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Forging Hand Held Tools
with
Dana Flanders
at
Ziwa Forge
Simonton, Texas
Dana Flanders will demonstrate the forging, grinding / filing, and heat treatment of several types (chisels, punches, fullers, tongs, etc.) of hand held blacksmithing tools from 4140 tool steel and mild steel. We will follow the step by step procedures laid out in blacksmithing expert Mark Aspery's highly recommended how-to books (see links below - obtain your books in advance and prepare to follow along and learn by doing! - this should also be a good follow-on to Mark's demo for Balcones Forge Marble Falls, TX on March 23-24, 2013). After the demos, members will work together to make tools to outfit the HABA Magnolia Depot Shop.
A summary PDF download with directions to Ziwa Forge is available at Forging Hand Held Tools.
Photos are posted on our Flickr page at Tool Work Day at Ziwa.
Board member and new Secretary Martin Miles posted photos on his Flickr page at Miles Photos of Ziwa Demo which also includes photos from last months demo at Center for Creative Crafts.
HABA Board Meeting will follow at 3 pm with Officer Elections.
HABA Annual Board Meeting was May 11, 2013
HABA's Annual Board Meeting follow the Work Day at 2 pm with Officer Elections and other business such as meeting planning.
Please welcome our returning officers and Martin Miles as our new Secretary!
And please welcome Steve Green to our Board!
HABA Gumbeaux Hammer-In and Workshop was April 20
Our next meeting will be April 19 thru 21 at EJ McCann's forge in Kinner LA. Here is what EJ has to say: "We are still moving forward with the Hammer In planning on our end, have a new bathroom finished. Will have the outdoor covers up with table, chairs and chairs in the shop. I have gotten a blade smith who will be demoing the forging of a hunting knife sometime during the day. The weather forecast is clear days. Looking forward to seeing all." See the attached PDF Gumbeaux flyer for more details.
For those of you who will not be able to travel to Louisiana, Magnolia will be having their annual Depot Day on April 20. We will have some of our members performing demos at the HABA Blacksmith Shop and Forge by the train depot. Come out and visit and lend a hand. Bring Show and Tell.
HABA Annual Knife Making Demo and Workshop was March 16
Our Annual Knife Making Demo and Workshop will feature Houston based knifemaker Russell Montgomery of Serenity Knives. Russell has extensive training with Murray Carter, who uses a modern approach to traditional Japanese Bladesmithing. He has learned with the ABS under Master Smiths Jason Knight and Burt Foster.
Our demonstrator will forge, grind, heat treat, and handle a 7.25" Fantasy Hunter Knife. Knife Kits with the various raw materials for this project will be on sale.
Russell uses the best quality handles, natural dense woods, resin stabilized woods and heat stabilized woods. He uses 1084 High Carbon steel as his base Knife Steel, as it will take a superior 'toothy' edge and hold up to abuse.
Photos are now posted on our Flickr Collection page at HABA Knife Demo at the Depot.
More details are provided in this file Knife Workshop 2013.
Regional Events to attend in March
HABA memebrs should take note and plan to attend these great annual events hosted by our neighbor blacksmiths.
March 9-10 LAMA Banging on the Bayou 19 with Allan Kress at Beaver Park
March 23-24 Balcones hosts Mark Aspery at Marble Falls, Texas
HABA Joint Meeting with Balcones and North Texas was February 16
HABA had a joint meeting with Balcones and North Texas Blacksmith Association hosted by the Lee brothers Steephollow Forge in Bryan, TX. We traditionally make a competition item and bring it for judging and auction. This year the competition item will be spurs. The last two years there has been some excellent BBQ along with great demos by the Lee brothers. Keep an eye on this spot for more details. Here is a link to Steephollow Forge and one to the event last years Power Hammer/Blacksmith Demonstration.
Alan Lee is adding a class to this years meeting. He will be bringing Nathan Robertson in to give a one day class in making a hand hammer. All materials will be provided and you will walk away with a hammer in hand. The cost is $100 per person. The class will hold up to 10 people. In order for this to happen Alan will need guaranteed payment from 10 people to cover the cost of bringing Nathan in. Contact Alan at 979-218-1088 or email aleedynaflo@msn.com.
HABA Bowl Making Workshop was January 19
We met at Pat Bossarts new house in Plantersville and worked on contributions to the Hungry Bowls project. Pat and Pete Farrell showed how to raise and sink bowls using copper and aluminum. Pete is making some raising stakes for folks to use and Pat will have some stumps with hollows in them for sinking. Bring a hammer and a vice if you have one. We will supply copper and aluminum sheet.
Photos have been posted to our Flickr site at HABA Bowling 2013.
Pat will also cook up a pot of chili for lunch. Pat is located at 8283 CR 209, Plantersville, TX 77363. This is north of Hwy 105. Here is the link to the Google map. We will get started at 9:00 AM and complete no later than 5 PM. More info will be posted soon.
Happy Hammer Holidays!
HABA Update is a great email service to our members and friends
Board Member Pete Farrel is our Communications & Event Coordinator, and has been publishing a routine update by email to our members and interested friends called The HABA Update. This includes rpeorts of current and future activities of HABA and our regional friends.
Contact Pete at pmforging@gmail.comto be added to this distribution if you are not already receiving this.
A link to this Update and our Facebook page hosted by Dana Flanders is included in the link list on top left of our main page.
HABA Calendar for 2013 is Online
It's the annual clean-up and revise season here in the web shop. If something seems put away too good please let your web feller know. Last year's meeting schedule and topics have been archived on our HABA 2012 Calendar page. The 2013 meeting schedule and topics are announced on our HABA 2013 Calendar page which will be updated as often as possible. We hope you can attend and contribute to each meeting demonstration.
This front page of meetings announcement was trimmed back in December, and the complete listing for all of 2012 is still available at HABA 2012. Each of these sites contain links to each summary, photos, and announcement page we published for your convenience.
Membership
Please Join and be a part of HABA today to receive the current Newsletter ! Contact Ed Malmgren (832-381-8155) for the latest information. To receive your Family Membership Card or to update your records please send Ed an email with a Membership Application.
Family Membership for are still only $20. Special offers are available for the 3 and 5 year Memberships. See the HABA Membership page and ask Ed about these for this year!
Thanks for your continued support!
HABA Events Calendar for 2013
Please visit our Calendar for details.
Notes about this Website This website is Under Development and will continue to evolve for HABA Members.
The use any of the material from this site is at your own risk. All persons associated with this material disclaim any responsibility or liability for damages or injuries resulting from the use or application of this information. They assume no responsibility or liability for the accuracy, fitness, proper design, safety or safe use of any information presented here.
The webmaker's speller-checker does not always work and your tolerance for those items not caught and fixed has been and will continue to be appreciated!
Please send all feedback/correction/omission/suggestions to your webfeller, Richard Boswell .
Enjoy!
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