Blacksmith Guild of Virginia

~Next Meeting~ SATURDAY MARCH. 15th 2008 Where: Yesteryear Forge 15421 Five Forks Rd. Amelia VA 23002 Time: 10am-3pm Lunch: BBQ for a suggested $5 donation to help offset the costs. Demonstrator: CHRIS WINTERSTEIN of Dirt Circus Iron Works, Yellin Ironworks, and current President of ABANA!!!!!! Click here for a look at some of his work: [ABANA] Chris Winterstein The first photo shown will be one of the things he will be demonstrating. It is a 3 piece forge welded trivet. Reminders: IRON IN THE HAT!!!!!!!!!!!! and bring a chair! Directions: From 360 EAST or WEST Turn across from GOODMAN TRUCK AND TRACTOR onto business 360. Go to your first road on your righ…

Off to Boones pasture party this morning Hope to meet up with old friends and perhaps make a few new ones Will have a great time even though the weather is less than ideal. Mike Tanner

When: February 16th 2008 Where: Yesteryear Forge Amelia VA 23002 (Directions: Blacksmith Guild of Viriginia - Home ) Time: 10am-3:30pm Lunch: Provided with $5 suggested donation. Fried Chicken The Blacksmith Guild of Virginia is very excited to have: NOL PUTNAM come and demonstrate a project he is formulating specifically for us to show some TRADITIONAL JOINERY techniques. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND IRON IN THE HAT!!! This is how we fund the monthly demonstrations and the newsletter! Bring a comfortable chair!!!!! RSVP so we can get an accurate lunch count! Reply to this post email me: [email protected] call me: 434-390-6203 Everyone is welcome no mat…

heres my first two roses from Alwins demo last weekend....not too bad i dont think....can see room for improvement which can only come from more practice

Mark your calendars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 2/16/08 10am-3:30pm Nol Putnam will be the demonstrator at our February meeting. Nol has been featured in several issues of ABANA's "Anvil's Ring" magazine over the years. And has been instrumental in the continuing education of smiths throughout the country. He has also been recognized as a featured blacksmith in the back of "New Edge of the Anvil". This should be one of the most informative meetings to date. He has a lot of knowledge and experience to share with everyone on all levels. It will be at Yesteryear Forge Amelia VA you can get directions here: Blacksmith Guild of Viriginia - Home LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED !!!!!!Iron…

Well the January meeting is history and what a good one it was. We had a little over 50 members and guest show up on a really nasty day to see Alwin Wagener do some amazing work. We had at least two smiths in attendance that regularly teach at john c campbel folk art school and several more that are capable of teaching there. Thanks to all that came out on so questionable of a day to make the first meeting of 2008 a resounding success. Great attendance , great iron in the hat and a really good trade item with ( something that lights the way ) candle holders as the theme. ( thanks Peyton ) I got a really nice and well executed piece from Vince Nakovics. Had member…

I'm planning on comming to the January '08 meeting and I was wondering if there were any tailgaters planning on being there? If there are does anyone have an extra hand crank blower that they'd be willing to sell? If so how much? My electric one on my rivet forge just died and I'll either need to replace it with a electric one or a manual one. Also I have a 5gal bucket full of RR spikes, and RR bolts/nuts. Anyone want me to bring them along to tailgate? -Dan

Hello everyone. I just finished talking with Alwin about his demonstration coming up on January 19th 2008! 10am-3pm Location: Yesteryear Forge. Amelia VA. !!!!!!!!!IRON IN THE HAT!!!!!!!! Lunch provided Alwin has some great things in store for the meeting: ~bear heads ~roses ~fluxless forge welds ~free shaping fire shovels with a swage block and vice (as opposed to using a jig or shovel form) which are then forge welded to a shaft for a one piece fire tool ~different leaf forms ~making a corkscrew ~making a bottle opener ~and dragons It is going to be a very FULL day of interesting thigns to see and learn. DON'T FORGET: Trade Item: "Something that…

I went ahead and posted the 2008 schedule on the guild site for everyone to start planning their road trips!!!!!!! This is going to be one heck of a great year! Blacksmith Guild of Viriginia - Home to see the schedule. Thanks. Peyton

I'm still alive and kicking but I recorded the deed on the 23 acre farm that was built in 1861 and has been in the family since that time. My Great Grandfather and my Grandfather were both born in the master bedroom of this very house.My cousin Tom passed away without a proper will about two years ago and it has been a major leagal ordeal since, but I finaly came out on top, keeping the place in the hands of the family that should rightfully have ownership and Lord am I glad that ordeal has come to an end. The reason for this thread is to post pictures of the forge build. The priority is the building that will be my new woodshop. I build custom staircases and fireplace m…

Hey ya'll. As you all know we are taking December off to give everyone a break to spend time with their families...In January we are going to have our first of four trade items due. Here is some info on it: Here are the Rules. 1. You must be the one who made the item 2. Must be within the theme of the trade item Date January 19th 2008 Theme Something forged that

I finaly got to see a Little Giant in operation, Iron in the hat had some really good stuff, and Bill was great. I'm two hours away and would gladly drive alot longer for these meetings. This is an awesome group of guys, and if you are within travel distance, and have'nt been , you don't know what you're missing. Thanks Mike, for answering all my questions,I got the new bearings in the blower last night and it's running smooth as Joe Camel now. Now, about the anvil raffle. When I got home, I got a call from some fella' what was hollerin' bout global warmin' and such. He said I should probably demand a recount, as there was obviously a chad hung up on my ticket,which woul…

Monthly Meeting: November 17-18 Bill Epps & Euroanvil Raffle Location: Yesteryear Forge 15421 Five Forks Rd. Amelia VA 23002 Time: 10am-3pm Lunch: provided Please RSVP [email protected] or 434.390.6203 Reminders: Don't forget to bring something for Iron In The Hat!!! A chair, and your camera. Directions: From 360 east or west turn across from Goodman Truck & Tractor onto business 360. Go to the first road on your right and turn right. Continue to the stop sign. Go straight through the intersection and proceed approx. 2 miles. Yesteryear Forge is on the right up on a hill-look for a brick house and a black anvil sign in the front yard. The fo…

I'll be building a masonry forge in the smithy.This is the firepot and tuyere I picked up for the project. It's a Champion 400 "Whirlwind Blast"in near mint condition. I got the vise at the same time.It needs a spring and mounting flange. I have $80 in the pair.

The upload is complete...there are a little over 300 pictures up in the gallery across the street at Blacksmith Guild of Viriginia - Home in the GALLERY. If you have any you want me to add send them along... Peyton

"The Ring of Fire" October 20th 9am-5pm 2nd Annual Yesteryear Forge Hammer In Location: Yesteryear Forge 15421 Five Forks Rd. Amelia VA 23002 Demonstrators: Randy McDaniel: Randy will be doing a FULL DAY demo on tool making, animal heads, and cowboy hats. Randy is also the author of "A Blacksmithing Primer, A Course in Basic and Intermediate Blacksmithing." This is widely known as one of the BEST educational books and VHS/DVD sets out there. This is your opportunity to see a well known author and an amazing smith. Randy Cox: Randy will be demonstrating copper work throughout the day with various projects. Randy is an instructor in North Carolina for "motorsports …

The September newsletter is ready to be downloaded for anyone interested. Here is a link: Blacksmith Guild of Viriginia - Home Go to the "NEWSLETTERS" page to download it. There are several articles in there including Part 2 of the "Rusty Corner, and Quad State photos... Thanks. Peyton

When: September 15th 10am-3pm Where: Yesteryear Forge Five Forks Rd. Amelia VA 23002 Lunch: Provided Doug is going to make a Hofi style hammer, sawtooth trammel, candlestand, Tomahawk from a horse shoe rasp, "wax for all seasons", and other things as well. Don't miss this great opportunity to see one of the best instructors at John C. Campbell!!!!!!!!! Please RSVP if you are coming so I can get a count for lunch. Please consider bringing an item or two for Iron In The Hat, and a chair to relax in. Everyone is always welcome! More info at: Blacksmith Guild of Viriginia - Home Thanks. Peyton

Monthly Meeting: August 18th Location: Yesteryear Forge 15421 Five Forks Rd. Amelia VA 23002 Time: 10am-3pm Lunch: Provided. fried Chicken, rolls, potato salad, fresh watermelon, and sodas/water/coffee. PLEASE RSVP SO WE KNOW HOW MANY MOUTHS TO FEED! Demonstrator: Dick Nietfeld will be delivering Mike's new anvil which is over 1200lbs:o. of cast tool steel! Dick is also a master at making jigs and fixtures and will be discussing his shovel mold jig along with forging a hammer, tongs, candle stand, hasp, and other projects. His wife will also be there selling her handmade brooms. Dick will also have a few brand new Refflinghaus anvils for sale as well. Thi…

Monthly Meeting: August 18th Location: Yesteryear Forge 15421 Five Forks Rd. Amelia VA 23002 Time: 10am-3pm Lunch: Provided PLEASE RSVP SO WE KNOW HOW MANY MOUTHS TO FEED! Demonstrator: Dick Nietfeld will be delivering Mike's new anvil which is over 1200lbs. of cast tool steel! Dick is also a master at making jigs and fixtures and will be discussing his shovel mold jig along with other great ideas and projects. His wife will also be there selling her handmade brooms. This meeting is one not to be missed for the high caliber blacksmith sharing his ideas and secrets and to see the one of the largest cast steel anvils in The United States! You can learn more about Dick…

Hi all . Just would like to say hi and see if there is a time i could come down and meet some of you all.I would like to come to some of the meeting but my wife work on them all except for the one in October.I will be there for that one .the weekend or the best for me this time of year as i own a A/C company. Thx Jason Crawford.

The Blacksmith Guild of Virginia held its monthly meeting and built 15 portable coal fired forges for it members. Built by members for members. It was a great day with great people working together to give the beginners in the guild an affordable forge to get started with. Built on a cost of materials only basis all that was required was to participate in the building of the forges at whatever task they were able to perform. Yesteryear Forge Mike Tanner

Location: Yesteryear Forge Amelia Virginia Time: 10am-3pm DEMONSTRATOR: Brian Gilbert Lunch: Provided by the Tanner Family Info: Brian is an amazingly talented professional blacksmith from Chattanooga TN. He has been the editor of ABANA's magazine "The Hammers Blow" since 2000. He also runs Blacksmith e-books where you can buy numerous blacksmith related books on CD for cheap!!! Brian is going to do a really interesting demo for us. He will be making a wine rack and the tooling involved all in one day. He is going to take us through his tooling construction process, the forging process, and the final assembly process. WE WILL AUCTION OFF THE FINAL PIECE AT THE END…

This picture below is similar to the design that we will be making. The cost is $195.00 for all materials and shipping. This is the at cost price. A new forge bought will cost you close to twice this price. We will be holding our meeting at Tanner Tool & Machine in Crewe Virginia. Mike Tanner has graciously opened his shop to allow us to use his facilities. This is the perfect opportunity for beginners to have a quality forge and learn some basic fabrication skills as well. This is also only open to members, if you are not a member you may join on the site...it is free. Having your own portable forge will also help members participate in future "Interactive Workshops"…

Location: Lexington Virginia "Brown's Forge Living History Museum" 130 S. Randolph Street. Time: 10am-3pm Date: April 21st Demonstrator: Jack Chaffee runs the place and will be showing us everything from the flat belt run machine shop to telling us stories on the forge(has been running since the mid 1850's and shod horses for Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson). Jack is also going to light the forge and play around some. He said he will do some forge welding. Lunch: Bring Your Own, or find a greasy spoon. There are several places to eat there. Reminders: Please consider bringing something for Iron In The Hat! Parking: There is a parking lot beside the build…