Mad Uncle Cliff

Tree Project update folks, Today saw around 20 or so smithies gather at 'the barn' for a branch forging session for the tree. Strine had us all organised into crews (well - press ganged is probably the more appropriate term)and we got to it, heating 10mm stainless steel bar stock and passing it through the power hammer to taper it off, before giving it a few good kinks to make it look 'twiggy'. By lunchtime we had close to the 200 twigs done that we needed, then it was time for a BBQ lunch (despite the rain) and refreshing ale. With all the 10mm and 25mm stock now forged, we will be moving the 50mm and 75mm stock for the major tree branches to another site with a much larger forge and power hammer. And we now have the trunk forge organised, imagine finding a place that can forge a single piece of 300mm dia stainless steel that is 3m long, well we found such a place in Australia and they are ready and willing to help. Wiser men than me will ensure this thread is updated with more news and some photos very soon. I will try to do my bit to let you all know what I know about the project as it progresses.

Shucks, and I thought my latest purchase, a 430 pound Peter Wright was a very big anvil! I look forward to more monster anvil pics.

Great find there Topher and I particularly like the laminated and routed timber stand. Might try that routing out idea for my next timber block. Cliff

Onya Strine! I totally agree - with a March 2011 tree planting in the wind, we could be looking at ABA (VIC) hosting blacksmiths from around the world for a major event. I am thinking: 1/. A big dinner event. 2/. Forge in days at the barn. 3/. Guided tours of blacksmith works in Melbourne area. 4/. Homestays hosted by Aussie blacksmiths. This would be great - happy to help out.

G'day all - I have not posted here for far too long, Might get Strine to fill you in on the latest expected completion month for the tree, as it looks like it may move off our intended target a wee bit. But having blacksmiths from around the world come to see it when it is up sounds like an idea for a special event. Meanwhile - we are having a branch making day at 'The Barn' (ABA VIC HQ) on Sunday 20th July. I reckon making branches is something a learner like me can manage okay, I mean - how hard is it to take a straight smooth rod of stainless steel and make it look all crooked and lumpy? Cheers, Cliff

Well - it has been a while since I posted, and I guess I have the same 'busy' excuses as most others do - life in general gets in the way, doesn't it? But anyway - here is my most recent anvil purchase, a 340lb Peter Wright, currently sitting in Adelaide and patiently waiting for me to drive over on the Queens Birthday long weekend and collect.

Hey fellas - you may want to see the photos (or you may not...) The Tree Project: News

Back home safely now and in the middle of moving house! Thanks guys for the amazing support over the demo, so many of the conference delegates finally GOT what the Tree Project was about when they saw the forging in action. Only thing I thought of after the demo, was we should have got one of those thermal imaging cameras that records and filmed a leaf being forged. I am sure many photos of the display and the demo will be on the Tree Project website soon, and appearing in The Drift magazine. Cheers, Cliff.

Okay, we have a 3.5m x 3.5m marquee for the day on the Wednesday. I will organise parking and power once I am there on the Monday. Doug and I will have some stainless stock with us for leaves, but like I said - a few in mild steel as demo's on the day won't hurt so if you want to bring some 10 or 12mm rod then do so. Doug can bring a leaf veining tool for a 1" hardy hole - will that fit one of the anvils? We will be travelling up with basic tools (hammer and tongs). Looking forward to it - drinks on me at the end of the day!:cool:

We work 10mm or 12mm stainless rod for leaves, and we have some 20mm x 3mm flat that we also work. I will pack a few lengths in my backpack, maybe some copper too. On the day - if you wanted to knock out some mild steel leaves purely for demo purposes and give them to the overseas visitors as a promotion of the project, that would be okay - it is more about awareness than leaf production. As for the date - Wednesday 23 September is 100% confirmed and we have a marquee set up otside the Gold Coast Conference Centre from 9am to 5pm. This may have been more of an open email for three, rather than a thread - but to anyone else in QLD, if you want to call by on the day and say hi you are MOST welcome!

Doug and I will be there, so we will have one smithie and one wannabe. Now I need to work out how much of my 23kg baggage limit can be clothes and how much can be tools and stock!

Thanks to both of you guys - between the two of you it looks like we will have a genuine leaf making demo for the Tree Project on the Gold Coast:)

Cliff here from Diamond Creek in Victoria, soon to be from Bundoora in Victoria and spitting distance from the ABA Barn! Meanwhile - I am looking for QLD Gold Coast smithies with portable gear to be part of a leaf making demo on the 23 September at the Gold Coast Convention Centre. Call me on 0448 324 309 or email me at [email protected] if you can help out!

thanks for the offer double_edge2, we need to demo on site at the conference centre on the day so we are looking for smithies who can travel tothe site and bring a portable forge and anvil on a stand, so if you know anyone who can...

I saw the leaves from France the other day - magnificent! Now - please see my new post 'Calling all Queensland - Gold Coast blacksmiths WE NEED YOU! Yes - the Tree Project is coming to the Gold coast for three days and we need two portable forge and anvil set ups for a demo on Wednesday 23 September. So - please contact me via the post ASAP if you can help us out on the day!