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Spring BLACKSMITH'S Round Up
featuring
Training Progression Skills
at
Oldenburg
HABA’s Spring Round Up will be a casual weekend of smithing where everyone is demonstrating as well as visiting, watching, buying and selling to each other and the public.
Event photos are posted on our Flickr site at Round Up 2010.
We have been switching our two events for Oldenburg to accomodate schedules since the big Ike disruption of 2008. Our last fall event went well but was cut short by heavy water quench. Photos of the last shine and rain event are posted on our Flickr page Forge Fest 2009.
HABA will return to Oldenburg on April 2-3 this spring featuring our popular Hand's On Training Progression. All smiths are invited to bring themselves and forges for a weekend of fun forging. Since this is Easter weekend, we will focus on Friday and Saturday activity. This is an 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 the Hall's country home. We will return in the Fall with a featured demonstrator.
Dave Koenig and Tee Hines will be doing the demos at Oldenburg. Tee will be doing the “Forging Right Angle Bends” demo, and Dave will be doing the “Forging Two Sided Shoulders” demo, both from the recent CHF docs on ABANA’s website. After the demos, any new members can get hands on help with other basic forging processes that they need to learn as well as the processes demonstrated by Dave and Tee.
There will be a basic techniques portion first thing Saturday 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 Dave and Tee. Bob H has organized this training in previous Oldenburg events including our 2008 Spring Round-Up.
This year’s Round Up is like another bowl of stew. 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 and 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 had 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 host Susan Hall who would like the event to continue in honor of HABA Lifetime Member Kennie Hall who passed on last year. There is no cost for the general grounds for the attendees. 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!
What to expect: We will begin Saturday at 8:00 am with an introduction to Blacksmithing. This will include shop safety, basic tools, starting a coal fire, etc. At approximately 9:00 am the 1st demonstration will begin. Each ‘Main’ demonstration will last 15-20 minutes after which everyone will head to a work station to try the technique they just learned. We intend to have an experienced smith at each work station to help you. Time designations may vary depending on the number of participants. If you don’t get to finish the hands on for a particular technique in the allotted time, forges will be available to use into the night.
Where & When:
April 2-3, 2010
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.
NOTE!
HABA will provide each participant with one piece of material for each session. You will have to supply any additional material you think you might need.
Please bring your forge & tools!!
Agenda:
Friday: Setup & free style forging and demos
Saturday:
- 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
- 3:00 pm: 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
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 March 28, 2010
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