Newsletter March 2008 Volume 1 Issue 2
In this issue: * Interview with a Blacksmith * Safety * Dan Boone’s Pasture Party * February’s Meeting * Tips and Techniques * Editor’s Note *
This month I am glad to introduce Mark Widen. He hails from Saginaw, Minnesota. He specializes in Medieval Scandinavian and European ironwork. On his website you will see a, what I think a particularly nice example of an Iron pot rack using traditional joinery. Of course the other items on display there are very fine examples of his craftsmanship.
Mark Widen: http://www.blacksmiths3.com/
1. What was your very first blacksmithing experience?
A local antique tractor show has a working blacksmith shop. I asked the demonstrators many questions after seeing some beautiful ironwork in ‘Fine Home Building Magazine’. Finally Jim Sage told me to grab a hammer and start making a hook. I was bit real hard with the desire to learn more and do more.
2. What made you think “I would like to be a full time Blacksmith!”
My father had been part owner of a welding shop where I had worked when I was in high school. I liked the independence they had. So I was on the lookout for a self employment opportunity at the time I started blacksmithing. Several years of collecting old and new tools, along with starting the art fair circuit brought me to the point where I thought it was worth a try. With the kids done with school, the mortgage paid off, and with the support of my wife we decided to go full time blacksmithing in 1998. I have never regretted that decision. Building inventory for shows kept me busy and along with custom project for customers, I was perfecting my forge technique and constantly stretching my abilities.
3. What was your background prior to becoming a full time Smith?
I have always worked with my hands tinkering with things like bicycles and motorcycles. I liked working with metal at my Dad’s shop, but computers looked more exciting. I went to school for computer repair, and that was a while ago because I learned about paper tape readers, card punches, and large magnet tape units. Eventually I was working on paper mill instrumentation like valves, sensors, and controllers. I find that the amount of learning and problem solving in blacksmithing is similar to any job I have had that deals with current technology.
4. There is often much discussion about traditional methods versus modern methods and the merits that go with both. How do you, personally define the difference?
My projects are mostly traditional and some blended with modern. I consider traditional techniques to be what you could do before the use of electricity. This one system of power distribution and tools run by it has changed the look and feel of ‘wrought iron’ more than anything else.
When I am working on a traditional design, I study historical items and try to make my work resemble them closely by using as many non-electric methods as practical. If I find no other way to accomplish the task, then I work hard to use the modern methods in a way that is not very visible so as not to detract from the original design of the project.
5. This is a question with several parts on some of your favorite tools if you have one or several. Which hammer style do you prefer? How much does it weigh? How big is the anvil that you use most? What special tools do you use on a regular basis?
My favorite hammer is a cross peen that I bought at a rummage sale and it is balanced perfectly for my hand at about 24oz. I check out new hammers where ever I see them, but nothing feels the same. Second favorite is a straight peen from Centaur Forge that is 2lbs. The anvil I use is a 100lb without a maker’s mark that also came from a local sale. The top is in very nice condition with one edge rounded over for tight bends. My second anvil is a 300lb Trenton. It has been used quite a bit, there is a depression in the center of the face. I plan to leave it that way as when I am straightening an old piece of wrought iron, a slight curve can be removed by placing it curve up over the ‘pocket’ and giving a good hit. I also have a 50lb Little Giant that I have used on several large projects.
Notice the braid work on the shovel handle
The special tools that I use are: A) Tongs that I have made to fit my grip and are lighter for handling small stock. Also, pliers that I have removed the teeth from by grinding and sanding. These are great for forming the curls inside small scrolls when hot and do not scar the surface.
B) Forms for making scrolls. Many different sizes and shapes. Often we draw out the desired scroll, forge one to the drawing, then make a form to fit inside that first scroll. The rest go quickly.
C) Special punches and chisels custom made for eyes, patterns, etc.
6. What is your advice/recommendations to Smiths thinking about going full time? Investigate the market in your area. There has to be a demand for this type of work. My web site mainly generates contacts for large projects within driving distance from my shop. Be willing to travel the art fair circuit in the beginning. As repeat customer sales and larger projects increased I was able to travel less. Also investigate the Internet for opportunities. Study how others are doing things. I find that maintaining a friendly yet professional approach in the layout of online sales venues can be tricky.
7. What do you get out of being a Blacksmith?
There is an incredible sense of satisfaction when I complete a project in iron. The connections with history, the controlled use of my whole body that comes with lots of practice, and the idea that there is a very small group of people who can do what I do, bring a reverence for the craft. As John Seymour says in his book The Forgotten Crafts “Things made by hand contain a bit of the makers soul”. I have passed some of these skills on to my son and son-in-law, and will gladly share with my grandchildren, as well as any interested future blacksmiths. Usually at each demonstration that I do, there is one person who starts to appreciate the effort and skill that was required of blacksmiths to produce objects in iron before the electric motor, the arc welding, and the milling machine. The discussion can get quite lively as I recall from experience or study, the methods used to perform a particular task in the building of a large project. That excitement encourages me to learn more and try new techniques.
Safety! Safety! Safety!
Wire Wheel Safety
By Steve LaPaugh
When you are cleaning up your “S” hook on the bench grinder’s wire brush, don’t hook it on your finger! A power wire brush is like a buffing wheel in that it can grab an item out of your hand and throw it off the wall or back at you. I have used a power wire brush on the workbench ever since I was 10 years old, with no more injury than some outer layers of epidermis removed when my fingers came in contact with the rotating wires. In 1984 I bought a one horsepower Craftsman bench grinder and removed the left grinding wheel and replaced it with and eight inch fine wire wheel. I also removed the tool rest to give more access to the brush. I had used it this way for 11 years, again with no more than some light skin abrading. Three days after Christmas in 2005 I had just finished forging a nice S-hook out of ¼” sq stock with a twisted center portion between the hooks. To remove the scale I proceeded to the bench grinder to clean the hook. It cleaned up nicely, except for the inside curve of the hooks. I knew there would be a great tendency for the rotating brush to “grab” the inside curve and pull it out of my hand. I thought I could hold it tight enough by hooking one end over the middle finger of my left hand while also holding it with my right hand and brush the other end. I was only going to give it very light pressure to reduce the likelihood of it grabbing. Well it grabbed anyway, and since it couldn’t pull it out of my hand, it pulled my finger into the sheet metal guard and cut it almost all the way off. My wife was very calm and asked no questions when I walked into the house with a clean rag wrapped around my hand and told her to take me the emergency room. They reattach it, but were unsuccessful in saving it. A couple of weeks later they had to cut it completely off, then shorten the bone to get enough skin to close the end with stitches. But, there is a silver lining behind every cloud. While at the surgeons, I got my first paying blacksmith job to fabricate a branding iron for one of the nurses. I have since removed the guard from the wire brush end of the bench grinder, and I do not wire brush inside curves and corners anymore.
Dan Boone’s Pasture Party:
Thanks to Steve LaPaugh for donating all these great photos. I hear we had a good group showing and all had a good time. Without further adieu, here’s the pics.
Our February 17th Meeting:
Well our second meeting of the new year and what a meeting it was. The Chili was hot! Just ask Joel Thompson. Larry Ange was tailgating his version of a rivet forge. As usual Larry combined quality workmanship with his advanced knowledge to produce a really functional and efficient product. Way to go Larry. We welcomed John Richter back and announced a five year lease for TBG at Tim’s Blackwater Forge site. Tim Edney demonstrated his farrier skills. He provided a brief discussion on the different types of horseshoes and how they are sized. Today he made a set of shoes for his mule Samuel Adams.
His hammer quickly and deftly shaped the heated steel into the rough shape. Tim works one side to its completion, he explained that it is a faster method than heating one side and then waiting for it to reheat again to put the groove in for the nail heads. Tim explained the Rounding Hammer’s shape is designed for the function. The rounded side is used as the name implies to round off and the flat side is actually used as a flatter and that’s why it is not shaped like the head of a blacksmith hammer. Did you know that the shoe doesn’t sit flat on the hoof? I didn’t, that’s one of the design purposes of the rounded side of the farrier’s rounding hammer, is to round or flange out the inside of the shoe so that the pressure is exerted only on the outside of the hoof. Tim pointed out that he uses the rounded side when hitting his punches, this makes for a more effective strike, centering more force to the punch. When making the final punch through if you wait for the steel to cool a little that will make help you punch a cleaner hole, said Tim. All that hammering got Tim tired, so he enlisted the help of all the youngsters present to help him finish nailing the shoes on. I suspect that more than a few of us grownups enjoyed petting his mule and watching Tim’s dogs especially the young pup. Tim informed us that the hooves grow about 3/8 of an inch in about 5 weeks so you always want to drive the nails into new hoof growth. Tim finished his demonstration just in time as it started to drizzle and we all moved back into the forge. Last event for the day was Iron in the Hat, which was very well represented with a wide assortment of items. We thank all of those who donated items. Of course the forged items are always big winners and the Knife donated by Michael Liambiase, of Burning Hand Forge was no exception. Thanks again to all who participated and to all the members who turned out for the meeting. I hope you all had as good a time as I did.
Vince Nakovics
Tips and Techniques: This month we have a heart paper towel holder.
Naturally the decorative heart shape can be used on countless items. Many of those items make good demonstration items and serve very well as a gift for a friend or loved one.
Editors Note: We had a very good meeting this past month and while I wish I had more contributions from our members I was able to get the newsletter out. I hope that you enjoy this issue and will try to keep them coming on a regular basis. Remember if your not happy with the content please provide me with something, this can be just your idea of how to make our newsletter better, or just a picture of something that you think would be a good addition. Take a chance and write an article. It’s only us! The demonstration season is fast approaching and the schedule will soon be out. They are a lot of fun. You might learn a thing or two, but I find that I like to attend for the camaraderie, so try to attend one or two or more!
We can still earn a FREE DEMO from Doug Merkel! If you haven’t signed up for ABANA please give it some thought. I sent out a letter last December explaining why I was going to join again. That was before ABANA started the Hammer’s Blow CD promo! It is really a super deal with the CD. Give it some thought.
This months meeting will be March 16th, hope to see you all there.
Vince Nakovics
The New England School of Metalwork has its 2008 Summer Session catalog, April 1 – Oct 31, posted on the website: http://newenglandschoolofmetalwork.com or call 1-888-753-7502
If anyone has been to this school please write a review of your experience there.
John C. Campbell Folk School has its 2008 schedule posted on its website: www.folkschool.com
Greetings from Memphis!
The River Bluff Forge Council is hosting the 15th annual Forging on the River at the National Ornamental Metal Museum on the bluffs of the Mississippi River in Memphis, March 28th through the 30th. Registration cost is only $85 for the full weekend.
Scheduled demonstrators are Hank Knickmeyer with Tom Clark, Bob Coogan, Bob Patrick, and a special iron casting project with Jerod Christy. Festivities begin on Friday evening with a slide show. Our format focuses on one demonstrator at a time - 2 on Saturday and one on Sunday - so observers don't have to decide what to watch and what to skip.
Meals include famous Memphis Bar-B-Que, Museum stew, and a certified free range, organic fish fry on Sunday.
We will host an open auction on Saturday night (with adult beverages provided), to support the Museum. Forge Council members and other Museum supporters are invited to make a donation to the auction. You do not have to be present to donate.
An application form is attached below. Tailgating is allowed (and expected), however, tailgaters should register for the event and we ask that no equipment demos be performed during scheduled demonstrations.
For more information about the Museum, see www.metalmuseum.org. If you have any questions, I can be reached at 901-278-7826 after hours or meltingman@bellsouth.net
Fire, Food and Fun! I hope to see you in March.
Happy Forging!
Bob Rogers, Treasurer,
River Bluff Forge Council
Keep the Tradition Alive! Join Today!
Tidewater Blacksmiths Guild Mission Statement
“The Tidewater Blacksmiths Guild is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the craft of Blacksmithing and to increasing the public awareness of the history of Blacksmithing while at the same time demonstrating that in this world, things hand made still exist and remain objects of art”
2008 TBG Officers:
President: Tim Edney (757) 421-0123 blkwtrforge@cox.net
Vice Pres: Travis Covington (757) 317-9174 travis@covforge.net
Treasurer: Steve LaPaugh (757) 877-5684 slapaugh@verizon.net
Secretary: Joe Gentile (757) 965-6878 amx-ray@cox.net
2008 Board of Directors:
Diane deBeixedon (757) 627-9962 ddebeixedon@cox.net
Bear Short (757) 485-5117 hydraconstinc@aol.com
Eric Hinckley (757) 497-6067 usnbear2@cox.net
Emory Ewell (757) 482-1448 eewell1@cox.net
Rusty Heely (757) 484-3054
Committee Chairs:
Demonstrations: Hospitality:
Bob Orcutt rorcutt@cox.net Tom Herendeen twoherrons@aol.com
Joe Gentile amx-ray@cox.net Scholarship:
Vince Parrish snoozp@aol.com Mike Keeney scforge@cox.net
Librarians: Website:
Diane deBeixedon ddebeixedon@cox.net Travis Covington travis@covforge.com
Eric Hinckely usnbear2@cox.net Building Fund:
Newsletter: Joe Gentile amx-ray@cox.net
Vince Nakovics restoreman123@msn.com Diane deBeixedon ddebeixedon@cox.net
Vince Nakovics restoreman123@msn.com
Tidewater Blacksmiths Guildmeets every third Sunday of the month. Location of the meeting is posted on our website:http://www.tidewaterblacksmiths.com.
* Newsletter articles may be reprinted by ABANA affiliates unless otherwise noted as copyrighted or restricted. *