April 2011 HABA Houston Area Blacksmith's Association

Houston
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7418 Branch Point
Houston, TX 77095-2649

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April 23, 2011

Annual Knife Making Work Shop
and Auction

Cowboy Szymanski
at
Newman's Castle
in Bellville, Texas

It is another new year and a new decade but we shook up the calendar, so it must be time to make a new knife at our annual Knife Workshop, and to donate and bid at our Annual Fund Raising Auction. This year's workshop will feature Cowboy Szymanski working inside his large 20x20 campaign tent at Mike Newman's Castle in Bellville, Texas.

Cowboy has conducted most of our previous knife workshops and was a featured addition at our 2005 Fall Forge Fest in Oldenburg. Last year we had a great day of hammering inside the Castle and we have a new project this year. See our January 2010 Blacksmith Knife Workshop for info and photos from last year.

Cowboy is putting together a "kit" knife project for us. The blade will be forged from 1095 steel with a mild steel tang to attach the handle. This will make it easier for all to heat treat their blade without affecting the toughness at the handle. The finished knife length will be 10 to 11 inches. Cowboy will demonstrate installation of a handle , but you will be responsible for obtaining and installing your desired handle material. Samples of handle material will be on hand from which you can order and hopefully Cowboys handle supplier will be on hand with a supply of material which you can purchase.

HABA will supply the steel knife kit material---less handle material---for $10 .

This year will again take us to Mike Newman's Castle where we will set up outside by the lake/trebuchet . This is necessary due to construction in the castle courtyard. (No promises but we hope to see the trebuchet demonstrated during the day). Bring your forges, your canopies and chairs! Bring your appetite as the roast pig and chicken lunch with all the trimmings will be cooked and served in the Castle. Morning coffee and pastries fresh from NEWMANS BAKERY will be available in the AM for a price of $5 or for $13 you can enjoy morning refreshments and the lunch.

Tickets for both will be available at the castle door until 10 AM. WHAT A BARGAIN!!! The normal price for a short 1 1/2 to 2 hour castle tour and lunch(sandwich-chips-drink) is $12.50. You will have all day access to the castle -- morning refreshments -- and roast pig & chicken for lunch.

IT'S THE DO NOT MISS MEETING OF THE YEAR
Hopefully all our HABA members who made a TRADE HAWK for the February meeting will be in attendance with their HAWK for display and a group photo.

Our Annual Auction will feature many items worthy of your attention. These include new tools and books, used tools, materials, and the custom pieces made by talented smiths. This is always a unique opportunity to acquire and donate special and unique tools and art. So forge or donate something special you have made or collected, or shop at our Sponsors Page and bring a cool tool or item to donate!

Randy Estep has donated a guided fishing trip with lunch---KirstenSkiles a beautiful leaf necklace plus a set of chasing tools---Chad Gunters demo piece and tools---Tom Lundguists recent demo pieces plus ????? your own contributions.

Photos of the 2010 event are posted on our FLICKR page Knifemaking, Auction and Dragons at the Castle .

PLEASE NOTE: As is the custom at most workshops, sharing tools is common.

Please remember to do a couple of things if you borrow a tool. One, remember from whom you borrowed a tool and make sure you return it by telling that person you are returning it. Two, make sure you look over your tools before you depart to make sure you have only what you came with...nothing missing and nothing extra (except what you won at the AUCTION). It takes more effort to return or find a tool than to double check before leaving the meeting!

When & Where :

Saturday, April 23, 2011 :

The schedule is like this for Saturday morning:

8:00 am : Sign in and setup
8:30 am : HABA Meeting and Announcements
9:00 am : Begin Demo
9:30 am : Begin Workshop
11:00 am : AUCTION
12 pm : Break for Lunch: Mike is planning to have a (whole) pig roast for the group along with all the trimmings.
1 pm : Continue Workshop
5 pm : Conclude and clean up

Where :

Newman's Castle
1041 Old Hwy 36, Bellville, Tx. is the address. It doesn't come up on map quest correctly. From the courthouse in Bellville, go north on Hwy 36 for 2.8 miles. Turn left on the county road Old Hwy 36. Go one mile and my driveway is on the left. It winds back into the woods. Look for signs. 979 877 4093 is Mike's cell if you get lost.

The Castle is about 4 miles from Newman's Bakery at 504 East Main Street
Bellville, Texas

Directions to Bellville

Go west fom Houston on I-10 to Sealy. Go north on 36 to Bellville. This will parallel the train track in town. Turn left on Main St, and Cowboy's shop is on left side of street before the town square.

Go north west from Houston on 290 to Hempstead. Go south west on 159 to Bellville. This becomes Main St. Go past RR tracks. Cowboy's Shop is on left side of street before the town square.

For those of you who are interested in learning more about knifemaking, more information may be found at these sites :

HABA Gas Forge Work Shop 2003

The Auction

It is our tradition to have our Annual Fund Raising Auction at this meeting and we need you to provide and donate tools, materials, and stuff that we want to bid on. During the holidays you might crank up your forge and make something for us. And if Santa brings you a new anvil this will be the place to recycle your old one!

Please take a look around and see what you can donate to this auction next time.

This being HABA’s annual fund raising auction you can bet there were some pretty nice pieces available. Several pieces made by demonstrators at this years programs were put on the auction block.

There was an assortment of work donated to HABA by members and Sponsors which are always big sellers.

Tailgating

As mentioned above, this is also a great opportunity to do some tailgating. If you have an anvil or vise, or any other smithing tools or materials you no longer need, throw it in the truck and put a price tag on it. This event does draw buyers.

What to Bring

Bring safety glasses with side shields. This is a requirement!

Bring your tools. A number of forges will be available.

Plan to have Castle Chilli.

Bring a chair to sit in.

You do not have to be a member to attend our meetings! Bring a Guest!

Bring your Membership Dues if you want to work at a forge and are not a current Member !

Minors are welcome but must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

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Enjoy!