gvmnt45 Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 Hello Ladies and Gentelmen.. I have been pounding a bit of metal as a hobby for a couple of years now. Learning as I go... Looking to see if there are any smiths local...Maybe a little communal fire and anvil work 1st and then some beer??? I am just west of Ohare Airport. Willing to host or travel a bit..Once we get to know eachother. I work a lot of hours normally...Week ends work great.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 It would help if you complete your profile so you location will show up in the header every time you post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickOHH Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 welcome aboard! definitely put your location in your profile, makes it easy on us with bad memories to know where your from, and you will find there a plenty of good people in your area to get to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 Welcome aboard, glad to have you. I'll just skip my usual location in the header bit, it's been covered. <grin> You've come to probably the best blacksmithing site on Earth, I don't know about the nebular stars but this is it on Earth. <grin> There are hundreds of hours worth of good reading in the sections on the home page. It's listed by subject including the local organizations section at the bottom where you can find the blacksmithing organization closest to you. See you around. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
781 Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 Check out umba they are your local abana group or Illinois valley blacksmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satchel & Trunk Posted February 18, 2015 Share Posted February 18, 2015 Hey gvmnt45, I'm a fellow Chicagolander hailing from Oak Lawn, so pretty close to you. I'm still what you'd call an aspiring smith, slowly building my own propane forge and keeping my eyes on Craigslist for a nice cheap starter anvil...and doing my research all the while. I signed up with UMBA (Upper Midwest Blacksmithing Association) and they're having a winter conference this Saturday in South Beloit just along the Illinois-Wisconsin border...I'm looking forward to meeting some actual flesh and blood smiths in person and seeing what gems they can bestow upon me (both in knowledge and cheap anvils!) If you're interested you should check them out too, and I'll toss you a craft beer if you're into that sort of thing. Here's the UMBA website. Happy Smithing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 18, 2015 Share Posted February 18, 2015 Get to that conference if you're interested in damascus (patternwelding) for knives or ornamental work. Pep's a great smith and demonstrator. (Though you probably won't have quite as much fun as when Pep demonstrated for our conference "with one hand tied behind his back". He had surgery on it right after the conference. Luckily he brought and unloaded a powerhammer, treadle hammer and rolling mill to demo with---1 handed...) He's good and a good demonstrator; tell him that guy in the red hat with horns sends some remote heckling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satchel & Trunk Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Just got back from day 1 of the conference, as you said Pep was a very good presenter and very good at forge welding. He only had one weld all day that didn't stick...which he promptly slathered in enough flux to spray all over the front row while power hammering it out. When I sent him a heckle he said, "I know that guy, that's Thomas Powers! I don't know how he manages to know everybody wherever I go!" And then everybody got to hear the story of him with a broken hand trying to hold a piece of stock and work a powerhammer at the same time.A really good time, wish I could go back tomorrow for day 2! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billyO Posted February 22, 2015 Share Posted February 22, 2015 Hello gvmnt45, I may take you up on the hosting offer the next time I'm back at the folks. Grew up in Clarendon Hills and folks live in the Willowbrook area. If you're out in the PNW visiting Mt Rainier, give me a ring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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