Mississippi Forge Council

We have a new website going, the calendar will be kept up to date with meeting info and upcoming events. The past issues of the upset will be available and we will have a member gallery for anyone who wants their work displayed can submit pictures, check it out! http://msforgecouncil.com

New knife maker here,in picayune looking for any like minded people.

Monthly MeetingsThe Mississippi Forge Council (MFC) typically meets on the third Saturday of each month (EXCEPT when special events are scheduled) at the Agricultural and Forestry Museum on Lakeland Dr (Hwy 25) in Jackson MS. The meetings start at 9:00 A.M. with a very short business meeting, then a demonstration on selected techniques. If you have any questions about the meeting dates or time feel free to contact any of the board members for info. Their phone numbers and emails addresses are listed in the “Contact Us” tab. After the demo, members can get into the forges with the demonstrator and practice what they saw. At that time we also may have a beginner’s class …

green newbie to forging iron, are their any members close to meadville ? would like to meet and talk metal. if possible

Is the forge council O.K ?

I have a 55 gal drum full of charcoaled wood free to anyone who wants it. It was left behind at a home that I worked on. The owner didn't want to haul it to his new home in Texas. Ron Willett Flora MS 601-622-0412

So , i havebeen looking for an anvil that i can afford but the cheapest one i have seen so far is too small and a good 60-100 pounder is rediculous . i guess ill just have to keep using this portion of railroad track untill i get rich lol

Ed did the Feb. demo at the MS Forge COuncil. Everyone enjoyed the hearts. Ed did several different types of hearts. I took a few pics. https://picasaweb.google.com/106506050631612810521/Feb2013MFC

We had a great meeting today. Mr. Paul Lebatard demonstrated grinding a knife, he did not have one when he arrived so Brian forged one from a piece of spring and Paul did a nice grind on it. After a big Iron in the Hat, Jim Pigott led a learningful green coal class. All but one forge was going and it was still cold in the shop today. It was nice seeing a lot of new faces working so hard to follow the leader. Today was a great day of forging. This month allows us to have two great meetings. The second one will be Feb. 25th at John Crawfords shop in Pontotoc. For info about this refer to www.msforgecouncil.com Here are the pics from todays meeting. https://picasa…

Hello everyone. I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Mike Turner and live in Meridian, MS. I am a total newbee to blacksmithing. I recently received an anvil and a portable forge and tools from my brother-in-law. They were his dad's and after his Dad passed away he wanted me to have them. I have been interested in blacksmithing for some time now but didn't have the money to invest in a good set-up. Well, now I have no excuse...... I have the tools. I plan to join the Mississippi Forge Council if they will have me and hope to learn from the experience of the members. I look forward to meeting some local blacksmiths soon. As I understand there are a couple of me…

We had a great meeting today. Brian showed how to make a Punch and a chisel at first, then talked about some of the elements of forging. He made a horseshoe heart since Valentines day is around the corner, and then a young man had brought a billet of 1045 and was wanting to make a hammer. Brian had made some tools for the shop last year so we had the necessary tools to accomplish the hammer. It was a very educational day for everyone and we had three or four fires going after the Iron in the hat for several hours. Bill helped a young man that came, it was his first time forging and he had a lot of fun. Here are the pics. https://picasaweb.google.com/LDWynn/February2011M…

The MS Forge Council web site has been updated and is looking good. There is info on the Knife Hammer In that is going to be held at the Ag Museum on there. John White will be demonstrating. http://msforgecouncil.com/

can anyone help me? i live in Cleveland Ms, and i can not find coal. does any one know where i can get some. i can order it online but that costs a lot. i do not want to drive more than 4 hours. so the closer the better even if it cost a little more.

PARTY TIME! It’s almost time for the MFC’s Christmas party, which will be again take place at the Monday place on Saturday, December 11th. James and Laura Monday are legendary hosts who outdo themselves every year in preparation for this annual event. There will be an abundance of great food and fellowship, and savvy veterans know to show up early in order to get a head start on the breakfast goodies and camaraderie. Meats and main courses are provided, and those attending are asked to provide a covered dish or desert. If you have questions about what to bring, call Laura or James at the numbers below. The big meal will be served around noon, with snacking, show a…

We had a great time and John has a beautiful shop. I heard there were 75 people at this event. John welcomed everyone, fed everyone and kept us entertained. I was surprised to see Clay Spencer as I walked in, but this was advertised as being a tooling for the tire hammer meeting so you could not get more appropriate than that. Randal demonstrated making tongs with the tire hammer, and Brian made a hammer, then made his "greatest invention" a tapered, rounded cutting surface, hot cut hardie for Johns anvil. This was with John striking and he did great. We had one of the best Iron in the Hats, Some nice work went home with a lot of people. Sorry if you could not make it but…

Forge Council Monthly meeting July 10, 2010 Brian Brazeal will do a demo on forge welding. We will have green coal school after the demo.

Is the meeting still on for tomorrow and if so, what is the subject of the meeting? I haven't been to one in a while so I'm out of the loop.

Special Meeting Notice MFC Members from North Mississippi extend an invitation to all MFC to attend a one day workshop and demonstration at the shop of John Crawford, Saturday July 31, 2010. John Crawford will discuss the parts and assembly of Tire Hammers and the demo (Tire Hammer utilization and hand hammer) will be presented by Randall Minton. A no charge, all you can eat barbeque, will be provided for all attendants. A caravan of vehicles will leave Jackson, early that morning, to arrive no later than 9:30 a.m. For questions call John Crawford - Home 662-489-4661 - Cell 662-488-6872 For directions see “The Upset” May 2010

The Mississippi Conference has been overshadowed by ABANA but it was a very good conference. Brian Brazeal was non stop the entire conference. We were afraid to walk away for even a moment, afraid we would miss something. Good demonstration, good hospitality, new friends, great venue, good food and wonderful weather.

Its that time again, we are all getting geared up for the annual event. The pre-conference class is only a week away and Brian has been busy getting prepared for what is sure to be a great experience in forging. There are not any spots left in the class and the ones that got their money in to be a part of this class will come out better forgers than they were. I am looking forward to it all, and if any of you can get here next weekend I assure you it will be worth the trip. Our web site has all the conference info. http://msforgecouncil.com/

I just found out about the classes before the MFC conference. Are there any openings left?

Here is a link to the pictures. http://picasaweb.google.com/LDWynn/AprilMeeting2010MFC# We had a big turn-out and Jon and Woody demonstrated having an open mind to the resource pile. We got to watch them take objects and create yard art. We had a good time. I struck for Brian and he made his own version of yard art, a big beautiful bird.

We had a great time at Terrys Saturday. There was a large turnout and the blacksmiths and bladesmiths were a great compliment to each other. Brian demonstrated making a boarding axe, like the three he brought, there was a demonstration on making damascus, and then a cutting demonstration. Our bellies got filled because Ed Benton went to the trouble to prepare the meals, and we had an Iron in the hat, that someone got to win the boarding axe Brian made. This was a first time to combine an MFC meeting with Terry Vandeventers annual Hammer In and it was a big success. Here are the pics. http://picasaweb.google.com/LDWynn/FebruaryMeetingAtTerryVandeventersHammerIn#