[TheForge] Fwd- SCA metalworking event in Mass

[John Husvar]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Phlip" <phlip@99main.com>
>
> Johan, you'd better start planning now. If I hafta go to Ohio to
collect
> you, so help me, I'll strap you on the hood and tie a deer tag on your
> ass. We can use my forge- an anvil (no block needed) and hand tools
> would be nice, but not necessary.

Don't hold your breath -- I don't do masochism.(Oh, Hell, yes I do! :)
(See comments below)

Actually, it sounds like it could be a lot of fun. There's certainly
plenty of time for getting the logistics in order and it's long enough
after Pennsic. I've already started my  planning. Now if Real Life (TM)
will stay out of the way....

>
> Metal Smith's Symposium
>
>     The event is the fourth, though sixth of Oct. 2002.  It will be at
> Camp Blanchard in Sutton, MA in
> cooperation between the Canton of Aschehyrst & the Shire of Quintavia.
> This is the site that is used for
> Boredom War.
>
> Classes:
>
>     The plan is to have as many people learning by doing as possible.
I
> plan to have at least four tracks that are
> running more or less concurrently:
>
>         One that starts with iron ore & building a bloomery then
> finishes with the working of the iron that has
> been smelted.

Marginal project for a three-day event. Check with Thom Powers, but I
think they need more time than that at Pennsic to build a furnace,
charge it, smelt a decent-sized bloom, and make it into something. It's
an incredible amount of work, even without time constraints.

If Thom says it's possible, though, it is. I'd still rate it high on the
S&M Scale of Weekend Metalworking Projects.

>
>         One that starts with a piece of soapstone & proceeds through
to
> a finished piece of pewter jewelry.

Not bad, depending on how quick at carving the mold one is. Pewter melts
at a nice, low temp and is pretty compliant. Hell, Fettered Cock cast
some of their stuff in their tent.

>
>         One that starts with a piece of wax & ends with a piece of
> silver jewelry.

Easy and very impressive if demonstrator/teacher uses a sling caster.
(Just scary enough to be fun but not really dangerous.:)

>         One would be building the tools to do period metal smithing
made
> of both wood & metal.  Such as
> bellows, tongs, hammers, drills & maybe an anvil.

S'long as you don't have to do it using the material from the bloomery
project. I wouldn't look forward to trying to cast an anvil from
bloomery stock. Need _lots_ tougher furnace for that. Elsewise, one
heckuvalotta hammering to make a block of wrought iron.:)

> students to justify using all the space.  Other subjects that are
> appropriate to this event would be:  Pattern
> welded blades;

I've managed a small  dagger blade, finished and handle attached, in far
less time than a weekend, (about 5 hours) but it takes some distinctly
non-period equipment to accomplish it. Thom probably could manage it
with little difficulty. :)

If Jim Hrisoulas/Master Atar would happen to attend, I'd _crawl_ to MA
to spend an hour watching him work and asking questions. Besides, you
could induct him into House Kissing Blacksmiths.


>Goldsmithing; Armoring; Making period wood working tools;
> Copper smithing; Tin smithing;
> coin making;

All excellent projects for a weekend event.

>Bead Making; Period Lapidary work & any other related
> subjects we can find teachers for.
>
> Schedule:
>     This is a preliminary schedule, it is not set in stone.  If >we
can

All in all, it looks like a potentially fun weekend for the SCA
metalheads of all varieties.