NEWSLETTER October 2008 Volume 1 Issue 9

In This Issue: * Monthly Meeting * Blacksmith Interview * Shop Safety * PRESIDENT’S LETTER *

MONTHLY MEETING

This months meeting was held in Chesapeake where were demonstrating at the Heritage Arts Festival. This year was the first that was combined with the Civil War Days. The event management expects that next year’s event have more participants and significantly more traffic. That’s a good thing as we did a few new things this year ourselves. We held an informal meeting as almost everyone was at the demo site or at grill for hamburgers and franks that were expertly prepared by Steve LaPaugh. We had an award winning cake that was donated by the 4H club that was superb. There really wasn’t much business discussed today, mostly just blacksmithing and taking in the event. There was the Ropemaker with his replica machines, several confederate and union units that demonstrated maneuvers and firing formations. Larry Ange and Emory Ewell showed off their new light weight portable forges. Larry will be giving some members training on lighting fires in less than four tries at the next event. Joe Gentile worked the tables and captured many a youngsters’ imagination with his magic blue wood. Tom Herendeen had a great idea of conducting our Iron in the Hat at the demo and opening it up to the public. It appears to have been well received by the public and was not all that much more trouble to conduct than it is at a regular meeting. Good Idea Tom! We know a guy who has an anvil with flames painted on it! A pinstriped stand to match! It was a Bear to set up, but we were glad we did! Annie Roche was shown how to make a nail without a nail header and did she pump those babies out when she got the hang of it. Someone finally broke out a nail header and Tim Edney showed Annie and Bear how much nicer a nail headed forms the nail then doing it at the vice, but when your in a pinch the vice works. Dr. Dan Frank had his setup and offered some factoids up for the crowds. Jon Tolson after burning himself twice (he he), still managed to act as a number one relief demonstrator. Jon also worked on several projects one of which included his first fork. There were some interesting and excellent demo works to put on both the table and in ITH. Everyone seemed to have a good time, if you didn’t no one noticed, haha. There were other members present and we really appreciate them coming out supporting the event and meeting.

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Joe about to perform Blue Magic                                             That’s a nice anvil and stand Bear

sure do like that Hat Larry. Emory is that hot enough!                                                      Bear & Steve warming things up

What’s with all the red cups? Iron in the Hat! Yahoo!

Nail makers made 60-100 per hr, Annie                                                      HEY! Where did everybody go? 

An Interview with Blacksmiths:

By Vince Nakovics

Rik & Brenda Mettes
Yellowstone, Wyoming

I wish I could say that I located Rik & Brenda Mettes the old fashioned way during a visit to the area, but that is not the case. I found them on the internet, I have been to Yellowstone in 1993, but that is before they had even opened up their shop. They have found successful combination to make their dream of being a blacksmith entrepreneur an enjoyable one. If you are in Yellowstone, WY stop by and say hello.

Rik & Friends working a long bar                                                  2 Inch twisted bar foot rail

Eagle Mirror

       I was the resident welder in a construction camp on the North Slope of Alaska. The Super asked me to make a weather vane for the top of his office. I didn't have any smithing skills or any smithing equip so I used a big rosebud to heat up the iron to bend, twist, etc. I didn't know enough to wear dark glasses and the oxy-acetylene flame burned my eyes. Didn't realize it till the next morning when I woke up and my eye lids were stuck shut!

      In 1991 or 92 I saw Francis Whittaker perform and decided that I wanted to become or at least seriously expand my knowledge about blacksmithing. Prior to starting my blacksmith shop I had been a welder, horseshoer and log home builder. In many ways these jobs prepared for the versatility needed in running a full time blacksmith shop.

      I think the old methods lend themselves to the most elegant designs. In today’s world you have to tastefully use a mixture of all methods at your disposal to be competitive. That includes both in time and providing a reasonably priced work.

     I am kind of a tool junky. I like all my tools. If for some reason, I out grow a tool and it becomes dormant I move it outside to make room. I like the Hofi style 2.5# hammer and 2# custom horseshoer’s hammer best. I use a 425# Rat Hole European style anvil and Brenda likes the 150# Peter Wright and 1.5# horseshoer’s hammer and the 25# LG. We have the whole set of LG Hammers and use them all. Just got the 500# going. It is quite a metal muncher. Also a single stroke 75# KA air hammer is handy by the anvil. I am looking for a Nazel 3B. We have 7 or 8 forges of different sizes and configurations to suite the task. The coal forge in the corner is mostly nostalgic.

    Get good at all the old hand methods first and then tool up as you can afford it. Join the local blacksmith association and go to every clinic you can afford. You get a bad case of tunnel vision working by yourself all the time. You have to find your nitch and then promote it. Should be something you are better than anyone else at doing. That is something that takes a bit of work, experimentation and "luck". Luck is where preparation meets opportunity. I spent hours and yes--years before I started making any money at blacksmithing. Your nitch also has to be something that there is a demand for at a price, clients are willing to pay. The modern blacksmith has to wear many hats. Web Master, photographer, artist--you have to be able to draw a professional rendering of projects to potential clients (I am weak in this area and am working on it), and be a good business person. You have to make money on the majority of projects to stay in business. I under bid a recent job but I got really good at penny scrolls! It’s part of the territory. I don't mind so much under bidding a job once in a while if I learn something from it. As a wise man once said "If you do something you like--you will never work a day in your life."