John B

Hi Ian, If you've booked on line, the VIP passes will be waiting for you at the event. Looking forward to meeting up again, getting a bit hectic at the moment, but all looking good.

Most look like Tinmans Stakes, used mainly for forming sheet steel, or copper for household goods and vessels, could be used as armourers stakes too, and some are stake holders. Pretty useful for other stuff too.

Flamefast make and supply lots of stuff for schools etc http://flamefast.co.uk/heat-treatment/forging/ What is in the picture looks to be a modified ceramic chip hearth that has had the chips replaced with refectory bricks, may have been done as intended, or just somewhere to put the bricks on and braze/weld upon, depends on what is beneath them, and what gas feeds come in, they were intended to use domestic gas supplies and forced air for the brazing mix set up Good score though,

Hector will be at the International Blacksmiths Festival on his medieval forge making arrow heads and other stuff,and he like to chat and give spectators what they request. So if anyone coming along has questions, he's your man.

Thin Checker plate, cut into strips? There are also pre rolled strips that have patterns rolled into them, have a word with Brundles.

Hi Andy, Tickets are picked up on arrival and production of the email from the ticketing company (tictail?) Showers are available in the main forging area which is accessible to all Toilet facilities are some with WC facilities Mainly located in areas with mains drainage connected. Others in camping area and elsewhere are Portaloo type but with attendants on site to maintain/clean throughout the day, emptied and cleaned each evening. This combination was decided on as if there is even a remote possibility of the water supply/drains failing, then site could be shut down due to H &S requirements. Nothing simple these days, got to cover the possibilities.

This weekend we had a play with some multiple element twists and these are the results Had a great time whilst doing them,

Similar looking to tongs used by wheelwrights, for tyring .

Search for Bulldog Head Hat Rack / Blacksmith Demo by Gerald Douberly good little video showing you how, I think this has been posted here before, that is where I came across it

Had an opportunity to have a play for a couple of hours, (don't have many of these now) and so here are the results, material was 5mm bar, in a coke forge. A couple of the corn on cob /twisted/braided variations, And a first and second attempt at the Claydon Knot, without any special tooling, just using anvil, bending forks and swage block/pritchel hole on anvil and punch Didn't particularly like the first attempt, didn't quite look right Second attempt looked better, but with a couple of mistakes, not symmetrical, and a miscut on one of the component bars We have a multiple twists course this weekend, so may have a chance to pass these on if we have time outside scheduled programme. Had fun, darn I miss my forge.

http://www.nevillebarnes.co.uk/about.html They issued a Blacker manualwith all parts listed and drawn in them, saying they were the sole manufacturers of the Blacker Hammer, the company dating back some 70 years, and I suspect they inherited / bought the license/ to make them long after the originals were made, a patent search may reveal more if there is such a database and patent number for them. I heard they were around in Victorian times, and judging by the one I used to have, I would not be at all surprised, it was run off a lineshaft originally and later adapted for an on board electric motor. A friend of mine had a Blacker treadle hammer (A type?) The Blacker B type is the larger powered version with traverse on the hammer and an anvil on an adjustable base, and is capable of punching and stepping down etc without having to stop to change tooling The Blacker C type has a fixed head over a base that is for general work, with usually a block with a hardy hole in that accepts tooling, which can be removed and different more specialised tooling inserted There are basically five standard tools that fit in the hardie hole, a flat block, a high rise taper drawing block, a lower angled taper drawing block, a high dome block and a lower dome block Many of the Blacker B hammers I have come across have different anvils fitted to the adjustable anvil base. My theory on this is that due to the weight of the hammers, they were shipped abroad less the anvil to keep the weight down for carriage cost purposes. The Blacker hammer in the US illustration is a bulletin from the Blacker Engineering company, Grand Central Terminal, I suspect these were the import agents or even Blacker's own representatives who were marketing them, and had anvils made in the US to fit them, thus cutting transit costs whilst still selling their machinery. Whatever, they are a great tool, and still working well.

Camping is within the perimeter fence of the showground, and hopefully there will be enough room to park next to your tent. (and a trailer full of mead)

Respect Owen, Job well done by al involved, especially yourself Just shows the value of guided personal courses.

Depends on you, and the type of dryer, and where you are going to use it, This is one way of using one

Hi Ian, Chalet park is a term like "glamping" basically they are sheds, may be posh sheds, but sheds, or they could be wood clad caravans, Glamping is a corruption of Glamour Camping, just an excuse to jack up prices of romany type caravans, yurts, tepees, sheep herders huts etc some more luxurios than others. We do have the hostels for international travellers, backpackers etc in Exeter There are also travel inns that do rooms per night that can have multiple occupancy. WIll you have access to a vehicle, or be relying on public transport? This may help http://westpointexeter.co.uk/visitor-info/local-area/accommodation

Reasonable and fair costs were a factor that we included from the very outset as many of our community are financially challenged, nothing wrong with being prudent, and that is one of the reasons we have so many options based on the basic entry price, (Local campsites can cost upwards of £20 per night to just let you put a tent up on the grass, and I think that's not on, there is limited space, but spaces available at the moment) What the Dwarf said is possibly the cheapest way as it covers all the event from the day before to the post show day.and with what's going on after the show closes to the public, possibly the best option, no travelling, bar on site, on site social area etc, whatever we want to make it, catering on site from 7.30am 'tl late. Locally there are various caravan and chalet parks, Bed and Breakfast establishments, through to 5 star hotels for the ones requiring such attention.

Discount for students is 10% on production of membership card at entry, not available on line as we have no easy means of checking validity via website. Promo code is a standard item on website package we are not in this instance using as I am led to understand how it works, it is not in my domain. Hammer and spanner, I am ok, Buttons and ether, It's a mystery! Sorry

If your grate is melting, then I would suspect the fuel, It may seem a silly question but what does the clinker look like and form as? The reason I ask is because if it is forming into quite a solid lump. this will deflect the heat back down into the grate (causing it to burn), and still heat above as the air escapes around the edge of the clinker allowing the fire to heat metal above, It could also cause eruptions as it breaks down as Dave the Dwarf suggests. What size anthracite are you using? Personally it's a fuel I steer clear of for various reasons, the clinker/residues being the main one.

Spanky, you get here, and I'll stake you to a VIP Ticket! Can't do better than that I am afraid.

Hi Dave, sent another lot out to you second class parcel post on the 27th last week, should be there soon. Bring your stuff and any spare items to sell in the bring and buy section, labelled with price and whose they are. Looking good, starting to finalise site positions etc at the moment, looking forward to meeting you.

Yes see website

and the result ????

Hi Thomas, Is that the same as what I would term a "Double Dip" technique? I.E. Weld is consolidated, then item is quenched at high end heat (30 to 50 degrees C above the Upper critical point) to induce hardening, then removed from quenchant at a suitable temperature, and then the residual heat allowed to get workpiece to the required tempering colour, then catch it at that temperature by dipping into quenchant again. Takes some practise and experience, but one way to produce the desired effect.

Or to hold a hay bale / animal feed?