Drewy

Gunnedah use to have coking coal with 6% ash content! I burnt it for year prior to using Illawarra coke. Only problem if you live in a residential area it can be a bit smokie for your neighbors. This coal was the hottest stuff I've ever used. Will check out if still available.

Enjoy yourself, are you catching up with any of the WA blacksmiths?

I'm away from Monday the 23rd till Friday 27th after that I will home for a while. Ring me on mobile 0407 005557 or email drewy13@bigpond.com.

Just booked another room at Braidwood B&B, me Ron & Don,. Have a spare bed if anyone is keen contact me on drewy67@gmail.com

Agree with Ian, I can never get it to work either, anyway what's the go with the topic it should be up on page one now???!

Mr Aceman Kurri Kurri at Phils has been and gone, fantastic day great roll up of around 25+(Phil would know numbers). next meeting is at Colin Drays place in Bellingen, followed by Will McGuire at Branxton, then Moonies. The ABA NSW finishes the year in November with a Xmas party in the Port Mcquaire area at Graham Moyses place. For me and Ron living in Tamworth every meeting venue is about a four hour journey, you have to be prepared to travel to get the benefits of the knowledge and companionship of like minded blacksmiths.

Iron Woody the Artist Blacksmiths go NSW have a meeting every month (2nd Sat) somewhere in NSW. Ironfest is in April, Sydney's airport is a comfortable train ride. Watch out for posts next year. Have booked accommodation tonight as there is a wedding in Braidwood that weekend and rooms are been booked fairly quickly . I Have booked Ron& myself into Braidwood country style B&B $100/night for a twin, booked in for Friday & Saturday night their phone number is 4842 2577 or mobile 0417 659635 ask for Mandy. Mr Aceman if your looking for courses on blacksmithing starting with all the basics principles , keep in mind quite a few members of the ABA of NSW run weekend courses. You would have had some tuition from Wayne Saunders at FIJ. Consider doing his weekend course and advancing your skills some more, anyway contact Nigel and he can point you in the right direction. Dale what's happened to "Get Hammered" nothing showing up on main page, get the admin to pull there finger!!!!!!!!

Anyone who is interested in accommodation in Braidwood this year, contact me (Craig Drew) as Ron and myself are going for this option. Getting soft as we age, I don't drink so getting out to Moonies and back into Braidwood isn't an issue for those who want a drink or two. Anyway email me drewy67@gmail.com if interested

Phil & Moonie showing the finished hook. Stainless steel artefact forged by Guido and his crew.

Phil & Moonie showing of the finished hook Stainless steel artefact forged by Guidos crew

Looks like on all accounts "Forging In July" was a huge success for the Australian blacksmithing community. Sydney was a gamble to what we usually do, the venue was first rate, everyone commented on the facility's. on the weekend the demos were vastly different from Fold Forming, knife making, large industrial forging, stainless steel artefact and the Jake James creation was superb. The week long master class went of without any hiccups. Next month the ABA of NSW has its AGM at Forgemasters, so hopefully a healthy discussion on the event will take place. Personally I can't wait for it to happen all over again.

Even when I started in 1984, the writing was on the wall that institutions like the railways had a limited life. By the time I finished in 1988 the wind down was already happening. the only job offer for an apprentice who had finished his time (now trades qualified) was cleaning graffiti off trains. Most guys left and looked for employment else where.

State rail would have paid a consultant $30 000 then had a feasibility study and tried 10 brands of razor blades, now you tell us we could have used liquid paper.

I operated one of these as an apprentice, it had six cutting heads and used a magic eye to follow the profile of a line drawing. all good till you made a mistake, then six stuff ups instead of one. We had a problem with the magic eye following the line when two lines joined each other and they did not blend in perfectly. we use to scratch the excess ink off with a razor blade to make the line flow freely and profile cut the steel without any problems.

Andrew great work on finding those videos, one of the guys in the Davy Press forging was my house mate and fellow apprentice who I haven't seen for over 20yrs. They showed shots of the single frame hammers that required a hammer driver, I tried to learn to drive these hammers, without much success. These guys could crack an egg under the hammers they had amazing control, which actually made your job easier. I don't know anywhere that operates single frame hammers, although I think Phil "Forgemaster" may have one. In reply to Mr Aceman, we have well over 55 participants and I'm sure there will be registrations on the day. Just arrived home from helping clean and prepare space for next week, we had a good roll up of around 10 volunteers on the day. Nigel and Will picking up Jake today Monday from the airport, they will call in to the workshop, show him around then head up to newcastle for the remainder of the week and get him use to the Aussie way of doing things (laid back).

It's not all that expensive to buy brand new 6 metre lengths of 6, 8, and 10mm round bar. Many basic projects and forging exercises can be made from these sizes, and there not to large to handle for the first timer. Scrap piles are good, but sometimes there's not enough material to make larger projects or multiple item of the same design.

Toolish have you check out local museums and historical society's, or craft guilds in your area. You might find there are like minded people out there already. I started 20 years ago a group in Tamworth and we ended up with over 50 members at one stage. Maybe the ABA of NSW could do a demo in the area at some point, to create some interest.

Well it's great to see everything is working out for Mr Aceman, that the blacksmiths spirit well and truly in action, great work Phil. This Sunday a group of us will be at Redfern sorting out the venue and making any last minute arrangements. Jake James will fly in Monday, have a quick tour of the facility and head up to the Hunter Valley with Will Mc and work on a project with Will, hopefully they will bring it to Sydney so we can see the end result. Mr Aceman my email is drewy67@gmail.com if you need any assistance along the way, get your parents to contact us so we can reassure them of the weekend.

Phil is that the style of hook you and Moonie are going to forge for your demo at Forging in July, or is it a surprise!!!!

hopefully the word will get around via our web site, face book page, this forum IFI and generally our members getting proactive and spreading the word. As stated before this is our first time holding the event in the "Big Smoke" Sydney, we have always been regional at least 5 hrs from the city and major population base of 4 million people. Our location of Eveleigh will be first rate, no better venue as far proximity to transport, International airport, so all those on IFI who are considering coming down under you don't have any excuses, accommodation thousands of rooms ranging from back packers to the Hilton, food outlets and central to most BS in NSW. Anyway the count down is on less than two weeks to go

my son who was four at the time (now 22) was the inspiration for the naming of my business, as you see my shed had a metal gate for the front door, as well as the lockable yard having a 8ft high chain wire gate out the front. When ever someone asked him where dad, he would reply down at the two gates. Thus "Two Gates Forging Company" was registered. Everyone become familiar with the term meet me at the two gates.

At one stage master chef was filmed at Australia Technology Park ATP, which is the former railway workshop located at Redfern Sydney. The space is now leased by blacksmith Guido Gouverneur, so at a guess maybe he made the railing, just a hunch??? It is now filmed in Melbourne, and could be a completely new set made down there.

That great Andrew, but is "Yay" a term a blacksmith would really use, I thought maybe "you beautie" or others that the monitors would XXXX out. Have just ordered the FIJ 2013 Tee shirts, and most importantly the Stubby holders, as I hear BS like a drink or two. I've got some photos from 1987 of the Eveleigh workshop and in particular the 1500 tonne Davy press in action, we were forging 12" square 3metres long, into 7" x 3". Had the aid of overhead gantry and team of six comprising of tradesman, apprentices and labours. Can someone point me in the right direction on how to up load photos from iPad? Above post writing is all overt the place etc

Next month 6&7th July the Artist Blacksmiths of New South Wales is holding its annual yearly event "Forging In July". To be held in the old Redfern railway workshop, which is now occupied by Wendie & Guido. The workshop is one of the best example of a steam powered blacksmith shop world wide and thank goodness it is heritage listed, governments would love to develop the prime real estate it is located on. The guest international blacksmith is British BS Jake James, who now resides in Vancouver. Other demonstrators include Moonie and ForgeMaster Phil showcasing a industrial forging under 7cwt Massey. Keith Fludder knife making. Guido Gouverneur who run Wrought Artworks. Your truly demo on fold forming. This is the first time we have use Sydney as the venue, this will allow interstate BS the opportunity for cheap flights. To take part in this event membership of the ABA NSW is required, but that's the best $50 you will spend all year!!!. Anyway let the discussion roll.

Andrew only three weeks till FIJ, we already have around 40-50 regos, looks like the Sydney experiment is going to work, pass the word around your crew, looking forward to catching up with you.