GCCK Spring Hammer-in at Paul Lebatard’s shop in Vancleave Saturday April 16th 9 am till……….Free food, soft drinks, and lots of fun!!!!!!!
Pass the word.
Call for more info or directions. 228-238-7461 or 228-826-4137.
Will asked a question on our forum about forge welding. A couple of days later he and David Howery were in my shop making it happen. It was a good day for us.
Editor’s Note: This article and pictures were provided by Kenneth Joseph Mazzarol, Public Relations Person of the Blacksmith Association of Western Austrailia. We feel that it provides a great insight into demonstrations and forging around the world and have decided to post it here. The only editing done was to clarify which pictures are being referred to. Click on the images to see them larger. Enjoy!
The two pictures on the left may give you some idea of my set-up at the local Shows. It is a plow or harrow disk mounted on three legs over a tuyre with a bottom valve for emptying the ash. The blower was made in Sydney probably circa the turn of the century. I invite kids in to make a little mediaeval spoon from a number 7 horse shoe nail. The kids are properly dressed in an apron, safety glasses, and boots. I got the boots from FESA, our Fire Service, who kindly gave me a small used pair. The child turns the handle to produce a draught to liven up the charcoal nuggets. They enjoy the experience of dressing up and blowing the fire and finally 
hammering the red hot nail flat then forming a small spoon in a jig on the anvil. I use pointy nose pliers to finally form the handle. The finish is achieved by brushing with a brass wire brush which gives the little spoon a brassy patina. Brushing may be done hot or cold, the ends of the brass wire seems to ‘paint’ the brass on. After it is finished I plunge it into my bucket of water then whip it out producing clouds of steam from the hot tongs, adding a little drama to the proceedings.
The first picture on the right shows the finished spoon and in the second picture are some little pendants which when suspended from a piece of string will tell you your fortune from which ever way they swing. I always try to bring a little magic to what ever I make because people are generally superstitions to some degree and it all helps the mystique of the blacksmith producing wondrous things with his fire, anvil and hammer.
These little mediaeval spoons have been made throughout Europe by Gypsies for centuries and are said to be very lucky because they are related to the horseshoe. A lady told me this as I was mucking around one day with a horseshoe nail trying to make something useful. She said she had been in Europe and seen the Gypsies selling them as lucky pendants. In mediaeval times women would wear the spoons pinned to their dresses for measuring out small quantities of condiments into the cooking pot. When I am working, I give them away free to women who have a spoon collection or to children who show some interest in what I am doing and ask questions. If you want to make them as part of your repertoire, be my guest.
Take it easy
Jo
Gulfcoast Blacksmith Association
http://gulfcoastblacksmith.com/
Dedicated To Teaching, Demonstrating, and Preserving the Art of Blacksmithing
Meeting Information
The next GCBA meeting will be Sunday February 27th from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
Demonstration: We will not have a formal demonstrator this month. Our focus will be getting everyone working “in the fire” as soon as the business meeting is closed. There will be one or two forges reserved for teaching beginners the basic of blacksmithing.
Lunch: For those interested in ordering lunch we will “take orders (collect payment)” and send someone to one of the local businesses to pick up lunch.
Annual Dues: Dues ($25.00) were due for 2011 on January 1, 2011. If you have not paid and will not be at the meeting just mail a check to:
Gulfcoast Blacksmith Association
c/o Sid Gale
P.O. Box 2351
Denham Springs, La 70727
Iron in the Hat (IH): Please bring items for Iron in the Hat. The proceeds provide scholarships for members. Just ask for details.
GCBA Demonstration: Need volunteers to demonstrate at La Mason (Old Home Place) in Gautier, MS on March 27th from 1:00PM – 5:00PM. Contact Chuck Robinson if you are available.
Show and Tell: Please bring samples of your work to the meeting for Show and Tell. We can all learn by sharing ideas.
Coal: Coal is available for $35.00 per hundred pound sack.
April Meeting: The fourth Sunday of April is Easter Sunday. The meeting date has been changed to May 1st. The May meeting will be May 29th.
Thank you,
Chuck Robinson
An invitation to Members & Friends of the Blacksmiths’ Guild of the Potomac to attend our annual Spring Fling
www.bgop.org
Friday 3pm thru Sunday Lunch
Clarke County Ruritan Fairgrounds
890 West Main Street
Berryville, Virginia 22611
$60 pre-registration by 4/1/2011
$45 Sunday morning only
$75 fee at gate
Fee includes these meals:
Friday – dinner
Saturday – continental breakfast, lunch & dinner
Sunday – continental breakfast & lunch
Arrive early for
Friday night Dinner & Discussion with demonstrators
Download the full information sheet and registration forms here:
2011-BDP-SF-invite-Registration-Final
Does anyone have any ideas or requests for either of our upcoming events, Knife Hammer-In and Conference. With the Hammer-In we could use some help with registration, table set up and food and drinks. As far as the conference goes we would like to know what demos you would like to see from David Koenig. Check out his gallery and get back to us, on this site preferably.
This bird bath was inspired and commissioned by Charles Craig. The glass was by Jennifer Thomas and the ironwork is by Jim Pigott.
