Editor’s Notes
Due to
server problems on two of my three e-mail accounts, much of my December
communications were lost. The
planned December edition did not happen.
My sincerest apologies to you all.
Let us hope the New Year brings good luck and stable servers to us all.
Work
will keep me away from the January meeting as it did in November. Don’t take my absence as a lack of interest in the group.
Keep those submissions coming my way.
Only you can prevent boring newsletters.
I will
see you all at the big doings in February.
Vince
From the Prez
I
have edited Larry’s December and January messages into one.
Enjoy.
It is a
brand new year and it is starting off with plenty going on for Balcones Forge.
Our biggest concern right now is producing our winter workshop with
Jeff Funk. This newsletter
includes information and a registration form.
Do not miss it folks, Jeff Funk is a world class metal worker with a
little bit different take on blacksmithing than we have seen in our previous
workshops.
John
Horrigan did it again; a good meeting with a good demo on pattern welded
steel, this time with even more intricate pattern development than his
previous demonstration. Good job
John, Thanks.
I want
to take a brief commercial break here: any of you out there that want to
develop your blacksmithing skills should know there are several classes
available in the Austin area. Incidentally,
I teach two of them. You can get
expert instruction from yours truly, Larry Crawford, and Bill Bastas at the
Austin Community College Riverside campus.
I also teach at my shop in Marble Falls.
These are excellent opportunities to learn and advance yourself.
Dave
Koenig (Houston Area Blacksmith President and Balcones Forge member) has been
appointed to chair the 2004 ABANA conference.
Congrats, Dave!
Hats
and T-shirts should be available at the January meeting.
$12 dollars each except for the Strech size shirts.
I am
trying to put together a gallery exhibit for Balcones Forge in 2004, but I
need some input from you people out there in “membership land”. I. E. photos or slides of your work for a sampling of our
group’s talent to submit with an application to Dougherty Arts Center which
will host our show. Please mail
those as soon as possible with you name marked on the photo or slide to:
Larry
Crawford
211
Taylor Drive
Marble
Falls, TX 78654
The
January meeting at Gerald Pollard’s will feature a foundry tour just down
the road from Gerald’s. But
just to get you primed, I, Larry Crawford, your President, will attempt to
make a pair of scroll pliers. So
be there.
Yes
please try to make the January meeting so we can sort out our volunteers to
assist in February’s workshop and make it a pleasurable experience.
Larry
Crawford
P.S. Don’t forget, you artistically inclined people out there, if you want a gallery show for your work, I need the slides of your work.
Treasurer’s Report
Progress
was made this past year on several fronts. In August Balcones Forge obtained
its Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws as a nonprofit corporation. In
September we received our Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the
Internal Revenue service. In October our nonprofit corporation checking
account was established at Bank One. All checks can now be made to Balcones
Forge.
Membership
in Balcones Forge is from January 2003 to December 2003 so for those who have
not paid their 2003 dues, it is $10.00 for the year.
Gerald
Pollard
Meeting Info
Schedule
for January 25, 2003
Meeting
starts at 9 A.M. at Gerald Pollard’s shop.
Larry
Crawford will be the demonstrator.
At
12:30 we will go to the Salt Lick for lunch. After lunch, Michael Hall
(1-512-858-7067) will give us a tour of the Studio Foundry in Driftwood, Texas
(about 2 miles South of the Salt Lick).
Secretary’s
Report
Last regular meeting of 2002 was held on Nov. 23rd in Burnet, Texas at the shop of John Horrigan, Bladesmith.
Larry
Crawford started the meeting with several announcements and also some more
discussion about upcoming Demo in Feb. and the Art Exhibit planned for next
year. Larry is going to get more info from A.C.C. on scholarship that we
are working details out on.
After
all that we got down to the Demo that John had planned for us. It was a
excellent demo on how to make Powdered Damascus utilizing Johns wonderful
press and gas forge. After that demo John showed how to make 4 way weld under
his press and also how he forms the head of a hatchet. A good time was had by
all that attended as Johns demo's are always full of info and are well
presented.
After
Iron in the Hat and which brought in $84:00 for the Treasury and the 7
Trade items were exchanged we all went to lunch and then returned to Johns for
some more fun. There were 26 people in attendance with 3 visitors.
Reminder
to all Jan. is now the month to pay your DUES. Also if you have changes in
your addresses or email, it would be good to let us have that info.
Jeff Funk still coming in Feb. to Marble Falls and if you can help out on
Friday before let one of us know or just show up at Larry's shop that
morning as there will be plenty to do.
See
all at the next meeting at Gerald Pollard's on the 25th. Harvey
Member Info
New
e-mail for Larry House:
thedragons@dragonswatch.com
New
e-mail for Sue Girten:
We
already have five new members and that’s before our winter workshop.
Please welcome:
Rose
Farmer
3410
Bridle Path
Austin,
TX 78703
512-474-7671
Courtney
Gray
1702
Duke Avenue
Austin,
TX 78757
512-459-9543
Orlando
Najera
3606
A Fleetwood Drive
Austin,
TX 78704
512-445-0187
Cherish
Roughton
7606
Thomas Springs Road
Austin,
TX 78736
512-567-8688
Andy
White
1813
Southwestern Trail
Round
Rock, TX 78664
The Big Demo
Balcones
Forge is pleased to welcome Jeffrey Funk to Central Texas for our annual
winter extravaganza. Mark
your calendars for February 22 and 23, 2003 and make the trip to Marble Falls
to enjoy a great weekend of Blacksmithing.
Look for the attached flyer for all the details.
Upcoming Events
IronFest
will be May 29 - June 1, 2003, at the Grapevine Heritage Center. The 2003
conference will continue the successful format, including the open to the
public, fabulous tailgate area and free demonstrations. A separate fee area
will present an incredible group of demonstrators including Toby Hickman,
Susan Hutchinson, David Court and Mark Pearce. More information about these
blacksmiths including photos of their ironwork and biographies are available
at ironfest.org. Auctioneer, David Cornett will entertain the audience at the
Saturday night auction in the Heritage Center Farmers Market
Building.
Please contact the Ironfest Registrar to be included on the mail list
and receive a registration brochure. Contact Verl Underwood, IronFest
Registrar, 613 N. Bailey, Fort Worth Texas 76107 <vaunder@aol.com>.
CanIronIV
My name
is Paula Banks and I am a member of the CanIron IV committee. We are hosting
an international gathering of blacksmiths in July 2003 and I was hoping that
you would announce this event to your group, as it may be of interest to them.
We have some big-name demonstrators attending and we are expecting
quite a crowd!
CanIron
IV
McMaster
University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
July
10-13, 2003
www.caniron.com
A
biennial expo involving Blacksmiths, Coppersmiths, Silversmiths,
Farriers
and all other Metalworking professionals and artists, from
across
Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Demonstrations,
seminars,
art gallery, auction and sales.
Thanks
in advance,
Paula
Banks,
Media
Liaison, Caniron IV
Get Your Pics to Tom
For
those of you who have asked Tom Lupton to turn your pictures to slides, Tom
says “sooner is better than later”. Get
the hint!
For Sale
Gary Hilton sends this info on hammers and coke.
Bill
Givens of Ingram, TX has two power hammers for sale.
1.
Meyer 50 lb (1919) $2990 mechanical hammer.
2.
Kayne Big Blu 100 lb air hammer (1999) $3500.
A photo
of these hammers is on
Bill's
website www.givensmetalcrafts.com under used equipment. Bill’s contact is info@givensmetalcrafts.com or
830-367-2452.
Also,
George Craig still has tons of coke for sale. I bought 1000 lbs a week ago for
$125. This is a good buy and I
like the coke.
From
the NTBA newsletter.
Bill
Epps video tapes for sale. The
tapes are:
#1
Animal heads.
#2 Tong
making
#3
Leaves and flowers.
#4
Birds and bugs.
The
price of volumes 1,2 and 4 is $24.95. Volume
3 is $32.95 or a complete set is available at $100.00.
Shipping and handling charge is $5.00 per tape but no more than $10
dollars for the complete four-volume set.
All major credit cards accepted as well as checks and the ever-popular
cash. The tape can be purchased
from Bill Epps at 972-557-5778 or from Love of Art Productions, www.teachingtapes.net
1-800-382-5967,
pin # 00.
Safety First
It has
been noted that many folks are not bringing safety glasses to wear while
watching the demonstrations. This
is NOT an option. You will be
asked to move away from the demonstration if you are not wearing proper eye
protection.
Ironfest Website
This
from David Wilson,
I'm
starting to update the IronFest.org website. Some of the new items are: a 2003 registration brochure (pdf), bulletin
board, and
an
updated site map. If you have not received a registration brochure in the
mail, contact Verl Underwood at vaunder@aol.com.
The
volunteer list is being created. It will be similar to last conference.
The 2003 group for the National Demonstrators will be led by Balcones
Forge - Gary Hilton (gwhilton@ktc.com).
If you are interested in helping run the three forge areas, contact Gary.
Chuck
Stone - NTBA (bak2basx@swbell.net)
will be in charge of the free public demonstrations. To sign up to
demonstrate, Chuck is the guy to contact.
Saltfork
Craftmen will organize the tailgate area again, Diana Davis
(lazyassforge@tds.net)
is the contact to reserve a parking location.
Tailgating is also in the free area.
John Horrigan demonstrating at the November meeting. Photo by Harry Cabluck.
