Atticus Posted July 24, 2011 Posted July 24, 2011 Well, I'll start by introducing myself! I've been lurking around for the past few days to get a feeling of this board. So far, I love the environment. I spent a couple hours in the chat the other day and met a few members. Everyone seems extremely helpful and here for a passion of smithing. With that aside, I felt you all would have some advice for my current situation. Within a few weeks, I'll be starting classes at the University of Texas at Austin. The house I'll be staying at is unsuitable for my gas forge and I'm sure the neighbors downtown would dislike my constant hammering. I'm searching for a place where I could leave my forge and anvil for when I have free time aside from studying. I just recently purchased my first anvil and I would hate to have it sit for weeks at a time between my visits to home. My first thought was a self-storage unit, but those seem hard to come by near downtown and much more expensive than I realized. I'm willing to consider any kind of spitballing of ideas here! Thanks a ton, -Atticus Quote
Bentiron1946 Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 Greenville, TX? My wife's late aunt spent her final days there, seems like a nice town. I was intrigued by the Salvation Army Church building in the older downtown area, looked like a Greek temple, sure not what one thinks of when they think Salvation Army is it? Any way I'm sure some of the Texas boys will pipe up and offer up some suggestions for you and may even be willing to share some good tips on available locations around the Austin area. Good luck in your higher edumacation. Quote
David Einhorn Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 According to the ABANA website http://www.abana.org...te_list.shtml#t , the following blacksmithing groups are in Texas. If you contact a group that is close to you, then you may find a resource near you where you can either use your forge or use the forge of a guild or local smith. There are thousands of smiths around the country and I have confidence that someone will be interested in helping resolve your difficulty. Also, check into the art department at your college, they might have metal working equipment that you will be allowed to use. BALCONES FORGE· Pres: John Crouchet 5828 East Ranch Road 1431 Marble Falls, Texas 78654 (830) 798-3710[email protected]· Ed: Vincent Herod 166 Granite Road Paige, TX 78659-4922 (512) 253-6045[email protected]· www.balconesforge.org EAST TEXAS BLACKSMITH ALLIANCE· Pres: John Soares P.O. Box 888 Woodville, TX 75979 (409) 982-1500· Ed: Tom Lundquist 320 Oak Ridge Drive Onalaska, TX 77360 (936)646-4985[email protected] FOUR STATES IRON MUNCHERS· Pres: Jerome LeGrand 612 S. Lelia Ave. Texarkana, TX 75501 (903) 792-1982[email protected]· Ed: Michelle Barkman 7120 FM 559 Texarkana, TX 75503 (903) 832-6227[email protected]· www.fourstatesironmunchers.com HOUSTON AREA BLACKSMITH'S ASSOCIATION· Pres: Russell W Parrish 1402 Asbury Street Houston, TX 77007 713-855-5911[email protected]· Ed: Richard Boswell 281-356-5205[email protected]· www.habairon.org NORTH TEXAS BLACKSMITHS ASSOCIATION· Pres: Lanny Powers 2414 US Highway 80, Ste 260 Mesquite, TX 75149 (972) 289-3113[email protected]· Ed: Michael Clark 3402 Valley View Lane Garland, TX 75043 (972) 755-1130[email protected]· www.ntxba.org Quote
ThomasPowers Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 Be wary of leaving your equipment at an art department! Students often have little concept of meum et tuum and are proverbially rough on tools. (I teach an into to smithing and a smithing projects class a couple of times a semester at the local college and I figure that 1 class is equivalent to 1 years wear on my equipment if I was the only one using it.) Finding a forging friend with a local place to set up is your best bet---or see if there is a local group or historical site that would let you use their equipment. I once spent the summer in Germany on business and was having forge withdrawal until I found an open air museum where the smith was happy to let me do some forging. Quote
Bentiron1946 Posted July 25, 2011 Posted July 25, 2011 isn't Thomas Dean from somewhere around there? Quote
Atticus Posted July 26, 2011 Author Posted July 26, 2011 Thanks for the help so far, guys! Hopefully I won't work 15 hours tomorrow (like today) and can research some of these groups a bit better. Thanks, Atticus Quote
Thomas Dean Posted July 27, 2011 Posted July 27, 2011 isn't Thomas Dean from somewhere around there? I'm more northeast of there, about 120 miles east of Dallas. We were in the Austin area, (actually we were in Buda) this past weekend for our Daughter-in-love baby shower. Our new little GRANDSON is due Sept 1....and yes I do have his little anvil ready for him! Atticus, check with the Balcones Forge group mentioned above. Fantastic bunch of folks and I'm sure someone can help you out. Also, there are classes taught at the Austin Community College there, William Bastas is the instructor and if nothing else he may be able to assist you. There are several professional smiths in the Austin area also that you may be able to work a deal out with them. If you get the Anvil's Ring there is an article about a group of smiths that have joined forces and do work together and as seperate artists, you may be able to check with them for some space....Just some ideas and I'm not sure any of them can or will help you out. Good luck and HOOK EM HORNS!!!! Quote
Atticus Posted July 27, 2011 Author Posted July 27, 2011 Thanks Thomas! I'll definitely check those sources out. I figured it would be easiest when I move down in a couple of weeks. And yes, Hook 'em! Thanks again, Atticus Quote
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