January 19, 201511 yr I've started a number of demos by saying, "Just remember, a man with a mustache is never alone." It's a sort of non sequitur, but it breaks the ice. There are sometimes hecklers; we call them Sharpshooters. Here's something to offer for the Sharpshooters. "There are three kinds of questions. The first lets the demonstrator know how much you know. The second lets the demonstrator know how little he knows. The third asks for information. Today, we're only going to deal with the third kind of question." Here's one I like. "I haven't had so much fun since the hogs ate grandma." There is a lot of lore and stories to be shared in the British book, "The Village Blacksmith" by Webber. If this were the 1950's, I'd be there for you. I'm a grad of E. Lansing High and MSMoo.
January 19, 201511 yr hmm My father went to MSU then.... right after Korea thanks to GI bill. Still dont know where the hammer in is located, have fun those that can find it.
January 20, 201511 yr Author Steve, if you have any notion to come, just pm me, I will gladly give you the secret handshake, and the codex opening code. Frank, thanks for the tidbits, I have been a public speaker for several years now, that part is easy. It is the forging in front of far more accomplished smiths that is the only real concern. So I will keep the project simple and enjoy the give and take, I do have a cool little decorative element I will be adding to the mix.
January 23, 201511 yr Mike, Just a heads up, I cant make it to the hammer in but Tom wanted me to ask you to pick up him and about 25 others at the airport. Dick
January 23, 201511 yr Mike, Just a heads up, I cant make it to the hammer in but Tom wanted me to ask you to pick up him and about 25 others at the airport. Dick Shane we can still car pool if ya wana go.. Glenn wont let me have the IFI limo, but I may have the wife's Jeep if there is a lot of snow, so maybe I could drag 10 to 15 of them from the rear hitch...
January 23, 201511 yr Author Looks like we are gonna have a packed house! Dick tell Tom I gotta guy!! Steve, you are in charge of t-shirt sales!! Should be a grub fest as well!
January 26, 201511 yr As this is my first ever hammer-in, what kinds of things are we expected to bring? I just googled hammer-in-the-hat, and I fear that I have nothing anyone would be remotely interested in. Are we supposed to bring food? What kind, ect?
January 26, 201511 yr Author Bring a dish to pass, and a few bucks to get iron in the hat tickets. A chair and a set of safety glasses. We eat first, then do the demo afterwards, then the raffle.
January 26, 201511 yr Greetings Mike, You forgot to tell Kevin that newbies get to do an intro demo... Forge in and make beautiful things Jim
January 27, 201511 yr As for "iron in the hat" just keep a sharp eye out on the drive over for some 'road iron' "the Lord himself will provide a sacrifice..." Good luck and I hope the weather is nice, and we all can travel safely;-)
January 28, 201511 yr Author It would be preferable that the iron in the hat submission be something forged if possible. For newbs we understand that you feel you might not want to contribute right at the outset, but by getting the raffle tickets, sometimes you bring some very cool stuff home.
January 29, 201511 yr Oh OK. I had grabbed a pair of short 4" bar cutoffs marked 52100 from the scrap bin from work. Was thinking of bringing those, will just drop them back in the scrap pile. Not forging myself yet. Will be hopefully finishing up the build of my forge the weekend of the hammer-in. Getting close. :)
February 7, 201511 yr Author The hammer-in went well! We had 44 people show up to my shop, and even some dignitaries from I Forge Iron! Thanks to Glenn for sending the T-shirts, and to Steve Sells for bringing them up and adding items to the raffle. We got a few of us to sit still long enough for a photo. From right to left, me, Black Frog, Aaron Cergol, Jim Coke, Steve Sells and SJS (Shane), my brain is mush after hosting and demonstrating, all went smoothly thanks to many helpful hands. I was careful to remember to wear my Iforge T-shirt I got from Glenn. Kevin Johnsen had attended also, but had already left by the time the Photo was taken.
February 7, 201511 yr I wish I could have been there, but the drive was a bit too far. Glad it went well.
February 7, 201511 yr Looked like a very successful event! Sorry I was so late getting there, only getting in at the tail end of the demo. (Working second shift really messes up my schedule)
February 8, 201511 yr Man wish I could have made the trip from PA. Good to hear you had great meeting. Let's see what you made Mike.
February 9, 201511 yr Author DK, I kept it simple, I made a decorative element which can be used as a drawer pull, or wax collector or whatever, I also made a "colonial sash candle holder", and an organic element using negative space. Also I used a few quotes from this site, blacksmith gems!! It was a real good time. The fact that they asked me to do it again in the future was the topper on the event!
February 10, 201511 yr mike, i like those candle holders. i might have to steal the idea, with your permission of course.
February 13, 201511 yr Hi Mike, I really enjoyed this written journey about your demo. Congatulations for the good work both on the anvil and on the organizing side. Special thanks for the photo from the gang - it's so oldfashionedly good and relieving to see actual people behind those well known nicknames and letters. Best wishes: Gergely
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