TBA shop signs-heat treating / tools-smelting iron
Aug 21
All State Meeting Watkins Glenn
Aug 22
All State Meeting Watkins Glenn
Demos TBA
Mohawk Region Schedule
2nd Saturday of each month, excluding Dec.—Feb.
No meetings in months with scheduled NYSDB Statewide meetings.
Southern Tier Schedule
This list needs the “holes” filled in!
Please forward your region schedules
so we can post them here.
Maybe attendance will improve at
All meetings are on the third SUNDAY of the month except
some of the every member meetings.
Genesee Region Schedule
The Genesee Forge meets on the 3rd Saturday of the month (unless otherwise notified at the BOCES Campus on East River Rd., Rush,
NY, starting at 8 AM and ending at 4 PM.
Please notify the Forgemasters, Dick Rightmyer @ 293-3299 or John Rausch @ 225-1177 if planning to attend, Meeting fee is $5. Bring
forged or useable item for Iron/Hat or $2 fee is added.
Those that wish to continue the Journeyman project may do so with guidance from either Forgemaster. Please make your wishes for any
projects known. This Schedule is flexible. NYSDB events may pre-empt Genesee Region events.
Adirondack Region
For more information, call John, Steve, or the host of the event! Members of all skill levels are encouraged to come, as there will be
something valuable to learn for all members. Every member should try to bring a complete set of tools to the demos to participate in the
hands on demo, including hammer, tongs, anvil, and portable forge when possible. Bring what you can to allow yourself a full chance to
participate in the project. Each meeting will included a demo, and then a hands on project.
May 8th Host - Gary Gaylord Demonstrators: Jerry Fletcher & Steve Kellogg Green Coal & Stool Project Basswood Ridge Rd, Renseller
Falls, N.Y., (315) 386-4320.
June 5th Lee Gates - Charcoal making, David Woodward - Decorative Filing. To Be Announced.
All smiths, both novice and experienced, are welcome at our meetings. Each meeting will have demos and hands on opportunities.
Bring basic tools and personal safety equipment. Safety glasses, ear protection, non-flammable clothing and gloves are required. For
Page 14
Principles of Design
Phi, The Golden Rectangle, and Fibonacci
By Boyd Holtan
Beginning smiths are quickly faced with design issues, soon after they have developed the basic blacksmithing forge skills. Since
most are interested in ornamental items, the design questions become very important in producing the most attractive and
appealing products. There are some very old ideas that may be of interest to these smiths.
If you were asked to design a rectangular sign, what would you choose for the length and width in order to have the most pleasing
appearance? Many believe that be most pleasing rectangle is the "Golden Rectangle” with a length about 1.618 times the width.
Using that formula, if wanted a sign 5 feet wide, it should be 5 times 1.618 or 8.09 feet long. There are many rectangles we see in
use that are very close to Golden Rectangles. A couple of examples are playing cards and the American Flag.
Back in 1876, Gustav Fechner, a German psychologist, asked many people to choose the most pleasing rectangle from a set of
rectangles. He found that over 3/4 of the, people chose rectangles very similar to the Golden Rectangle! Fechner’s study has since
been repeated at least three times with similar results.
D
A
C
E
B
Fig 1
D
A
D
C
E
Fig 2
B
F
A
E
C
G
B
F
Fig 3
How do we know that this is the Golden Rectangle? If we let the original square be 1 unit on each side, the right triangle EBC has
legs of ½ and 1 (EB and BC). If we use the Pythagorean Theorem, we will find that the diagonal EC is: square root of 5 divided by 2
or; v 5 divided by 2
We can then length of the rectangle AF by adding the lengths of AE and EC to get the length of AF. This is:
1/2 plusv5/2 or, 1+ v5 divided by 2
If we use a hand calculator, we can determine that the decimal equivalent is approximately 1.618. This ratio of the length to the
width of Golden Rectangle is commonly called "Phi” or the Golden Ratio. Phi is the initial letter of the Greek name Phidias.
The number Phi is sometimes called the "Divine Proportion" and is often found in architecture and nature. A common illustration of
this is the front of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, built in the fifth century B.C. Its dimensions fit almost exactly into a Golden
Rectangle.
The square extended into a Golden Rectangle also has another interesting feature. If we cut off square ABCD (shown in Fig. 3) we
Page 15
If we find the center of each of these squares and connect them
with a smooth curve, we get the logarithmic spiral, which is so
commonly used, in ornamental iron scroll work (Fig. 4-A). This is
the same spiral that is found in the well-known sea shell, the
chambered nautilus. It is often said that when blacksmith design
ideas are needed, look at nature. This is really more than
coincidence. Mathematical design is seen often in many areas of
nature, we will find later in this article.
Fig 4-A
A way to construct an approximation of the logarithmic
spiral is to use one vertex of the square and the length of a
side of the square as a radius, then draw a diagonal are (as
shown in Fig- 4-B). By property choosing the center and
changing the radius for each square, the spiral can be
constructed in our Golden Rectangle.
Fig 4-B
Phi is a very curious number. It is the only number that when subtracting 1 from it, is its own reciprocal. Thus, Phi - 1 is 1/Phi.
Another way of saying this is to 1.618 - 1 = .618, is also 1/1.618. This can help us in designing we most pleasing rectangular sign.
If we know the width, we can find the length by multiping it by 1.618, as we did in the beginning of the article. Conversely, if we
know the length, we can find the width by multiplying by one less, or.618. Phi 1 (or.618) is usually called Phi, or Phi Prime, and is
often used instead of Phi in computations and discussions
Readers might remember from their geometry studies that they were asked to find a point on a line which divided it into mean and
extreme ratios. That is, to find a point on a line, which divides the line so that the ratio of the whole line segment to the longer
segment is in the same ratio as the line segment, is to the shorter line segment (see Fig. 5). The ratios (a + b-a and a/ b are both
Phi!
Fig 5
Find p so that a + b/a = a/b
From Fig. 5 we could make two Golden Rectangles. One would have length (a + b)
and width a, while the smaller one would have length a and width b. You might
notice that if you draw the figure, the smaller Golden Rectangle is the one left if you
cut to square from the larger Golden Rectangle. Thus, in Fig. 3, a is AB and b is BF,
with point P at B.
Phi pops up again in the "Golden Section" of the regular pentagon, or five-sided figure.
If we draw diagonals of the regular pentagon, they divide each other in to mean and
extreme ratio, or Phi (see Fig. 6), Diagonals AB and CD intersect at P and divide each
other in the Golden Ratio, Phi. There are other Phi relationships that the pentagon
exhibits. If all the diagonals are drawn, forming the pentacrest, it becomes the secret
symbol of the ancient Pythagorean society.
A
C
P
B
Fig 6
Article taken from “The Appalachian Blacksmiths Assoc. June 2001 / then Prairie Blacksmith’s Association Newsletter Vol.
2003(5): Dec 2003
D
Page 16
Volume 1, Issue 1
Welcome!
We would like to welcome the new members:
Name
Region
Name
Earl Bennett
AD
William Brucker
Jessica Fee
ST
Patrick Grossi
Region
GN
Eric Hadlock
ST
Joe Miller
MO
Victor Nowlan
ST
David Pangbum
ST
Steven White
NI
Attention all NYSDB members we now have a new web site! www.nysdb.org Send contributions to your editor or
Charlie Orlando, Webmaster directly.
Please take note of your mailing label. If the expiration date is highlighted in yellow it means that you dues are
now in need of being paid. Please send payment to Treasurer Steve Joslyn.
When a member sends in a check dated past their renewal date (sometimes a few months) that does not become their new renewal
date. I one case, when the check was just received 9 months after the renewal date, they now will need to renew again in 3 months.
The dues are for a 12 month period.
Membership News!
We have a request for information on the
membership fees for student and family memberships
for our organization. The problem is that we (as far as I
can determine) have never formally set these fees. I
have made inquires and have received information on
past and current practices as well as a
recommendation on a possible fee schedule. I have put
the information together and have come up with the
following:
age.
The family membership would be 20 dollars with
an extra 5 dollars for each minor and 10 dollars extra
for each additional adult. The family membership
would have one vote on organizational affairs and not
pay the initiation fee.
Please note that our Constitution lists these
memberships, and has some requirements for them,
and these requirements would continue to apply. Also
Student membership would be 10 dollars (1/2
please note the apparent problem (fairness) of not
regular membership) with no initiation fee, no vote in
applying the initiation fee to the family membershiporganizational affairs and with parental permission and
the Constitution says in Article VI Section 2 “The
or supervision required for anyone under 18 years of
Page 17
NYSDB Video list July 2003
17. Francis Whitaker @ JCCFS
18. Peter Happny @ Ashokan 3 Tape series
1. Blacksmith Journal –Tapes 1 & 2
19. Bud Oggier @ Ashokan Using tool steel
2. Forged Elegance – Cyril Colnick
20. Robb Gunter demo 1989
3. Colonial Williamsburg -- 1 Tape
21. Hans Peot @ NYSDB About tools
Colonial Gunsmith, Williamsburg Blacksmith’s, Forging Andirons
22. Forge Welding with Bob Patrick
4. Bob Becker @ NYSDB
23. Francis Whitaker – Forge in the Forest
5. Walt Scadden @ Ashokan
24. Dan Boone @ NYSDB
6. Jerry Darnell – 1 Tape Colonial Door Latch & Hinges
25. Tom Joyce @ Ashokan
7. Tom Joyce @ California Conference
26. Patina Finishes for Brass, Bronze, Copper, Steel & Aluminum
8. Dorthy Steigler -- Baskets and Welding
27. Made in America –Albert Paley & Wendel Castle
9. William Brady -- Master Blacksmith
28. Clifton Ralph -- Power Hammer 2 tapes 10 hrs.
10. Fred Crist @ Ashokan
29. Hershel House -- Kentucky Rifle & Blacksmith Basics
11. Francis Whitaker @ Ashokan 4 Tapes, 8 hrs. each
30. Hershel House – Building American Flintlock Rifle
12. Francis Whitaker @ JC Campbell Folk School
31. Homer Dangler -- Classic American Long Rifle 2 tape series
13. Blacksmith Classes @ JCCFS
32. Long Hunter Series -- #’s 1, 2, 3, & 4
14. Rose Iron Works @ Alfred NY 1996
33. Bill Moran – Forging a Blade & Forging Damascus 1 Tape
15. Walt Scadden @ FABA 2 Tapes
34. Jim Hirsoulas -- Forging Knives and Damascus 2 Tape series
16. 1989 World Conference, Acchen, Germany
35. Ed Fowler -- Forging 52100 Ball Bearing Steel
36. Al Pendray -- Knife Making & Heat Treating 3 tape series
Page 18
Coal Is Back!
Reboy Coal
Dennis Coal
Maple & Jamison Rd
7987 #5 Rd
West
Elma, NY
(WNY)
Fabius, NY
1800 Dale Road
Buffalo, NY 14225
(716)892-8434
Upstate Steel is offering 15% discounts to members
for steel purchases
Got something that other club members may want?
For Sale
In the Rochester area a 20% discount is offered on
purchases
Peter Wright Anvil approximately 115# Fair condition
$170.00 Stainless steel flat bar 3/8” x ½” X 12’ lengths
$13.00 ea Contact Gene 716-695-2535 or 716-694-3932
Metal Supermarkets
Surplus
Club Gear - Don Kieffer 716 426 6151
Rochester Steel and
email [email protected] or see him at Genesee Forge meetings
Vern Hornquist has a variety of hand tools used anvils Costume Forge T-shirts rerun in April.
and used equipment for sale.
12 of a kind necessary to print.
716 433 7578 6062 Shaffer Rd Lockport NY 14094
Electric's iWeld newsletter, a monthly e-magazine dedicated to
the welding industry. Not only will you learn about new
products, technologies, events and news from the Welding
Experts, you'll have a chance to win a FREE SP 135 Plus, a
portable MIG and flux-cored ready to weld package that's our
most popular model with home hobbyists!
Al Butlak 716 894 7185 email [email protected] or see
your forge master
Shop made tools for the beginning or hobby blackmsith
eBay: seller - scharabo If you you want to see the type of tools and
prices just do an eBay scearch on scharbo. Ask for a count of 100.
Ken Scharabok - [email protected]
Page 19
Membership Application
The New York State Designers Blacksmith’s
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Other ____________
Do you have a:
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Are you a:
Full time smith
Beginner
Dues are $20 per year & initiation fee of $10. Multiple years accepted. Included also are 4 issues of
the Anvil’s Chorus are published about Jan 30 / April 30 / July 30 / Oct 30.
Send completed form, checks payable to NYSBD and remittance to:
Steve Joslyn– Treasurer
1244 State Route 80
Smyrma, NY 13464
ABANA Membership Application
Includes a subscription to The Anvil’s Ring and the Hammer’s Blow Primary ABANA
Chapter Affiliation
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Blacksmiths
Al Butlak, Newsletter Editor
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NYSDB now on the web!
www.nysdb.org
Remember!
Genesse Region:
Meetings held 3rd Saturday of the month. Rush, NY
Mohawk Region:
Meets at the Chittenango Barge Canal Museum Chittenango, NY
Meets 2nd Saturday of each month, excluding Dec.– Feb.
No meetings in months with schedule NYSDB Statewide meetings.
Niagara Region:
Meetings will be on the first Saturday of the month
May 2nd TBA shop signs-heat treating / tools-smelting iron
Aug 21
All State Meeting Watkins Glenn
Aug 22
All State Meeting Watkins Glenn
Demos TBA
Southern Tier Region:
All meetings are on the third SUNDAY of the month except some of the every member meetings.