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2003
Board of Directors
Les Cook
11222 Sagewillow
Houston, TX 77089-4536
281-481-2457
Richard Boswell
281-356-5205
Dave Koenig
281-855-2869
Frank Walters
281-491-7328
Larry Hoff
8026-Durklyn
Houston, TX 77070-3747
281-890-8822
HINGE and LATCH MAKING for GATES
at
Dave Koenig's TUDOR FORGE
Dave Koenig recently completed four sets of gate hardware. There were a total of 12 angle hinges, two bolts, two Suffolk latches and two “U shaped flip latches”. The February meeting demonstration will focus on making a one piece pintle and an angle hinge that requires a “T” weld. The stock size for the angle hinges was three sixteenths by one inch flat bar. The pintle stock size was seven sixteenths round bar.
If time permits, he will also demonstrate the Suffolk latch handle from one quarter inch by one inch flat bar.
When & Where :
Tudor Forge south of Magnolia, directions provided below.
Saturday February 15 :
8:00 Sign In and Set Up
9:00 Program : Dave will demonstrate the steps in forging a hinges and latches.
Noon Lunch Break
What to Bring
Chairs.
Bring safety glasses with side shields. This is a requirement!
Bring your forge and tools if you have them.
If you do not have a forge and tools, please come anyway. There will be plenty of room at some forge during the workshop and someone to lend you a hand if you need it.
You do not have to be a member to attend our meetings! Bring a Guest!
ABOUT THE DEMONSTRATION
Dave's demonstration in February is going to be more than just forging a complete angle hinge. He will lead us through the project from from beginning to end. That means gaining an understanding of what the client expectes from him, how he converted that understanding to some test pieces, received client approval and started the work. There were more test pieces because the project called for four different size hinges for four different wooden garden gates. Each hinge required a forged 'T' weld and half of the hinges required a lap weld to get enough stock for a larger finial.
Dave made paper templates then tin templates to achieve the final length of
each strap leg and the final size of the fininal. He will describe how each
leg was forged, how the templates were used and how the design was cut out
with a treadle hammer.Each strap starts with three sixteenths by one inch flat bar. Each strap leg is tapered to one eighth inch at the finial prior to cutting the final form. The three sixteenths by one stock size is maintained to forge the hinge barrel.
After the strap is cut from the stock and rough filed, the barrel is rolled. One strap is then fitted to one location on a gate. After the fitting, the hinge is filed to its final form.
The next process is to make the one piece pintle. This requires a forged square corner in a seven sixteenths round bar with a spread flange. One pintle is then fitted to one strap.
The forge scale is removed from the straps and pintles with acid and the pieces are neurtalized, dried and primed. The final finish is two different color base coats and one clear coat. Each indivudual strap and pintle is package separately and deliverd to the client for installation.
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ABOUT TUDOR FORGE
Tudor Forge started in the driveway of Dave Koenig's home in Kay County, Oklahoma in 1979. He built a forge with a crank blower and made an anvil from oil field junk. He bought a bag of coal and after several attempts had a coal fire burning. He heated up a steel bar and began hammering on it to see what would happen. There was nothing more or less to that first attempt to change the shape of a steel bar with a hammer and anvil.
The Koenig's returned to Houston at the start of 1980 and Dave learned
that Joe Pehoski was teaching blacksmithing near Washington, TX. Dave
attended a couple of Joe's classes and joined the Artist Blacksmith's
Association of North America (ABANA). The passion for forging began.In 1982 Dave purchased some land in Montgomery, County TX and built a pole building that is now called Tudor Forge. At the time there was no electricity available within a couple of miles so the shop was built without electricity. That means all but a few pieces of wood were cut with a hand saw.
Tudor Forge became a weekend retreat. Dave joined the Texas Artist Blacksmith's Association,TABA, now Balcones Forge, attended some ABANA Conferences and continued to increase his knowledge of forging through books, ABANA publications and demonstrations.
Tudor Forge remained inactive from 1985 to 1988 when the family lived in the Middle East. The overseas assignment kept Dave away fromTudor Forge but did not stop the smithing related reading. It was also a time to see first-hand some of the old ironwork in many other parts of the world.
Once back in Houston, smoke was again pouring out of Tudor Forge on weekends. Paying jobs were really non-existant but bent iron in the form of gifts and auction items and an increasing scrap pile came out of the shop.
About 1996 Dave began smithing for the public at parks and for other non-profit organizations. This work continues today. He retired in 1997 and began devoting more and more time to the art and craft of blacksmithing. He started the Houston Area Blacksmith's Association, HABA, and served as its president until 2003. He now serves on the ABANA Board of Directors and is the Conference Chairperson for the 2004 ABANA Conference in Richmond, KY.
Tudor Forge is pretty much the same place it was 20 years ago. There is still no power at the shop and probably will never be. Tudor forge is a place to experience traditional blacksmithing. It's a place for a person to step up to a fire, heat a piece of metal and using a hammer and anvil and hand tools create something completely new. The opportunities to creatre are endless. Forging is a test of a person's skill and willingness to learn something new. Tudor Forge is a place to preserve and promote the art and craft of blacksmithing.
Some relevent on-line links for your viewing....
Directions to Tudor Forge
Take 249 NW from Houston toward Tomball. Travel through the towns of Tomball, Decker Prairie and Pinehurst. At Pinehurst 249 changes to 1774. Stay on 1774. About three miles ahead on 1774 look for a Texaco station on the west side of the road. One half mile past the Texaco station, turn left or west on Tudor Way. There is a small white realtor office on the corner. You will find the forge about a mile down the road.
From the intersection of 1488 and 1774 in Magnolia, go south on 1774 about 4 miles. Look for Tudor Way just after the Country Jamboree building. If you see the Texaco station you went too far.
HABA signs will be up at the turn on 1774 . Just follow the signs to the shop.
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HABA Training Progression
Following for your review is the most recent draft of the proposed "HABATraining Progression". Your comments are welcome and may be sent to Dave Koenig, 76021.3660@compuserve.com.
The HABA Training Progression has no identified chairperson at this time. Contact Dave if you can help.
Upcoming Programs for 2003:
- Jan - Lee Oates : Knife making seminar at Lee’s shop in LaPorte
- Feb - Dave Koenig: Hinges at Tudor Forge
- Mar - Arc Welding seminar at Lincoln Welding
- Apr - Hammer Fest: Oldenburg
- May - Proposed: Treadle Hammer/Fly Press tool seminar
- Jun - TBA - IronFest
- Jul - Meeting of the Guilds
- Aug - HABA Brain Storm Session
and or How to value work/ How to display work - Sept -
- Oct - Hammer Fest: Oldenburg
- Nov - Plant Tour TBA
- Dec - Happy Holidays
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.
Please send all feedback/correction/omission/suggestions to webmaster .
Enjoy!
http://www.habairon.org
Last updates were on February 16, 2003
© Copyright 2003 by HABA.
All rights reserved.
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