[TheForge] Dan Nauman BigHorn Forge

Thu Feb 6 10:53:53 EST 2014

Really I think the point is that forging and traditional blacksmithing techniques should be ABANAs number one priority. Chasing, repousse and wire inlay have been done by blacksmiths for centuries and are apprpriate for ABANA to promote.  To teach how to make tools using more contemporary techniques or how to repair vintage cast iron forge parts with torch or tig all seem appropriate to me.  But to teach welded sheet metal sculpture really doen't seem to have anything to do with blacksmithing nor does advocating "wrought iron" work using parts purchased from a catalog and then welded together.  I do aggree that most of what I know about all forms of metal work has come from other blacksmiths.  In person and from local group get togethers.  That isn't the same as turning the Hammers Blow or Anvils Ring into Fabricators publications.

Dan quotes Francis.  Remember. Francis was an expert welder and was very pround of those skills.  If you review his body of work, he did in fact use a welder in some cases.  His main concern was that the ease of modern welding would keep people from learning the traditional techniques and would use a welder even if it isn't the best or most efficient way to do the job.

Modern techniques are not in danger of being forgoten, traditional techniques are and it was the preservation of those techniques that ABANA was formed to preserve.

Personally I would like to see more funtional everyday forge work in the Anvils Ring and Hammers Blow.

John

-----Original Message-----
>From: Daniel Kretchmar <dan at irontreeworks.com>
>Sent: Feb 6, 2014 7:33 AM
>To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>Subject: Re: [TheForge] Dan Nauman BigHorn Forge
>
>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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>
>
>
>-- 
>"Estattu alvarligt, nei?"
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John Switzer
Black Bear Forge
P.O. Box 4
Beulah, CO 81023