[TheForge] Dan Nauman BigHorn Forge
Ries Niemi
ries at riesniemi.com
Wed Feb 5 17:57:51 EST 2014
I must admit, I havent been following the Anvils Ring enough, even
though I get it, to know exactly what he is mad at- Hell, he could
even be mad at me- I do a lot of welding my own damn self.
I dont mind articles showing welding, as long as there is forging
involved as well.
But if there isnt forging, then, yeah, I agree.
Also, I am no big King Metals fan.
I must say, though, I think my main objection with Anvils Ring is more
the steak flipper, how to forge a taper stories.
I want to see the very best work, the knock your socks off
professional stuff. I want to see the big dogs, working on the big
budget amazing projects of a lifetime.
I am not real interested in how to make tongs, or railroad spike coat
hooks, myself- those are the kinds of articles that get me throwing my
magazine against the bathroom wall.
I know there are ten thousand hobby smiths out there who will probably
never own a power hammer- but I still want to see Tom Forge making a
piece on the 20,000 ton press at Scot Forge. I wanna see pinups of
4B's, and I wanna see Bondi forging Monel.
But thats just me.
ries
-----Original Message-----
> From: Mark and Sylvia Mondloch <mondloch at silvercreekpottery.com>
> Sent: Feb 5, 2014 5:39 PM
> To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [TheForge] Dan Nauman BigHorn Forge
>
> Dan is a friend of mine and would like feedback on a piece he wrote
> about ABANA.
>
>
> February 5, 2014
>
>
>
> ABANA Members
>
> ABANA Board
>
> AR Editor
>
> HB Editor
>
>
>
>
>
> Dear ABANA Members, ABANA Board, and ABANA Editors,
>
>
>
> Based on recent articles in the “Hammer’s Blow”, that have nothing
> to do with forging, but rather promote the use of electric welding
> to either produce a project in its entirety, or to produce a jig, I
> must object to this content in the magazines of an organization
> designated to be for and about blacksmiths and forging.
>
>
>
> Article II in the ABANA by-laws states under “Purposes and
> Objectives”: “The Association is organized exclusively for
> educational purposes, including, but not limited to, the following:
> to encourage and facilitate the training of blacksmiths; to
> disseminate information about sources of material and equipment; to
> expose the art of blacksmithing to the public; to serve as a center
> of information about blacksmithing for the general public,
> architects, interior designers, and other interested groups.
> Further, the Association is organized exclusively for educational
> purposes within the meaning of section 501( C ) (3) of the Internal
> revenue Code.”
>
>
>
> Having been an ABANA member for over 30 years, having served six
> years on the ABANA Board of Directors, chairing the ABANA Education
> Committee, chairing the “Controlled Hand Forging” committee for
> almost ten years, have submitted numerous articles to both the
> “Anvil’s Ring” and to the “Hammer’s Blow”, having demonstrated at
> three ABANA conferences, lectured at one, and having helped plan and
> run three ABANA Conferences, I have tried to be an integral part to
> nurture, grow, and develop this as a blacksmith’s organization.
>
>
>
> Why was ABANA formed? Because there were few places in the country
> at the time where one could learn to forge, or learn about forging.
> Things are different today, but we are still far from knowing what
> the great masters knew. We must continue to focus on forging, i.e.
> the nine forging fundamentals: drawing down, upsetting, twisting,
> bending, punching, drifting, cutting, joints and forge welding.
> There are also the aspects of forging high carbon steel, annealing,
> hardening and tempering.
>
> Beyond the fundamentals, there are the aspects of style, current and
> what has come before, i.e. Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Arts and
> Crafts, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and more. Further, there are the
> fine points of design; historically, aesthetically, and structurally.
>
>
>
> I could go on about what we have to learn, or what can be shared,
> but I believe this serves as a fair basis for why we should fight
> the apparent leaning towards an all inclusive organization, that
> promotes the use of catalogue parts, electric welding, and general
> modern fabrication methods. All these aspects of metalwork can be
> learned within 20 minutes of just about anywhere in the USA. We
> have far more to learn in this trade than one person can learn in
> many lifetimes…and new aspects of forging await.
>
>
>
> I am not stating that it is wrong to use modern fabrication methods
> in the home shop or workshop. Rather I am stating that to promote
> the use and the products used or made in this manner in this, a
> blacksmith’s organization, is wrong.
>
>
>
> Referring back to Article II, I do not believe the intent of the
> wording “but not limited to…” refers to exploring metalwork outside
> of forging. So please do not use that phrase as an open ended
> statement for an excuse to stray from the charter.
>
>
>
> This is not something that has happened overnight. Back in 1997, I
> was talking with Francis Whitaker in Carbondale, Co. He had just
> returned from a trip around the country demonstrating forging. He
> said to me, “Dan, I have just come from visiting several shops
> around the country. I am sad to say that the workmanship I saw was
> shoddy. We are going backwards! Who will carry the torch once I’m
> gone?!” He went on to say that he noticed more jigs, more
> electrically welded work (and poorly welded at that…welds showing),
> and just plain poor forging execution were more common now than in
> the early days of ABANA. I too, had noticed this sad trend. Lack
> of solid process also leads to poor workmanship.
>
>
>
> Like it or not, that was the trend, and it has now come to this;
> articles which are not about forging, or promote modern electric
> fabrication methods. Beyond that, several projects highlighted in
> the Anvil’s Ring have shown to be electrically welded, sometimes
> using catalogue parts, and have shown other non-forged aspects.
> Back in the 70’s and 80’s, there would have been an outcry from the
> membership if any of these things were seen, printed, or promoted.
>
>
>
> Please do not write back and challenge the use of power hammers,
> electric blowers, oxy-acetylene, gas forges, etc. as these do not
> directly effect the process…which is what this all boils down to;
> process.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> It is forging process that defines a blacksmith. It is that process
> Whitaker witnessed as lacking in the late 90’s. It is process that
> separates a blacksmith from a fabricator. It is process that this
> organization was built upon. The current trend is a mix of
> metalworking processes, and either needs to be halted, or the
> charter rewritten.
>
>
>
> Let’s look at it another way. I teach forging. I am primarily a
> blacksmith, but do occasionally use a MIG or TIG welder, angle
> grinders, belt sanders, and a lathe in my shop. But I would never
> teach the latter as forging process….neither should ABANA. Though
> recent non-forging articles do not state “this is forging process”,
> it may be assumed as such by a novice, and further, should not be in
> a blacksmith’s magazine.
>
>
>
> The National Ornamental and Miscellaneous Metals Association (NOMMA)
> is a fine organization, that is focused on all aspects of forming
> metal, as well as promoting the professional aspects of running a
> decorative and ornamental metals shop, whether it be a blacksmith
> shop, fab shop, or something in-between. So there already is an all
> inclusive organization, so we don’t need another one. What we need
> is to learn more, and focus on forging, and at all levels, (not just
> at the beginner level), all styles, all processes, about design, and
> more.
>
>
>
> Don’t get me wrong, I truly enjoy metal sculpture. Many large
> sculptural works are breathtaking. However, do these non-forged
> sculptures belong in the Anvil’s Ring? To be fair, they do not,
> unless they are forged sculptures. Yes, this is a bold statement,
> but simply because an individual who once was a prominent
> blacksmith, and is now a nationally or internationally known
> sculptor, does not mean ABANA needs to include everything they make
> in the AR or HB. The line has to be drawn somewhere.
>
>
>
> Perhaps a panel of seasoned smiths, individuals who are known to
> have expertise in these areas of forging, could assess whether an
> article, image, or content of the publications meets a standard,
> based on Article II. This used to be part of the editor’s job early
> on, and I know from experience that many images and articles were
> returned without being printed, as they were either not true to
> Article II, poorly written, or the images were not representative of
> forging process. At the very least, there needs to be a distinction
> between what is forged and what is not…but I heavily lean to being
> more strict…otherwise we have lost the intent of ABANA.
>
>
>
> These statements are bound to ruffle many feathers, but my feathers
> have been ruffled for well over 15 years by this growing trend of
> teaching and including all-inclusive metalwork in ABANA. You are
> losing many…smiths who have either already left, or will leave
> because of this trend. Let’s either adhere to ABANA’s charter, or
> redefine what ABANA truly has become…all inclusive of all forms of
> metalwork. Otherwise, where will it stop? Will we see articles on
> machining in the future? Never say never, as I never thought I’d
> see the day where we are presently.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> If “all forms of metalwork accepted” is the new normal, then we need
> a new organization that will lead those who wish to learn sound
> forging processes, and at all levels of forging experience, and
> promote sound forging workmanship.
>
>
>
> I for one, would rather return…and adhere…to Article II.
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
>
> Dan Nauman
>
> Kewaskum, WI
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> TheForge mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:TheForge at mailman.qth.net
>
> TheForge mail list group photo site is
> http://www.shutterfly.com
> Login: blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
> Password: anvil
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
John Switzer
Black Bear Forge
P.O. Box 4
Beulah, CO 81023
______________________________________________________________
TheForge mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:TheForge at mailman.qth.net
TheForge mail list group photo site is
http://www.shutterfly.com
Login: blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
Password: anvil
This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
More information about the TheForge
mailing list