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FALL BLACKSMITH'S FORGE FEST
featuring
Training Progression Skills
at
Oldenburg
HABA’s Fall ForgeFest was a casual weekend of smithing where everyone is demonstrating as well as visiting, watching, buying and selling to each other and the public.
Photos of the shine and rain event are posted on our Flickr page Forge Fest 2009.
Our plans are to return to Oldenburg this fall featuring our popular Hand's On Training Progression. All smiths are invited to bring themselves and forges for a weekend of fun forging. Our sequence of programs was disrupted last year by Hurricane Ike and we postponed the excellent program by Bob Alexander until last spring. So we are now having the excellent training progression program where basic skills and exercises will be performed by new and experienced smiths working side by side under the big pavilion at Kennie Hall's.
HABA Board Memeber Bob Nichols will demo his nutcracker and nut pick as our training progression project this October – the project will give folks the opportunity to learn the techniques for tapering, hot cutting, scrolling, twisting, punching, riveting, and creating shoulders, all in one project – and they get to take home a nutcracker set at the end of the day. This is a project Bob has written up as a blueprint for IforgeIron.com, the link is http://www.iforgeiron.com/Blueprints-100-200/bp0155.html .
There will be a basic techniques portion first thing in the morning which will show the techniques that will be encountered in the demo, and then Bob will do the demo. Bob Hensley will cover some of the basics with help from other HABA Members. Bob H has organized this training in previous Oldenburg events including our 2008 Spring Round-Up.
This year’s ForgeFest is like another bowl of stew from the Spring Round-Up. Based on previous programs, we will continue on through the ABANA Controlled Hand Forging Fundamentals that compliment our own HABA Training Progression. HABA has combined CHF Lesson 1 -21 into a single pdf download for your convenience. Simply click CHF Lesson 1-21.
The ForgeFest abd Round-Up weekends gives Blacksmiths across Texas, Louisiana and all points from there an opportunity to gather for the day, work and show their wares during the Antique Show Weekend of Round Top at Oldenburg, TX. Five acres of land is available to blacksmiths, thanks to Kennie & Susan Hall, during the famous Round Top Antique Show. The Round Top, TX antique show expanded over the years to include the neighboring towns of Warrenton, Shelby, Oldenburg and a few other places in between. The show occurs in April and October each year.
Oldenburg is located about 90 miles northwest of Houston. During the weekend over 1,000 vendors sell and 200,000 buyers enjoy the shows, buy and drive the beautiful countryside.
The owner of the property has an interest in smithing and played in the Oldenburg blacksmith shop while growing up. The original site of the Oldenburg shop is just a few stone throws away from the five-acre site. The original Oldenburg shop is now operating again at the George Ranch Historical Park south of Houston.
Again, thanks to our gracious hosts are Kennie and Susan Hall; there is no cost for the general grounds. A hat is passed to defray the expenses for power, water and porta-jons. Camping is available on-site with a hot and cold running water shower!
Where & When:October 2-4, 2009
The HABA event site in Oldenburg, TX is located at the intersection of Highway 237 and Bauer Road. The site is north of town on the East Side of highway 237. See the site layout below.
Agenda:
Friday: Setup & free style forging and demos
Saturday, October 4:
- 7:30 am: Sign in
- 8:00 am: Demonstration begins in the big shed
- 12:00 noon: Break for lunch
- 1:00 pm: Group Forging continues in the big shed
- 5:00 pm: End program & begin free forging
Sunday: Free style forging & clean up
This is the general layout with the pavilion which can hold a dozen or two or more forge setups easily. Come early to reserve your spot.
Oldenburg is located about 90 miles northwest of Houston. During the Antique weekend over 1,000 vendors sell and 200,000 buyers enjoy the shows, buy and drive the beautiful countryside. Tools For Sale
There is usually the traditional tailgating tool sales with old anvils, vices, and tongs!
Camping - Friday - Sunday :
Camping available in the field behind demonstration area.
No charge to members, their families and their guests (donations will be collected to help with expenses)
Portable toilets, water and electricity are available
Sales Tents - Friday - Sunday:
Club Information and Fundraising Tables - Memberships and Handmade items donated by members for sale to the public
Member’s Sales - Opportunity to sell your excess tools (anvils, forges, and hand tools ), supplies, hand made items to other members or to the public.
Demonstrations Friday and All day Saturday, and Sunday if you want to. You are the demonstrator.
What to Bring
Chairs, canopys, tents, food and drink.
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! 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.
ABOUT THE EVENT
Blacksmith's Fall Forge Fest is held in conjunction with the Round Top antique festivalOpen to the public - at no charge for admission to the grounds
Place: Highway 237 and Bauer Rd. – Oldenburg, TX
PURPOSE:
- To promote HABA and attract new members
- To share basic blacksmith techniques with new club members
- To provide blacksmith tools (anvils, forges, hand tools) for sale
- To provide social opportunity to meet new members
- To provide social opportunity to meet members of other blacksmith clubs
- To raise funds for club through donated items from members
Some relevent on-line links for your viewing....
Directions to Oldenburg
The Forge Fest site in Oldenburg, TX is located at the intersection of Highway 237 and Bauer Road. The site is on the north end of town on he East Side of Highway 237. Below is a classic map from one of the first events.
click here for more maps
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Last updates were on September 13, 2009
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