[TheForge] Dan Nauman BigHorn Forge

[Daniel Kretchmar]

Mike (et. all),

I don't think this is just a matter of enlarging the tent.

Every single metalworking skill I have was learned from a Blacksmith.  I
learned Chasing and Repousse at local smithing group annual conference and
at the home of Kirsten Skiles and Bill Fiorini.   I learned soldering a
local Minneapolis smith's shop, I watched machining at Pete Stanitis's shop
in Baldwin, WI. and yes, forging at most of them.

The point I am making is that in 30 years, I have yet to meet a blacksmith
who only did forging!  EVERY single smith I have ever met, had and USED
skills that are not forging as part of their work, even if only to
supplement their forging. Think of all the skills needed to make a knife.
 Yes, forging is part of that, but so is grinding, bone carving the handle,
inlaying and engraving the blade, etching, leatherwork the sheath, etc.
etc. etc... Lee Vorheese (sp?) taught a class I took at Mike Blue's in just
using a knife grinder!

These skills are part of the blacksmith art and have been since smithing
started.  The Anglo-Saxon smiths who made the Sutton Hoo sword is the 6th
century used many of these other skills just as much as forging with a
hammer and anvil.   Tom Latane inlayed silver into a copy of a Viking Axe
that he forged.  I watched him do the demonstration at the museum.  Are you
saying that because it's not forged, we shouldn't teach that?

Daniel Kretchmar
www.irontreeworks.com


On Thu, Feb 6, 2014 at 7:53 AM, CGRAF <adveniam at att.net> wrote:

> For what it is worth the whole article boils down to this statement:
>
>
> "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."
>
> Now I know that many "blacksmith" shops are in fact mostly assembly shops.
> I also know that many of the public couldn't tell the difference if you
> dropped it on their feet. That is part of reality.
>
> Dan is right in that it is a skill set that is readily available through
> many sources.
>
> The concern voiced to Dan by Francis Whitaker is one that ABANA is
> uniquely suited to address.
>
>  Dan has a point.The concern that losing the focus on actual forge work
>  weakens ABANA's ability to fulfill its original mandate is valid.
>
> I am a tinner, most of my expertise and time investment is in that area.
> I find really good technical papers on 19th century and European
> architectural sheet metal work both fascinating and hard to come by. At the
> same time I would find it hard to justify printing those articles under
> ABANA's aegis.
>
>
> The extension into other forms of metal craft may be an attempt to enlarge
> the tent. I understand the reasons. It is for the most part a bad idea in
> my experience.
>
>
>
>
> Mike Graf
>
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