Athens forge 2024

[Al Stephens]

The Athens Forge a member of the Alabama Forge Council will meet Sat. March 23, 2024 at 9AM. The demonstrator for the day will be the winner of the forging contest of a utensil handle made from 24" of 3/8 diameter material.

The contest challenge is to forge a handle for a cooking utensil from 24 inches of 3/8-inch round bar. As stated the contest requires only a handle. Of course, if anyone wants to produce a complete utensil from the 24-inch bar, that's a valid entry too. So you can add another piece of steel to make the blade of a spatula, or a ladle, for instance. Or knife-makers can weld in some other steel with the 3/8 round bar. Or use 3/8 round high carbon steel, if you have some.

Judging will take place at the March meeting on the fourth Saturday, March 23, 9:00, at Travis Fleming's shop. 

The March meeting will start with judging the entries and selecting first, second, and third place winners. Any AFC member is welcome to attend the meeting and enter their work in the contest. The first place prize will be $50. Second place will win $25, and third place will win $10. The regular March meeting will begin after the winners are chosen, with a demonstration of the winning entry. That's right, the winner of the contest will be demonstrating his or her winning entry at the March meeting, right after the announcement, so come prepared to demonstrate! Second and third place winners will also be invited – but not required – to demonstrate.

There will be an Iron-In-The-Hat raffle, donations welcomed. The Athens Forge uses IITH money to continue to provide tools, material, equipment, and fuel, so that AFC members can have a the things they need to learn more about the craft.

Visitors are always welcome. The demo will also be live-streamed at Athens Forge AFC on Youtube. More information its available at www.alaforge.org

[Al Stephens]

The Athens Forge, a member of the Alabama Forge council, will meet Saturday April 27, at 9AM.

This will be an "Open Forge" day. Any member of the AFC, can come and work on a private project. Bring your tools and material, forges, anvils, and vices are available.  You might want to try a pair of the Grilling Tongs Steve Alford demoed last month. Non members are invited to come and watch, and ask questions. There is a lot of smithing knowledge within the group.

 Visitors are always welcome. More information its available at www.alaforge.org

You might want to mark the next meeting May 25, Travis Fleming will be demonstrating how to make a pair of tongs to hold a railroad spike for safe and secure forging.