[TheForge] Dan Nauman BigHorn Forge

Wed Feb 5 19:57:12 EST 2014

The article can use to be to be trimmed and polished a bit but in essence mirrors the general opinion of ABANA as of recent years. 

At our club meetings a couple few months  worth of the most current Blow and Ring are laid out on the table and you rarely see anyone do more than flip through a copy or two. There just isn't much of relevance to our gang of professionals, hobbyists and students. It's sad, there are more people wanting to learn the craft today than there may have ever been in this country but ABANA just isn't doing it.

Frosty
-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mark and Sylvia Mondloch
Sent: Wednesday, February 5, 2014 1:39 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

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