Ontario Artisan Blacksmiths Association (OABA)

IForgeIron would like to welcome Ontario Artisan Blacksmiths Association (OABA). This is your forum, use it to let others know about your group, your activities, and events. Post photos of the events when they are over so we can see what we missed. This is your forum, please use it to keep us informed about your group.

Hey, Just looking to find some people who are in southern Ontario I could learn from or that could learn with me.

Hello, I used to do my forging out in the country, so this was never really a problem. I've recently just moved to Cambridge (right in the city) and the last thing I want is to set up a forge and have fire trucks at my house handing me a hefty fine for not adhering to local by-laws. Don't get me wrong, I have every intention of setting up my forge safely, but some of the local by-laws are a bit overkill. For example, "The use of chimineas and factory-built outdoor fireplaces or fire pits are considered to be open burning and would require a permit to be used." Permits are $54/month (pricey), and they come with additional stipulations that are nearly impossible for…

Hi, Im in the planning stages of immigrating to Canada from the UK, I had hoped to move in about a year but with the pandemic it may now be a bit longer. My first step is going to be a holiday / explore of a few places and then I will start the rather complicated looking immigration process. I wondered if I could please ask you guys some questions? Is coal / coke easy to get hold of? And the same with metal stock, the UK is such a densely populated area that I have about 50 suppliers to choose from, do you have much choice? I intend to be in a rural area with access to nature ( one of my main reasons for moving ) but within an hour of a substantial populati…

Hello, I'm from manitoba but I haven't been able to find any wrought iron here. I am doing a project where I will need to make several large overlays that I want to do in wrought iron, but the only place I can find that sells it in good quantities is in the UK and I can't find any locally. Would anyone here in ontario be able to sell me some wrought iron at a decent cost? I'd need larger pieces, anchor chain, wagon rim, etc...

Anyone know an affordable and reliable source in S. Ontario (East of Toronto)? Cheers, -W.

Hello Everyone! This forum seems pretty dead. We should liven it up a bit! I'm a fledgling blacksmith. Just got my forge up and running and mounted my anvil. I have the basic tools and a full tank of propane. I'm eager to get started! I'm totally new to this but I would like to invite anyone out there who's interested in blacksmithing to learn with me! I make no claims of expertise and will in no way be teaching. I know there's a lot of people out there who are interested in blacksmithing but consider it to difficult to get into. So this is a chance to come out and try your hand at smithing. I know this is shot notice but I'm super excited to spend tomorrow…

Hello, my name is Cameron. My apologies if this post is not in the correct location. I would like to learn blacksmithing and hope to offer my services as an apprentice in a shop under a skilled blacksmith. Unfortunately, I have limited funds and cannot afford to pay for classes, so I am hoping to either exchange my existing skills (autocad, computer science, graphic design - to name a few) or help around a shop as an apprentice as payment for learning (I also have some experience in a machine shop [mostly grinding and minor lathe work). My interests are weapons, armor and tools for medieval events and societies, but any form of training is appreciated. …

a few of us are planning to start a new guild for the eastern ontario blacksmiths as it seems that oaba is based mostly in the west. nothing against oaba however some of us would like to get together on a more regular basis down here( east that is. ) regards Che

Upper Canada Village Meeting - April 26, 27, 28, 2019 This year we will have Artist Blacksmith John Little and his wife Nancy Little come from East Dover, Nova Scotia. John will do an artist talk as well as some forging demonstrations. Presently John's presentation is sold out. If you would like to be placed on the waiting list call Lloyd. If you are not sure if you are on the list of attendees call Lloyd. Spouses pay one tuition fee, however, they must both pay accommodation fees as OABA pays U.C.V by the head. If you have not stayed at the village before you might like to bring bedding and an air mattress. There is some space for couples, but is limited.…

February 9th. 10 am to 4 pm. Where: 16 James St, Milton, ON L9T 2P4, Canada What: This is our first monthly meeting for the year 2019! Usually a good time to pay up your membership fee or to join our group. Held at the Historical Waldies' Blacksmith Shop of Milton Ontario - Mike Armstrong of Armstrong and Carter Ironworks will demonstrate forging and filing a pear of box joint pliers.

I am looking for a small-medium sized swage block. It is not an urgent search but if anyone has one that they want to get rid of. I need it to have a 1" hole so i can make hardies and i would like it to have V's on one edge. thanks Josh

looking to learn from any hobby Smith's near Peterborough Ontario

Has anyone found a supplier in Ontario for these ward tees, I need the 1 1/4 x 3/4 one

Monthly Meeting (East) - Glengarry Pioneer Museum, Dunvegan WhenJun 9 – 10, 2018 Where1645 County Rd 30, Dunvegan, ON K0C 1J0, Canada (map) DescriptionThe Glengarry Pioneer Museum is excited to welcome blacksmiths and craftspeople from acrossOntario, Quebec, and the USA to our third-annual Smith-In Blacksmith Festival! Opportunities: The Glengarry Pioneer Museum Smith-In is an opportunity for blacksmiths to develop and share theirskills and for other craftspeople to share their products with our patrons and visiting smiths. This year,blacksmiths Mike Armstrong & Megan Carter will be conducting a weekend workshop for smit…

I'm trying to put together an electric foundry, with the goal of melting hotter temperature materials such as iron, so aiming for about 1600 degrees celsius. My main issue is finding a thermocouple that can handle it. It seems like I need to be looking for a B type thermocouple. I also of course need heating elements, it seems like my only option is Molybdenum disilicate, but I haven't been able to find a source for this. I haven't found a nearby source of bricks, the lower temperature ones are pretty common, but it's not my main concern as they are at least something I can find elsewhere. If anyone can point me in the right direction I…

Picked up a flyer at CanIron last month and I just found it again. Apparently a new coal supplier has opened up in Hamilton. I haven't checked out this place yet but i figured I'd post the info in case someone was looking to pick up some coal and wanted to investigate. Here's what the flyer says ... That's exactly what it says on the flyer, so don't ask me to interpret meaning. I'm hoping this is legit, a coal supplier so close in S.Ontario would be nice ... not that Thak's is extremely far away, but one closer is always better. Cheers. Sam. PLEASE contact the site admins about where to send the bill to pay for your advertising here at IFI

Does anyone know where to get anvils?

I have a 25 pound Canadian Giant arriving friday and refurbishing it over the winter. Anyone else know if the rebuild videos or books are available from a canadian supplier? Im happy to pay Roger Rice or Pieh Tools for either or but the shipping costs are silly. Just wonder if theres a supplier here who possible carries the video or book that I can avoid the prohibitive cost for shipping. I will go the expensive route if necessary but would rather not.

Hey guys. im just starting out and would like to know if anyone in here lives in toronto. Thanks Patrick

Hey guys! Started dabbling in smithing a couple of months ago and have really taken a liking to it. Unfortunately, I havn't found any local resource, save for one very helpful fellow named Barney in North Bay. If there's anyone in Sudbury with experience, or just wanting to play around, let me know! If I can find enough people interested, I wouldn't mind having a sort of tong exchange meeting or something so we can all help each other out. I'd like to learn to forge weld, but am having no luck on my own...not sure if it's my set up, or what I'm doing wrong, so if anyone has any experience with this, drop me a message!

OABA Meeting: Blyth Steam ShowWe will be working on a group project and demonstrating for the public at the Blyth Steam Show. More details to follow. Please contact Jim Wallace or David Brandow if you are planning to attend.WhenSat Sep 12, 2015WhereBlyth Rd, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0, Canada (map)

OABA Meeting: Henk Boon WhenSaturday, Aug 8, 2015Where056576 12th Concession, Desboro, ON (map)DescriptionDemonstration Details: Forging an adze (more details to follow). Directions to Henk Boon’s Place..... Take Grey County Road 40 west off of Hwy 6 (just below Chatsworth) At the fork in the road, Grey Country Road 40 continues to the left, You Stay To The Right. (smaller road) (There should be an OABA sign at this intersection) Now called Sideroad 2, continue traveling west and cross Grey Road 3 At your next stop sign, Concession 12, turn right. Henks place is on your left, the North/West corner of the intersection of Sideroad 2 and Concession 12. 056576 12th Concession…

Hi All, Hi my name is Ben, I was on here a few years ago when i was first staring my first forge and now that I have finished school I'm resetting up my forge YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! So happy to be starting again. If there is anyone in the Ottawa area still through me a msg, always nice to learn something new. Thanks, Ben

A friend from Mississippi is planning a visit to southwestern Ontario this spring. Being that he works some iron and that I have a interest. Is there anything going on any where that we could attend of interest?