primtechsmith

You raise some interesting and vaild points there Gerald.....I hope you can find it necessary to take the survey(if you haven't yet) to express your concerns directly to the board. The survey has room for us to express our opinions and ideas on ABANA good and bad...I think it can all help bring ABANA into a positive light to represent you and others like you.

Peyton

Alaska has a pretty good legion of smiths from what I can tell...there are several on here and I know of one ABANA Board member that is also from Alaska. Maybe Alaska needs a group(if there isn't one yet)? I do understand the huge-ness of the state may raise ssome chalenges there...The Anvil's Ring is a great magazine. The Hammer's Blow is more suited to my speed. It is made for the shop.....plans and how to projects along with great insights from the editor and others in their letters to the editor.

ABANA can only meet the needs of those that speak up with a need. I tell my students all the time that its real hard for me to answer the questions they never ask...

just my $.02
Peyton

Sorry about the confusion........

Thanks for all the participation. This is how a change starts! And how we can all make something better.

Peyton

I know we all have some very strong opinions on ABANA. I know I do. There are a bunch of ya'll that probably got the email about the survey they have out right now for ALL blacksmiths to fill out. This goes for non-members, and everyone from the beginner to the artists and professionals....

With the new Board now in their seats and beginning to try and turn ABANA around their first priority is to find the direction they need to go in. ABANA wants to hear from everyone no matter what you have to say: good, bad, or ugly. It is a short survey with good questions and places to add comments.

How can things get better unless we stand up and have our voices heard? Especially when they want to hear us!

To get to the survey go to [ABANA] The Artist Blacksmith's Association of North America, Inc. at the bottom right of the home page is a link to begin the questions. I hope everyone here takes a couple minutes out of their day to do this...together we can help ABANA represent the needs of all of us!

Peyton

You can harden mild steel. By quenching it at high temperature you are making all the molecules that are racing around freeze up all of a sudden and almost crystalize....funny story. Early in my smithing life I made up a triangle dinner bell for a friend as a wedding gift. When she picked it up and rang it for everyone to see it fell into 2 pieces....looking back after I got over the embarrasment I quenched that corner of the triangle for one reason or another making it really brittle instead of throwing it down and letting it air dry.

I have also case hardened mild steel using Casenit(I think I spelled it wrong). With this stuff you just heat it up and rub this junk all over it and heat it again and then quench it. I think all this stuff is made up of is mostly ground up bone...not sure. I do know that thing is extremely hard. I have made several nails with that header and it is holding up just fine.

A neat disposable tool I have been told about is forging out your punch or drift, etc....and heating up some cast iron and rubbing it ff on the mild steel while they are both hot(in the fire)...then quench it. I have been told by a guy that has done this it will last up to 6 uses depending on what you are doing with it.

well.....I know there are several out there with better answers than this one. So I will let them get to it!

Peyton

Glad to see things are coming together for you my friend! Keep us updated!

Peyton

Bail
___Bail
______Bail

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

love
love
love

peyton

More stuff...

These are a few candle holders for my parents, grandma, aunt, and sister...


This is a trade item for the Central Virginia Blacksmith Guild's meeting in December....its a candle holder. It was my attempt at being artistic when I am not an artist...


I am working on more stuff....but my holiday break ran out.

Thanks Mike for helping me get all this done.
(He is a very patient teacher...!!!)

Peyton

Thought I would add some stuff I am giving for Christmas. Being that Sarah and I are both teachers we are trying to give a "hand forged Christmas" to as many as possible. Besides I get in some practice and doing stuff...

A flesh/tasting fork...my first one.


My first fireplace set for a family member...

I buy all of my tongs from Blacksmith Supply I like the Tom Tongs....they work for me. I would rather spend my time doing other things than making a pair of tongs that work as well as the ones I buy....maybe thats my fault. Either way I will keep on buying mine new.

my $.02

peyton

"All 6 styles of JHM anvils are cast in sand molds by the JHM foundry which has been making quality products since 1886. Each ladle of metal used in building the anvil is carefully measured, weighed and tested to insure that the chemical makeup is consistent in each anvil and that the ingredients meet or exceed JHM specifications. The combination of metals used in JHM anvils was designed for maximum strength and hardening ability.

The anvils are finished in the JHM machine shop. Top and bottom faces are milled and the pritchel hole is drilled. When JHM machines the anvil, the bottom is machined first and then the top is carefully machined flat and parallel to the bottom. This insures a very level top surface.

Each JHM anvil is heat treated in an oven as opposed to “flame” hardened anvils where only the top 1/8” or so of the anvil is hard. The whole JHM anvil is heated throughout. The oven temperature is brought up to a specific heat range and held there for about 3 hours, then slowly cooled, thus hardening the whole anvil. The entire anvil is heat-treated to between 48-52 Rockwell hardness which penetrates all surfaces of the anvil, preventing long-term deformation."
Centaur Forge-JHM 125 lb. Journeyman Anvil



Peyton

this game is starting to stink!!!!

....fort

I agree with Mike. I use a 260# JHM Competitor. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Prefect anvil for me.

Peyton

We had roughly 45 people there Saturday and 12 or so on Sunday...
It was a good turnout and I think everyone learned a lot!

Peyton

OK.
The upload ios complete for the two day demo across the street at Blacksmith Guild of Viriginia - Home

I also hung up a few more over in the gallery here.

I want to talk about a couple of them here.


David Hutchison not only won the anvil but a 2 hour session with Bill. He got him to make a swan out of some 1/2"x1 1/2" bar stock laying around.


Bill liked Mike's Little Giant. I think the new nickname for this one is "sweet little hammer"...Bill kept saying it. You can see him smiling while using it!


Bill Epps in the flesh...what a great experience!


The Birth of the "Epps Dragon".

Thanks.
Peyton

I have uploaded all the photos from Saturday in the EVENT GALLERY at Blacksmith Guild of Viriginia - Home and threw a few over into the gallery here as well.

I am working on Sunday's photos now...

Peyton

DAY 3:

The day was bitter sweet. We had another day to watch Bill work, but it would be the last day for us...We had about a dozen people come by and spend the day leading Bill through a few projects they had questions on. He made a dragon head and turned it into his leaf for our demonstrator board for 2007. Mike then asked if he could make a mule head for Linda...AKA: "L TANNER" on here. Her nickname has always been "Mule" so he thought it would be cool for her to have something. Linda has been away all week at the ABANA Board Meeting and had to miss the demo to help the blacksmithing cause down in Memphis. So...Bill went a step past our expectations. He made the Mule Head and then Turned the rest into an actual Mule Shoe.

After a short break of sitting around telling stories on each other (and a few stories on some unsuspecting smiths out there) Bill jumped into re-fitting one of his hammers with a handle Mike had laying around....Bill just had to pick the one he wanted out of the few thousand stacked up in the near by smoke house(That's true by the way...we call it "fire wood" here in the winter! ). It was cool. He literally burnt the hammer up then wire brushed off the char until it was the shape he wanted. Then with some emory paper he cleaned up the soot on the handle and hammer head and got back to work.

Bill explained the process of forging a horse shoe and he also gave us a quick lesson on the horse's hoof as well. It was then time for David to lead the demo for the last part. He not only won the anvil but 2 hours with Bill as well. David got Mr. Epps to make a swan out of some 1/2"x1 1/2" laying around. After finishing that project David asked him to show us how to draw out a small area off the side of flat bar...sorta like the clip on a horse shoe. Well Bill came through with flying colors like always. Everyone started to head back home or to their hotels for the night.

I don't think there could have been a better ending to the Blacksmith Guild of Virginia's 2007 demo schedule...and the anvil raffle was the icing on the cake. Especially for Mr. David Hutchison. He is on the way home 500 pounds heavier, but I have a wealth of great memories with an awesome blacksmith...and new friend in Bill Epps. I have learned a lot from him by the internet since I started in 2004...but none of those conversations and blueprints can come anywhere near hanging out with him over the past 3 days.

This is what it is all about...Can it get any better than this???

Peyton

Will post back here when I have the photos uploaded to the guild site...and few here in the gallery also! It would be wrong for me not to share a little Bill Epps mojo here on iforgeiron!!!!!!!! :)

DAY 2:

So let me tell ya'll something....you missed out on a really awesome day. Bill started out making is horse with a tail out of a horseshoe. Then went into making a flower pot holder, leaf, tongs, hoof pick, rams head....all before lunch.

.


Then we all ate some great food provided by the Tanner family(with lots of help from Sarah!!!) And did Iron in the Hat. We had 3 tables FULL of items plus some heavy stuff laid around also...Then came the anvil raffle.

And the winner is...............David Hutchison!!!!!!!


Bill then went back to work making his $20 anvil, and working out a really beautiful horse head out of 5/8" square.

Let me tell ya'll Bill Epps ain't no joke! I have learned as much or maybe even more by just sitting around talking about stuff. He had with him is project books. If you do not own one yet you need to cruise on over to the IFI store and get all of them. The books are just like Bill. No filler, all projects all the time. Not a page or word wasted!!!!

One of the best days I have spent in a really long time...and tomorrow is going to be more demoing by Bill! The door is open to ya'll still like always if anyone wants to show up tomorrow.

More tomorrow...pipe projects, a leaf for our demonstrator board, and whatever else we can come up with.

Peyton

Ok. I am going to make a few posts to this thing to let you all know whats going on here in Virginia with Bill Epps demonstrating for a couple of days.

DAY 1:
I left work and went straight to Yesteryear Forge where I sat around the wood stove with Mike talking about random stuff and asking a few of my never ending questions....about 6:30 or so Bill Epps pulls up. Gets out of his car...and the show begins! First thing he said was that Mike's shop is too clean to be a blacksmith shop! Ha!!! He then showed us a few of his "ideals" on power hammers and gassers. Then we talked a little about hammers and technique...followed up with some good stories around the wood stove. After an hour or so I got him all checked into his hotel...and here I sit awaiting a really great day tomorrow filled with projects.

Tomorrow: Bill is going to go through his bag of tricks and do some neat projects that anybody can make and sell. He is starting out the day with a pair of tongs. Mike also asked him to make me one of his famous "20 dollar anvils".....I have a weakness for the mini anvils. The wife has now accepted my obsession and allows me to display them all on a shelf! Ha!!

I will update again tomorrow evening. There is still time to make it here! Especially you Sam...quit with the excuses and get on the road!!! The 500# Euro awaits the lucky ticket holder.

Peyton

Kilt....as in a utili-kilt.

Peyton

Well...
The Blacksmith Guild of Virginia is moving forward and we are looking to have about 5 side draft forge designs built for our demonstrators to use off site at potential conferences, or area hammer ins. For those familiar with SOFA...their forges are the ones I would like to build. I have also heard them referred to as BAM designed forges...

I am wondering if anyone out there has the plans for this commonly used design. I will be using Centaur blowers and maybe firepots as well(Depends on their prices compared to others around).

If any of ya'll can share with me a resource where I can get my hands on the plans I would really appreciate it. I need to get an idea on costs before I can move forward....and having plans/materials etc would help greatly in pricing.

Thanks for your help.
Peyton

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 president@blacksmithguildofva.com 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 forge is all the way in the back. There is plenty of parking by the forge.

500 LBS. EUROANVIL RAFFLE: NOVEMBER 17TH

This anvil is brand new and has NEVER been used! This is your chance at a brand new $1,400+ anvil! It is the anvil of choice for smiths like Uri Hofi, Elmer Roush, Alwin Wagener, and others. The winner of this anvil will also get a 2 hour intensive one-on-one session with Bill Epps on Sunday the 18th to go over anything of your choice.
TICKETS ARE ONLY $1.00!!!
YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN!!!

Let me know if you are planning on coming. Lunch on Saturday is provided...Sunday is bring your own...email me: president@blacksmithguildofva.com or you can just reply to the thread if you want...

This is a great opportnity to see one a fellow IFI member and to get a chance at a great anvil.

RSVP please.
Peyton

Well...we are less than a week away from a great opportunity for anyone interested to come spend the day seeing Bill demo. And possibly win a 500# anvil!!!!!

Blacksmith Supply will NOT be showing up. John had something unexpected pop up and he will be on the road for his other job...but that does not mean you can't buy it from his site: Blacksmith Supply

More info on: Blacksmith Guild of Viriginia - Home

Hope some of ya'll can make it out there! Mike's shop is worth the trip in itself no matter the demonstrator. But Bill sure is a great reason to come on over!!!!!!!

Peyton