Jan 2009 HABA Houston Area Blacksmith's Association

Houston
Area
Blacksmith's
Association

7418 Branch Point
Houston, TX 77095-2649

Check out the Top 50 Blacksmithing sites!

On Line
Resources

ABANA
ABANA Demonstrator Guideline

North Texas
Blacksmiths Association

Balcones Forge

Louisiana Metalsmiths
Association

Maps

To Preserve and Promote the Art and Craft of Blacksmithing Through Education.

Welcome to HABAIRON.ORG, the website of the Houston Area Blacksmith's Association, the Internet resource of choice for the blacksmith in and around Houston, Texas. We have the technology!

January 17, 2009

Annual Knife Making Work Shop
and Auction

Cowboy Szymanski
at
Phenix Knives
in Bellville, Texas

It is a new year, 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 again feature Cowboy Szymanski at his blacksmith shop in Bellville, Texas. He has helped in many of our previous knife demos and was a featured addition at our 2005 Fall Forge Fest in Oldenburg. Last year we had a great day of hammering inside his shop and we have a new project this year. See our January 2008 Blacksmith Knife Workshop for info and photos from last year.

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!

This year we will continue the popular HABA 2006 Spike Knife that we made a few years ago, by making a matching Fork with a few new features. An example is not available now, but you can get a good idea by looking at these spikes with horns at Cowboy's Fork. The demo will revisit the knife, then move forward with the fork. Participants may make either or both!

HABA will supply material or bring your own. Same for tools and forges.

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!

Photos from the demo and auction are posted on our Flickr Collection page for January 2009 Demo. This is the demo fork that Cowboy made (click to enlarge).

These pages may be used for more information.....maybe more than you wanted to know!

When & Where :

Saturday, January 17, 2009 :

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
9:00 am : Begin Workshop
11:00 am : AUCTION
12 pm : Break for Lunch
1 pm : Continue Workshop
5 pm : Conclude

Where :

Phenix Knives
305 E. Main
Bellville, Texas
77418-1527

Map to 305 E Main St

Directions

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 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. 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 bring a lunch or eat at a local restaurant.

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.

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 your webmaster, Richard Boswell .
Enjoy!