THE HABA LETTER

The board met on November 20 and elected new executives and board members. Richard Boswell was elected President. James Porter was elected VP. Kathy Porter was elected to the board and elected as Treasurer. Kathy brings to us valuable book keeping know how. Larry Hoff agreed to remain secretary. December will be a transition month with all officers in place for the January meeting at Lee Oates “Bear Claw Forge” in LaPorte.

We also elected two other new board members along with Kathy. Please make Tim Bailey feel welcome. Tim brings a wide range of experience in art, welding and metal working to HABA. Lee Oates was also elected to the board. Most of us know Lee from HABA’s annual knife making workshop in January. Lee has stepped forward to work with getting the training program rolling. Lee is a full time blade smith that forges his blades.

November saw us at Dave Koenig’s “Tudor Forge” for the first of HABA’s getting back to basics meetings. Many, many thanks to Dave for hosting and demonstrating. We are all amazed at his energy. Dave has a very demanding commitment with ABANA and still finds time to host a meeting! At the meeting we had a show and tell table and an IRON in the HAT table. The IRON in the HAT proved to be interesting. An earlier comment from Dave was “it will take on a life of its own.” It did. Thanks to all who had items on the show and tell and donated to IRON in the HAT. We did not get to the tell part of the show and tell but I saw folks looking. Mark how did you do it?

This past year has been a good and very busy year for HABA and myself. January was the first time we met at Lee’s shop in LaPorte. It was good to see the familiar faces and a lot of new ones. It was an aggressive program to complete the Damascus blade and put on a handle. Thanks to Lee. Also thanks to Marvin and Cowboy.

In February, HABA wandered off to Tudor Forge. Dave was in midst of a hinge project and he had a lot of experience to share.

Thanks to Ed Malmgren, our current librarian, HABA was treated to an electric welding workshop hosted by Lincoln Electric at Lincoln Electric in March. Thanks to Tom Angelino and his crew for their patience and efforts. I also want to thank Harry Harris of Texas Welders Supply Co., Inc(TWSCO) for his help at this event. Harry usually can be found at our meetings with his grandson. If you have a welding question, ask Harry or Tom.

James Porter chaired the spring edition of HammerFest in Oldenburg. We were again looking for a direction to take this event in. More headway was made in a better presentation. We saw this in the number of folks that passed through. This twice a year event takes a lot of effort from a lot of people. Kenny Hall owns the property and makes it available to HABA to use as needed. Kenny spends a lot of time getting it ready, mowing, arranging for the port-a-potty’s, and putting on a fantastic feast on Saturday night. There are others who put up flyers, see to news releases, set up and take down at the site. Larry Hoff, Dave Koenig, James Porter, Jim Wheeler, Tee Hines are a few who have answered the call for help. Many thanks to all and apologies to those whose name I have missed.

Robert Killbuck hosted us for HABA’s May Treadle Hammer/Flypress Tool Work Shop. Within HABA’s membership, we have a number of folks that have acquired fly(screw) presses along with a number of treadle hammer owners. After watching John Crouchet demonstrate on the fly press, we wondered if tooling that would work in either machine could be made. John was interested and said, “let me think about it.” Out of this came the tool workshop where the intent was to make tools that could be used on the treadle hammer or flypress. We again had some of our old friends from Balcones Forge there as we did for the treadle hammer workshop. It was a busy 2 days. I think John got TIGed to his chair. It is amazing to see all these folks, who may or may not know each other come together, work together and turn out so much production. To all that contributed and participated many thanks. To those that just showed up to help and had no stake in the workshop, a special thanks.

June was a busy month for us. As an off shoot from the April Hammerfest, Dave Koenig and I were invited by Jarrell Lambert to demonstrate at Gary Job Corps in San Marcos. This came under HABA’s reaching out to a need and fell within our mission “To Preserve and Promote the Art and Craft of Blacksmithing”. We were met with a lot of enthusiasm, saw some fires kindled and maybe Jarrell got some money to get a blacksmithing program rolling. He went out on a limb in having us there. Word got around and the administrators ended up in the shop checking it out!

As an off shoot of the January meeting, HABA was asked to host the ASM presidents meeting by Richard Wilson. Richard was so taken with how the Damascus steel knife workshop went; he wanted to share that with his fellow metallurgists. Again Robert Killbuck stepped up and offered his shop as the meeting place. We had a good turn out and many thanks to all the “MENTORS”!

HABA’s June meeting, “Rusty Anvil Rendezvous”, was held at Traders Village. This was a new activity for us. We had a great covered space with power and water. Our thanks to Frank Walters for making this event possible. Ask Frank about his vision. You know, his vision, he can see fine. The opportunity is there for future meetings.

This being an off-conference year, IronFest was held in Grapevine, TX. HABA did not have an involvement there this year but many members attended. Dave was ABANAering, I was peddling tool workshop extras and others were taking in the demos.

In July I scooted off to The New England School of Metal Work in Auburn, ME to a seminar led by Brian Gilbert of “Hammers Blow” fame. Dave took the reins and pulled the meeting together at the Gathering of the Guild held at Houston Center of Contemporary Craft. Lee and Dave set up and demonstrated. Dave was on TV! Another debt of gratitude to Dave for ALL his effort in making this event work and lots of thankyous to all that supported him and HABA.

We held our annual brain storming meeting in August at the nicely air conditioned Bear Creek Library. Thanks again to Dave for making the reservation and contact. The turn out was light but we saw some new faces and members. Thanks to those who helped set up, take down and shared their ideas. We were hoping for this to be a source of finding out what you want to do.

September was another new adventure; a Gas Forge Workshop chaired by Richard Boswell. We also had a new host, Jerome Kiawinsky, owner of C & M Horse Shoe Sales in Conroe. Jerome opened the doors of C & M to us and provided an excellent work shop area. Richard arraigned for Jay Hayes, the designer of the forges that were being assembled, to lead the workshop. Jay is also a combustion expert and had lots of info to share. This was a one-day event and a lot was accomplished.

In September, Lee Oates picked up the banner for HABA. I had received a request for Boy Scout merit badge help from a family that had newly moved to Houston. Lee took on the request and worked out the details. As part of HABA’s out reach and mission of education, Lee kept our fires burning. Thank you Lee.

October found us back in Oldenburg but with a some new twists. We had 2 nationally known demonstrators, Kirsten Skiles and Bill Fiorini. Again, James Porter chaired this event. There was also another twist; we worked at having a lot of tools available. Dave Koenig picked tools up in Wisconsin, C &M made tools available and HABA had some items it had accumulated. The third new twist was the Widow Berryhill’s tools. Richard had received a call from Mrs. Berryhill to see if someone would assess/buy her late husband’s smithing tools. We agreed to take the tools to Oldenburg and sell them. We were able to get somewhat more than what we thought we could for the tools. This seems to fall under another out reach project. Bottom line on Fall Oldenburg was I feel it was a success with HABA trying a number of new ideas. Again, to ALL that made this happen many thanks.

HABA has prospered this year in memberships, organization, contacts, out reach, education, and financially. This is do to the hard work and determination of HABA’s members and leaders. I know there are events that folks have gone to and flown the HABA flag and it has not been mentioned here. There also are those folks I have overlooked in mentioning your efforts for HABA. Please accept my apologies for the lack of acknowledgement. TO ALL OF YOU A BIG THANK YOU FROM HABA!

2004 is already shaping up to be another exciting year led by Richard. I am deeply indebted to the board and membership for your support in making 2003 another banner year.

Les Cook

from the editor

Hi Blacksmiths:

This is my third issue as editor and it sometimes seems that I haven't learned a damned thing. I'm still struggling with columns and pdf's and the like, but I keep telling myself that it is another one of those "opportunities for growth".

Please take note that we've had major changes to the officers and board. Our founding fathers are mostly off the board now, replaced with fresh new faces. I haven't been a member from the beginning, but I know that the founders did a really good job of organizing and creating one of the better regional blacksmith groups in the country. They deserve a lot of thanks. The new people are equally talented and energetic, so we can feel safe for another term. They deserve a word of thanks as well, just for taking on the jobs. (Please note that we've come of age: we have a female board member. Welcome, Kathy!)

The November meeting at Dave Koenig's Tudor Forge was good: well-organized, well-carried-out, and well attended. I think the topic of tool-making is an excellent one. This time it was tong-making, and there are lots more essential tools that can be covered in the same way in future meetings. Dave thinks there were about 31 people there, with 7 or 8 new members. The raffle took in about $190.

Dave forwarded a couple of requests for craftspeople that are making the email rounds: the first is from Laurel Foundry who is looking for a wheelwright to make wheels for one of their early wagons (I've included the memo in the notices section below). The second is from a television production company from Great Britain who wants to make a series of documentaries for the Discovery Channel on the "Super Weapons" of the Greeks and Romans. They are looking for men and women no older than their early thirties with a high level of skill and imagination, and an enthusiastic and lively personality to build a number of these machines and film the series between February and March of 2004. Send a brief email and a picture. I know so many members of our group will want apply that some of you will be disappointed, so just be prepared. Oh, there is also the personal ad from the man who is looking for a woman with a 400# or larger Peter Wright anvil in as new condition. She should send a picture of the anvil.

The January meeting at Lee Oates' shop was a big success last year and promises to be again. Don't miss it. You can find out more information at our website, www.habairon.org (thanks, Richard).

In 1853 Henry David Thoreau, the famous American philosopher (who was also an amazing outdoorsman and naturalist) took a trip to the Maine wilderness during which he described a wilderness blacksmith (The Maine Woods, pp.688-691):

I was interested to see how a pioneer lived on this side of the country. His life is in some respects more adventurous that that of his brother in the West, for he contends with winter as well as the wilderness, and there is a greater interval of time at least between him and the army which is to follow. Here immigration is a tide which may ebb when it has swept away the pines; there it is not a tide, but an inundation, and roads and other improvements come steadily rushing after....

There was also a blacksmith's shop, where plainly a good deal of work was done. The oxen and horses used in the lumbering operations were shod, and all the iron-work of sleds, etc., was repaired or made here. I saw them load a bateau at the Moosehead carry, the next Tuesday, with about thirteen hundred weight of bar iron for this shop. This reminded me how primitive and honorable a trade was Vulcan's. I do not hear that there was any carpenter or tailor among the gods. The smith seems to have preceded these and every other mechanic at Chesuncook as well as on Olympus, and his family is the most widely dispersed....

David Bailey

JANUARY 2004 MEETING: JANUARY 17, 2004

18th Century Trade Knife Workshop and Auction at Bearclaw Knife Shop

In January we will have our annual Knife Workshop at Lee Oates' Bearclaw Shop in La Porte. This year we will feature simple 18th Century (1700's) Trade Knives and have a good time. Lee began putting knife kits together in 1985 and continued to read and study to learn more about knife making. After a course in bladesmithing in 1989, he began forging his own blades. In 1994 he went into custom knife forging and heat treating full-time.

Lee suggests that each person should bring an old piece of saw blade/thin file or similar material and an odd piece of wood/bone/antler, then we would put together a trade knife style piece. As for sizes and shapes of the handle: a tapered piece, 1 1/4"hx3/4"w @ small end X 1 3/4"x 1"@ large end. Or any old broken hammer handles you have laying around the shop.

Lee says "I'm figuring on a simple yet primitive looking trade knife. It can be cut from an old saw blade (I have several feet for use) or can be quick forged to shape from an old file, wagon rim, frying pan, etc. The handle will be made from an old hammer/axe handle, dried tree limbs, horn, bone, what have you, thats been broken & laying around in your shop/garages for the last upteen years. It will be attached by sloting it an inch - inch & a half, then sliding in the blade and riveting with two iron rivets ( # 8 nails). Simple & to the point, not cute or pretty or nice, just useable & sturdy."

It is our tradition to have our Annual Fund Raising Auction at this meeting and we need you to provide and donate tools and stuff that we want to bid on. During the holidays you might crank up your forge and make something for us. And if Santa brings you a new anvil this will be the place to recycle your old one!

When & Where :

Lee's new shop at 215 Utah in La Porte, directions provided below

Saturday January 17 :

8:00    Sign In and Set Up :

9:00    Program : Lee will demonstrate the steps in making a Trade Knife.

Noon    Lunch Break : taco soup will be available there for $3.00

Noon Thirty   Auction of tools, materials, and special donated items

1:00    Participants will make blades. Lee is also planning on having some other bladesmiths there to help him guide us through this workshop.

What to Bring

Bring safety glasses with side shields. This is a requirement!

Bring your forge and tools if you have them.

If you do not have a forge and tools, please come anyway. There will be plenty of room at some forge during the workshop and someone to lend you a hand if you need it.

You do not have to be a member to attend our meetings! Bring a Guest!

The Auction

This meeting is also HABA’s annual fund raising auction. This year there will be some pretty nice pieces on the auction block.

Please take a look around and see what you can donate to this auction.

Directions to Lee’s Shop

From the East 610 loop travel east on Hwy 225 until you get to Hwy 146. Turn south on 146 and go to Spencer Hwy/Main St. Exit in La Porte. Turn left on Main Street. and go east on Main passing the downtown area, (several traffic lights). About two blocks past the downtown area, there is a large old antique shop on the left (…used to be an old feed store). The next street is UTAH. Turn left and go to the barricades. HABA signs will be up at the turn on Utah Street. Just follow the signs to the shop.

FEBRUARY 2004 MEETING: FEBRUARY 21

Forging A Head in February

Animal heads have been a favorite of blacksmiths for centuries, and they are found in many applications such as architectural, jewelry, knife pommels, and canes. They can be large or small, realistic, humorous, or fantasy creations. In all cases they are art and it takes skill and practice to render the metal alive. We will feature Bill Epps as our Demonstrator so mark your calendar for February 21 weekend!

Charles and Sharon Heathcock will host the meeting at one of HABA's favorite shops, and you will enjoy the drive out to visit them. See our web page Forging A Head for more information

NOTICES

HABA SHOW AT

THE HOUSTON CENTER OF CONTEMPORARY CRAFT

A CALL FOR WORK

The Houston Area Blacksmith’s Association (HABA) has an opportunity to exhibit the hand made forge work of the group at the Houston Center of Contemporary Craft (HCCC). HCCC is opening up the Artist Hall to the craft guilds of Houston for the first time starting in 2004. For those of you who are familiar with the layout of HCCC, the space HABA is invited to use is the hallway between the administrative offices and the artists’ in residence studios.

This is a great opportunity for HABA members to get hands-on experience preparing for and then showing their work in a formal setting.

The show would open February 11 and run through March 7, 2004.

This invitation has a very short fuse….about a month. That means most of us will have to retrieve something we already made from a family member or a client. What you offer for the show can be anything you made, a piece of sculpture, a tool or some other functional piece of work.

Now, once you decide what you would like to put into the show, and more than one piece of work can be offered, the paperwork needs to be completed. HABA will give you a hand with the paperwork at the January 17^th meeting at Bear Claw Forge in La Porte, TX.

Here is what is needed by way of paperwork:

ü Each person will need to sign an Artist Hall Gallery Agreement. This agreement allows HCCC to sell your work, talks about the mechanics of getting your work to and from HCCC and insurance issues.

ü Each person will need a one paragraph bio/artist statement.

ü Each person will need to fill out a form for each piece of work offered for exhibit. This form asks for basic information like your name, title of the piece, year, price….if for sale, materials used, insurance value etc.

ü A picture of the work being offered needs to be attached to the form describing the work.

If you would like a copy of the paperwork forms, please request a copy from Dave Koenig, at 281-855-2869 or tudorforge@cs.com. If you are coming to the January meeting, you can pick up the forms there.

Dave Koenig and Frank Walters will be a the January meeting and will take digital pictures of your work, print out the best photo and send it/them to you to complete the paperwork.

Dave Koenig will also have a computer at the meeting and be happy to help you word smith an artist statement.

The paperwork for each person offering work for the show needs to be at HCCC no later than January 30, 2004 at 1:00 PM. At this time the paperwork will be reviewed by the HCCC Gallery Director, Thuy Pham. She will select the pieces to be in the show and you will be notified as to whether or not some or all of your work is accepted. You will then have about a week to send or hand deliver your work to HCCC for exhibition.

Questions about this show and your completed paperwork can be directed to Thuy Pham, Gallery Director, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, (713) 529-4848 ext 104, tpham@crafthouston.org or Dave Koenig at 281-855-2869, tudorforg@cs.com.

For more information about the HCCC, please go to their web page at, www.crafthouston.org.

This competition is open to everyone, there will be no jurying fee, the prize is two paid admissions to the 2004 ABANA Conference in Richmond, Kentucky (a $500 value). The prize does not include room or board. Any 2-D medium is eligible, from crayon to lithograph. Submitted art work size must be smaller than 36” x 36” and be camera ready.

This can be in any configuration that the artist chooses. The theme of this year’s conference is: “Design and Build.” It is not required that the poster design follow the theme but what is a theme for after all? The idea is to create an biennial art poster suitable for framing and collecting.

Small pictures of each submission will be posted to the ABANA website and visitors will be allowed to vote for their favorite. The winner must agree to forfeit the copyright and all other rights for the original art work. Original art work can only be returned if accompanied by postage paid return packaging.

Submissions must be received before April 15, 2004. Winner will be notified April 22, 2004. Send original art work to:

Dave Mudge
Member Services Director
15227 Mansfield Road
Bogalusa, LA 70427-0187

The use any of the material in The HABA Letter is at your own risk. All persons associated with this material disclaim any responsibility or liability for damages or injuries resulting from the use or application of this information. They assume no responsibility or liability for the accuracy, fitness, proper design, safety or safe use of any information presented here.

Number 63: December2003-January 2004 Edition

THE HABA LETTER CONTENTS