Fall 2012 A - Northeast Blacksmiths Association
Transcription
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 [email protected] Vice - President Frank Shaw 58 Hogsback Rd. Greenwich, NY 12834 Treasurer Tim Neu 511 Beaverkill Rd. Olivebridge, N.Y. 12461 [845] 657-7553 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 page 2 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 page 3 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 page 4 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 page 6
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