Blacksmith Guild of Virginia

We had a blast at the meeting/demo this saturday Members and guest from several states braved the cold windy conditions to watch the smiths from williamsburg ( Bob Rowe and Carl Hirner ) make tommahawks out of wrought iron with carbon steel inserts. Welcome new members that signed up and as allways it was a pleasure to spend time with all of the members. They did a good job especially with the height differences from my equipment and theirs. ( Im 6' 6" ) and they're not. A little quick work with a chainsaw and we had a blacksmith shim cut from a pallet to make up for any differences in height. Excellent iron in the hat with lots of quality hand forged items ( actuall…

NEXT MEETING: March 17th 2007 Location: Yesteryear Forge 15421 Five Forks Rd. Amelia VA. 23002 Time: 10am-3pm DEMONSTRATOR: Bob Rowe and Carl Hirner from Colonial Williamsburg will be demonstrating how to forge a wrought iron tomahawk with steel insert! (below is from an email Bob sent) "Carl and I run a behind the scenes blacksmith shop for Colonial Williamsburg. We are the ones who take care of repairing hardware to welding on pick up trucks. I worked in the Historic area blacksmith shop from 1979-1983 give or take a bit. Started a production blacksmith shop,doing blacksmith items for the historic area stores and gift shops, …

This is our first "kind of" project. It is for the funeral home in Burnsville, NC that my brother-in-law Adam works at. They are in the process of landscaping the property and the landscaper wanted these made. This being our first project and us having very little exp. I am fishing for any suggestions on pricing, layout etc.. I have attached a couple of photos of the sketch and windows.

I recently came across my great grandpa's forge and hand crank blower made by Buffalo Forge Company. I'm guessing it is over 70 years old. I just started restoring it and was wondering if anyone had an idea where and if there is a catalog, with pictures perferably, of the hand crank and forge models that the company made. or if you all had any info on them. Thanks for you time and Knowledge! Creek

Next Meeting Info: February 17th 2007 10am-3pm Location: Otter Creek Forge. 2732 Otter Hill Rd. Bedford VA 24523 Directions: LT has provided us with many different options for getting to his place. There is always Mapquest, but we all know sometimes they can't get you to where you want to go easily! From Bedford: from route 460 take 714 (Falling Creek Road) out past Bedford County Nursing Home and go 5.5 miles across a cement bridge. At top of hill, turn right on 715 (Otter Hill RD.) Go 1.8 miles. House on left. 2732 on mailbox. From Lynchburg: Take first exit off 460 (just pass McDonalds) Turn left on 714 (falling creek rd.) and follow directions from Bedford. …

This is where I will post new members: Welcome Ted Throckmorton!

I recieved the news letter today. I am glad to see you here at iforgeiron. I would like to say "Thank You," for letting me join your guilde even though I am located in oklahoma. I am planning on moving back to independece va hopefully this fall 2007. Another site worth seeing is beautifuliron.com. Thanks again hope to be back in Virginia soon.

Welcome to the Blacksmith Guild of Virginia.

2007 Meeting Calendar: Feb. 17th: John Riddle Demonstrator at LT Skinnell's Otter Creek Forge. Bedford VA. March 17th: Bob Rowe & Carl Hirner(from historic Williamsburg) at Yesteryear Forge. Amelia VA. April 21st: Jack Chaffee at Brown's Forge. Lexington VA. May 19th: TBA June 16th: TBA July 28th: TBA Aug. 11th: Jamestown Celebration. Buckingham VA. Sept. 15th: Doug Merkel at Yesteryear Forge. Amelia VA. Oct. 20th: 2nd Annual Yesteyear Forge Hammer In. Amelia VA. Demonstrator: RANDY McDANIEL AUTHOR OF "A Blacksmithing Primer, A Course in Basic and Intermediate Blacksmithing"