March 28, 2006

March 2006 Saltfork Craftsmens Meeting

I attended the March 2006 North-East regional meeting of the Saltfork Craftsmen Artist-Blacksmith Association at Dan and Pat Cowart's house. It was a fairly casual affair. Mike Sweeney brought a chunk of exotic metal and forged a rough knife blade using Dan's power hammer. After this, Mike and Mike made a scrolling tool but they were not especially hapy with it. Jim Caruthers made 2 napkin rings and gave them to Pat Cowart. Jim Caruthers then made a bottle opener, and even added a collar with help from Ed Brazeal. Ed made a collaring tool right there on the spot! Jim Caruthers took some time towards the end of the meeting to give a lesson to a college student and I. We made a J hook that you nail into the wall to hang a hat or coat on. Tracy (Dan's son) stood by and helped me through the project.

After it was all over, Dan loaned me a portable hand-crank coal forge! Look for more about that in my next blog.

Here are the pictures:

PhotoComment
Mike Sweeney's Anvil + Stand + a Chisel Protection Plate
Mike Sweeney's Anvil + Stand + a Chisel Protection Plate
Mike Sweeney - heading his knife stockMike Sweeney - heading his knife stock
The gang watching Mike work! - part 1The gang watching Mike work! - part 1
The gang watching Mike work! - part 2The gang watching Mike work! - part 2
Mike Sweeney drawing down his knife bladeMike Sweeney drawing down his knife blade
Jim Caruthers ready to bend some napkin ringsJim Caruthers ready to bend some napkin rings
Jim C - napkin ring - bendingJim C - napkin ring - bending
Jim C - napkin ring - ready for final alignmentJim C - napkin ring - ready for final alignment
Jim C - starting on the second napkin ringJim C - starting on the second napkin ring
Jim C - starting on the second napkin ringJim C - starting on the second napkin ring
Jim C - at the coal forgeJim C - at the coal forge
Jim C - napkin ring - measure twice, bend onceJim C - napkin ring - measure twice, bend once
Jim C - napkin ring - scrollingJim C - napkin ring - scrolling
Jim C - napkin ring - scrollingJim C - napkin ring - scrolling
Jim C - napkin ring - scrollingJim C - napkin ring - scrolling
Jim C - bendingJim C - bending
Jim C - trueing up the decorative scrollsJim C - trueing up the decorative scrolls
Jim C - napkin rings finished!Jim C - napkin rings finished!
Jim C - bottle openerJim C - bottle opener - design drawing
Jim C - bottle opener
Jim C - bottle opener
Jim C - bottle opener
Jim C - bottle opener
Jim C - bottle opener
Jim C - bottle opener
Jim C - bottle opener
Jim C - bottle opener
Jim C - bottle opener
Jim C - bottle opener
Jim C - bottle opener
Jim C - bottle opener
Jim C - bottle opener - putting his touchmark on
Jim C - bottle opener (before the collar)
Jim C - bottle opener (before the collar)
Jim C - bottle opener (before the collar)

Jim C - bottle opener (before the collar)
Ed Brazeal - making a collaring tool
Ed Brazeal - making a collaring tool
Ed Brazeal - making a collaring tool
Ed Brazeal - making a collaring tool
Ed Brazeal - collaring test and adjustments
Ed Brazeal - collaring test and adjustments
Ed Brazeal - collaring test and adjustments
Ed Brazeal - collaring test and adjustments
Ed Brazeal - collaring test and adjustments
Jim C and Ed B - bottle opener - adding a collar