[TheForge] instructions - books, newsletters and websites?

[Albin Drzewianowski]

Bruce,

"101 Metal Projects for the Novice Blacksmith"  written and originally 
self-published by Al Cannella ( a former newsletter editor) and now 
available through the EBAY STORE:  Poor Boy Blacksmith Tools.

This book has 101 projects.  Many are jigs and tools, but I think there are 
projects that would be applicable to your quest as stated below.  There are 
step by step instructions and drawings to go with each project.  Also, Al 
gives a stock list, so you now exactly what kind and what size piece of 
steel to start with.


Regards,
D-ski
Westminster, MD



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bruce Freeman" <FREEMAB at pt.fdah.com>
To: <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, December 16, 2005 9:11 AM
Subject: [TheForge] instructions - books, newsletters and websites?


BACKGROUND:

As I'm sure many of you have discovered, when it comes time to demonstrate 
blacksmithing, we often have some difficulty coming up with a good demo 
project.  A good demo, in my opinion, should not take very long, should 
result in an item the audience can relate to or understand, and should not 
involve welding.

(The last is mainly because in demo circumstances - typically full 
daylight - forge welding is difficult.  Another concern is the splash of 
slag hitting the audience, but I don't let that bother me to much.  Finally, 
there's the fear that the weld won't take.  I wouldn't be concerned about 
that at all, except that it IS so hard to judge a weld heat in full 
daylight.  I can routinely make a weld in a shop, but my success rate in 
daylight is dismal.)

My purpose in this is to teach a substantial number of NJBA members each 
some simple demos so that when they show up at a county fair, etc., they'll 
have something to "show off."

What I'm seeking are good instructions for good projects.  That is to say, 
the instructions must be sufficiently detailed and well illustrated.  This 
proves to be a significant issue.  I've come across many good ideas for demo 
projects, but with little explanation of how to execute them.  While I may 
be able to do it myself, I really don't care to write up a bunch of demos 
right now.  That takes a considerable amount of time and effort.  I'd rather 
make use of demos others have already written up.

I have begun going through my library for projects.  For example, Tucker's 
book is full of interesting projects.  Unfortunately, I doubt I could 
capture an audience's attention with feathers and wedges (rock-splitting 
hardware) for example.  So by the time I get through my list of 
requirements, there are really very few appropriate projects in that book. 
The same is true for other books I've started going through.  I suspect my 
entire book collection will yield only about a dozen suitable projects.

Newsletters are another obvious source of such info, and I plan to go back 
through back-issues I have.  But I have a limited number, so that's a 
limited resource.

Therefore, I'm looking to the Internet for additional demos.  I've already 
gone through AnvilFire and the AFC sites and pulled a few demos from them.

THE QUESTION:
1) What OTHER websites (ABANA chapters or otherwise) do you know of that 
have project instructions?
2) What books do you know of with such projects?

Thanks.  Your input is appreciated.

Bruce
NJ



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