Northwest Blacksmith Association

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2024 First Quarter Issue of the Hot Iron News

NWBA members only have permission to view this content. You must be logged in, and be a current NWBA member. To access this content and you are already a registered web user and are a member of the NWBA, simply log in. If you are not already a registered web user, register now, and make sure your NWBA membership is up to date. There are many advantages to NWBA membership. Find out more HERE

If you are a current NWBA member and you still do not have access to this page when logged in, contact  mailto:webmaster@blacksmith.org  to upgrade your account.

2024 Spring Conference Registration

To attend Spring Conference, you must be a current NWBA Member! Not sure if you need to renew your membership? Check the address label on your most recent issue of the Hot Iron News to see your membership expiration date.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE NWBA OR TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP


Submit the name(s) you want printed on conference button(s) below, doublecheck your Registration totals in the Shopping Cart, and hit the button to check out

Spring Conference Attendee Buttons

 

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Spring Conference Registration:

Quantities can be adjusted in the Shopping Cart located top right on a computer or at the bottom of the page on mobile devices 

Three Day Conference Pass: $100 per NWBA Member 

Camping:$20 per person, per night (tent or RV)

Day Passes: $75 per NWBA Member only available in-person at the Registration Table during Spring Conference:  

First Quarter Board of Directors Meeting Rescheduled

Due to the wide-ranging effects of heavy snow and icy weather in the region, our next Board of Directors meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday, January 25th at 6pm PST via Zoom

NWBA Members, check your email for the NWBA Newsletter that includes the link to join! 

If you are a Current NWBA Member and are not receiving our email newsletter in your inbox each month, please contact webmaster@blacksmith.org to resolve the issue

2024 Spring Conference Schedule and Demonstrators

This year’s Spring Conference will be held from Friday, May 17th at 8am to Sunday, May 19th at 12 noon at the NWBA Mentoring Center in Longview, Washington!

Set up for the event will start on the afternoon of Thursday, May 16th. If you’d like to help set up on Thursday or help break down on Sunday afternoon, please email webmaster@blacksmith.org to be added to the volunteer list.

The NWBA Events Center is located on the grounds of the Cowlitz County Events Center at 1900 7th Ave in Longview, Washington. 

Entry to Spring Conference is for Current NWBA Members Only. To sign up or renew your membership Click Here. 

Online Registration for Spring Conference will open March 1st and close May 4th. Spring Conference Registration is 100 per adult member, helping us cover the cost of site rental, demonstrator compensation and travel, hands-on workshops, forging competitions, open forges, youth and beginners forges and more.  

 

2024 Spring Conference Schedule

We’re happy to announce that this year’s Main Demonstrators are John Switzer and Evan Wilson!

 


 

Friday, May 17th
Registration & Merch Table Open in Mentoring Center
8:00am – 10:00am // 1:00pm – 3:00pm // 8:00pm – 9:00pm

7:30am – 8:45am: Coffee and Breakfast at Cook Shack
9:00am – 12:00pm: Evan Wilson Demo pt.1 in MC
9:00am – 12:00pm: Youth and Beginners Forge with Ben Czyhold + Open Forge

12:30pm: Hands-on Workshop Participation Drawing at Cook Shack
12:30pm: Cutlery Competition Judging at Cook Shack
12:30pm – 1:45pm: Lunch and General Meeting at Cook Shack

2:00pm – 5:00pm: John Switzer pt.1 in Demo Barn
2:00pm – 5:00pm: Hands On Workshop with Andrew Windisch in the MC
2:00pm – 5:00pm: Youth and Beginners Forge with Ben Czyhold + Open Forge

5:30pm – 7:00pm: Potluck Dinner at Cook Shack
7:00pm – 10:00pm: Black Smoke Alley
8:00pm – Late: Forging Competition Starts in Mentoring Center

Flexible throughout Friday
* Open Repousse Table with Louie Raffloer
* Silent Auction
* Archives and Member Galleries

Saturday, May 18th
Registration & Merch Tables Open in Mentoring Center
8:00am – 10:00am // 1:00pm – 3:00pm // 8:00pm – 9:30pm

7:30am-8:45am: Coffee and Breakfast at Cook Shack
8:30am: Hands-on Workshop Participation Drawing at Cook Shack

9:00am – 12:00pm: Evan Wilson Demo pt.2 in MC
9:00am – 12:00pm: John Switzer Demo pt.2 in Demo Barn
9:00am – 12:00pm: Youth and Beginners Forge with Ben Czyhold + Open Forge

12:30pm – 1:45pm: Lunch at Cook Shack

2:00pm – 5:00pm: Evan Wilson Demo pt. 3 in MC
2:00pm – 5:00pm: Youth and Beginners Forge with Ben Czyhold + Open Forge

5:30pm: Dinner Banquet
6:00pm: Live Auction
7:30pm: Ringing of the Anvil
8:00pm – Late: Open Forge and New NWBA Sign Assembly in MC
8:00pm – 10:00pm: Black Smoke Alley

9:00pm: Silent Auction Closes – Winners Announced, Collect Your Winnings!

Flexible throughout Saturday
* Open Repousse Table with Louie Raffloer
* Silent Auction
* Archives and Member Galleries

 


 

Sunday, May 19th
Registration and Merch Tables Open in Mentoring Center
9:00am – 12:00pm

9:00am – 12:00pm: Hot tips with Rashelle Hams in MC
9:00am – 12:00pm: Open Forge at the Youth and Beginner’s Station
9am – 12pm: Silent Auction Winners Collect Your Items!
12:00pm: Conference Concludes
12:00pm – 4:00pm: Volunteers help with Conference Breakdown! 

If you’d like to join the Conference Committee and help with behind-the-scenes planning and logistics, email webmaster@blacksmith.org for more information.

Only NWBA Members can attend Spring Conference! If you’re not a member but would like to join, CLICK HERE to learn how

 


 

Sunday, May 19th
Registration and Merch Tables Open in Mentoring Center
9:00am – 12:00pm

9:00am – 12:00pm: Hot tips with Rashell Hams in MC
9:00am – 12:00pm: Open Forge at the Youth and Beginner’s Station
9am – 12pm: Silent Auction Winners Collect Your Items!
12:00pm: Conference Concludes
12:00pm – 4:00pm: Volunteers help with Conference Breakdown! 

If you’d like to join the Conference Committee and help with behind-the-scenes planning and logistics, email webmaster@blacksmith.org for more information.

Only NWBA Members can attend Spring Conference! If you’re not a member but would like to join, CLICK HERE to learn how

Update on the New NWBA Sign

A brand new sign for the Mentoring Center, one with a solid backplate and handforged letters, is in the works!

Templates for the forged letters were handed out at Spring Conference last year. If you grabbed one, this is your reminder to bring your forged letter to our next Spring Conference! If you can’t make the event, you can mail your letter to the nwba by emailing webmaster@blacksmith.org for an address.

If you grabbed a letter but don’t think you’ll complete it before Spring Conference, no worries. Just send an email to webmaster@blacksmith.org and we can can let someone else take over.

Tons of thanks to Derek Lanhart, Bridge City Steel, and to everyone forging the elements to make this project possible!

Meet-a-Member Questionnaire

NWBA Members, we’re interested in your story!

If you’d like to share, we’re starting a “Meet a Member” segment to be featured in articles in the Hot Iron News and on our social media accounts. We’d love to hear from you and learn how you got interested in blacksmithing, what keeps you going at the forge, what projects you’re working on and more. 

If you’d like to be featured, just fill out the questionnaire below. Answer any questions you’d like, and if you have any questions about our Meet a Member promotions, please contact webmaster@blacksmith.org

Meet a Member Questionnaire

 

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Instruct a Demo or Class at the MC!

If you’d like to demo at one of our monthly Mentoring Center Events or instruct a class at the MC, fill out the questionnaire below and we’ll get in touch!

Demo / Class Instruction Info

 

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2023 Fourth Quarter Issue of the Hot Iron News

NWBA members only have permission to view this content. You must be logged in, and be a current NWBA member. To access this content and you are already a registered web user and are a member of the NWBA, simply log in. If you are not already a registered web user, register now, and make sure your NWBA membership is up to date. There are many advantages to NWBA membership. Find out more HERE

If you are a current NWBA member and you still do not have access to this page when logged in, contact  mailto:webmaster@blacksmith.org  to upgrade your account.

Swaptoberfest Thank You’s

Tons of thanks to everyone who made our 2023 Swaptoberfest an event to remember – especially Reed Peck-Kriss of Redwood Forge for his broom handle and tying workshop-demo, and Ryan Sanden of Stage Coach Forge for his demos on stainless and copper cookware!

The Cook Shack nailed it again creating delicious meals for the group thanks to Silas Maddox, Pele Warnock, Peter Clark, Craig Flynn, the Bear Iron Crew, and to everyone who volunteered to help. Plus three cheers for those who volunteered on the Dish Crew!

A round of applause goes to everyone who joined Midnight Madness Forging on Saturday, with special thanks to Reed Peck-Kriss for hosting and judging the Eagle Eye Forging Competition, and to Rashelle Hams for showing up in full plate armor complete with chainmail and safety glasses to rule the Costume Contest.

Tons of appreciation to those who forged masks for the Masquerade Gallery, and bravo to our first place winner Peter Reich who forged a functioning magnifying headset (complete with work lights) that he riveted and joined together out of copper, steel, brass, and leather elements.  

There was plenty going on behind the scenes worth celebrating too, like those who helped set up and run A/V, those who manned the Registration and Merch tables, and to everyone who brought something or bought something at our Swapmeet Barn and Silent Auction. Tons of thanks goes to Dan Bowyer for capturing demos and events with his sharp photography skills, to the Reich Family for running educational programming at the Youth and Beginners Forge, and to everyone who brought a forged letter for the NWBA sign!

A Special Thank You goes to all who attended this 2023 Swaptoberfest. After all, NWBA Members are the fire that lights our mission joining community and friendship through education at the forge.

 
 

2023 Third Quarter Issue of the Hot Iron News

NWBA members only have permission to view this content. You must be logged in, and be a current NWBA member. To access this content and you are already a registered web user and are a member of the NWBA, simply log in. If you are not already a registered web user, register now, and make sure your NWBA membership is up to date. There are many advantages to NWBA membership. Find out more HERE

If you are a current NWBA member and you still do not have access to this page when logged in, contact  mailto:webmaster@blacksmith.org  to upgrade your account.

Swaptoberfest Schedule of Events

Online Registration is Closed but you can still register in person at the event!

Friday October 20th:

Registration and Merch Table Open in MC from 6:00pm – 7:30pm
6:00pm Earlybird Set-up for Camping and Tailgating
7:00pm Sand to Steel Meeting
8:00pm-ish Open Forge and Fireside Camaraderie

Flexible Friday Evening Activities
Tailgate Sales
Reed Kris-Peck Workshop Raffle Entry
Masquerade Gallery and Competition Open – Cast Your Vote!
Archives Gallery Open
Library Open to Check Out Books
Drop off Donations for Silent Auction at the Registration Table
Volunteers Welcome to Help in the Cook Shack!


Saturday, October 21st:
Registration and Merch Table Open in MC
8:00am – 10:00am // 1:00pm – 3:00pm // 8:00pm – 9pm-ish

6:30am – 8am: Breakfast and Coffee at Cook Shack
6:30am – 8am: Workshop Raffle Entry is Open
8:30am: Workshop Raffle Drawing
9:00am-12:00pm Reed Peck-Kriss Broom Handle Workshop and Demo in the Mentoring Center
9:00am-12:00am Ben Cyzhold Workshop and Demo in the Teaching Barn
12:30pm -1:30pm Lunch at the Cook Shack
2:00pm-5:00pm Ryan Sanden Copper and Steel Cookware Demo in the Mentoring Center
2:00pm-4:00pm Youth and Beginner Open Forge in the Teaching Barn
6:00pm-8:00pm Potluck Dinner at Cookshack
**Please bring your own reusable plates and utensils! Please label your dish!**
8:00pm-ish Masquerade Prize Time after Potluck Dinner*
*All votes must be submitted in by 8pm
8:00pm-ish Team Forging Competition Starts in MC*
*Extra points awarded for Costumes
9:00pm Silent Auction Closes in the Mentoring Center*
*Winners can pick up their items Saturday evening or Sunday morning

Flexible Activities on Saturday
Archives Gallery Open
Library Open to Check Out Books
Masquerade Gallery and Competition Open – Cast Your Vote!
Silent Auction
Volunteers Welcome to Help in the Cook Shack!


Sunday, October 22nd:
Registration and Merch Table Open in MC from 9:00am – 12:00noon

7:30am-8:30am Coffee and Leftovers for Breakfast at Cook Shack
9:00am-12:00pm Ryan Sanden Demo in the Mentoring Center
9:00am-12:00pm Reed Peck-Kriss Broom Tying Workshop, Location TBD
9:00am-12:00pm Silent Auction Winners – Pick Up Your Items!
12:00pm-4:00pm Conference Breakdown – Volunteers are Welcome to Help!

Flexible Activities on Sunday until 12noon
Archives Gallery Open
Library Open to Check Out Books
Volunteers Welcome to Help in the Cook Shack!

Sand to Steel Challenge

Our Next Sand to Steel Meeting will be held at the Bull Run Powerhouse located just outside Sandy, Oregon on Saturday, January 27th from 11am to 4pm. Please RSVP to join this meeting by emailing webmaster@blacksmith.org

NWBA Members are welcome to participate in the Sand to Steel Challenge as individuals or by working in teams to collect their own iron ore, smelt it into a bloom, consolidate that bloom into an ingot, then forge that ingot into any object they want. The group based in Oregon is doing a modified Scrap to Steel Challenge, and will work on building an Aristotle Furnace at their next meeting. Items forged from the blooms smelted in this Challenge will be on display at our next Spring Conference in a “Sand to Steel” Gallery.

The Rules of this Challenge are as follows:

  • Extract your own ore like bog iron or magnetite – so long as it’s gathered directly from the earth and not just recycled from the scrap bin (we do not endorse underground mining, but we do have info on mining regulations in Oregon and Washington!)
  • Smelt your own bloom through the process of your choosing (which may require participants to design and build their own furnaces)
  • Consolidate the bloom (depending on bloom size, this might be easier as a team)
  • Forge any object you choose from the steel you smelted, and display it in our Sand to Steel Gallery at Spring Conference!

If you’d like to join the Challenge, email webmaster@blacksmith.org and we’ll send you the info we’ve collected so far and connect you with other participants.

Join our Spring Conference Committee!

We invite NWBA Members who’d like to help organize and run logistics for Spring Conference to join our Committee!

The Spring Conference Committee will meet about once a month for short meetings and discussions around planning and logistics via Zoom.

If you’re interested in joining, please email webmaster@blacksmith.org

Join our Swaptoberfest Committee!

We’re looking to enhance our Swaptoberfest Committee with volunteers who’d like to lend a helping hand in organizing the event!

This year’s Swaptoberfest will be held Saturday, October 21st and Sunday, October 22nd and our Committee will meet about once a month for short meetings and discussions about plannning and logistics via Zoom. If you’re interested in joining, please email webmaster@blacksmith.org

Swaptoberfest will be held at the NWBA Mentoring Center, located at the Cowlitz County Events Center in Longview, WA.

Stay tuned for more details on Demos, Swap Meet and Tailgating Info, Forging Competitions, Cook Shack Meals and More!

2023 Second Quarter Issue of the Hot Iron News

NWBA members only have permission to view this content. You must be logged in, and be a current NWBA member. To access this content and you are already a registered web user and are a member of the NWBA, simply log in. If you are not already a registered web user, register now, and make sure your NWBA membership is up to date. There are many advantages to NWBA membership. Find out more HERE

If you are a current NWBA member and you still do not have access to this page when logged in, contact  mailto:webmaster@blacksmith.org  to upgrade your account.

Forging at the Cowlitz County Fair

Our July MC Event will be held over four days during the Cowlitz County Fair – from Wednesday, July 26th to Saturday, July 29th.

Doors to the Mentoring Center will be open to CC Fair Attendees from 12noon to 12noon to 6pm each day. If you plan on attending the fair, we invite you to join us at the forge and take part in the fun as we share our Mission with the Public!

CLICK HERE for more info on the Cowlitz County Fair

Forging Opportunity in Bend, Oregon

Forge School in Bend, Oregon is looking for a craftsperson to teach foundational and introductory blacksmith skills to middle and high school learners.

Forge is a small private school that’s located on 11 acres. Their model is studio centric and geared toward middle and high school students.

They have four studios, one of which is the Build Studio that includes Construction, Welding, Blacksmithing and Woodworking. Within the Build Studio, Forge is looking for an “expert-in-residence” that would be available to guide our students through the process of learning the basics of becoming a blacksmith and forging metal into various products.

This is not a full time commitment and is a position that would involve intermittent engagement several times during the school year and would be 3 days a week for three week durations. Guide would be teaching 3-4 students at a time. This “expert-in-residence”position pays up to $30/hr.

The Guide would probably engage 3-4 times throughout the school year.
If you are interested in guiding and developing the next generation of smiths, this is an amazing opportunity to influence and engage eager young minds and learners.

For more information, or if you’re interested in this position, please contact the co-founder of Forge, Carolyn Helt, at cnhelt@gmail.com or 267-234-1060

2023 Spring Conference Schedule

Our 2023 Spring Conference will be held from May 19th to May 21st at the NWBA Mentoring Center, located at the Cowlitz County Event Center in Longview, WA

Online Registration is Closed, but you can still register in person at the Spring Conference Registration Desk!

Friday, May 19th
8:00am – 10:00am // 1:00pm – 3:00pm // 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Registration and Merch Tables Open in Mentoring Center

7:30am-8:45am: Coffee and Breakfast at Cook Shack
8:00am-10:00am: Registration and Merch Tables Open in the MC
9:00am-12:00pm: Jeffrey Funk in Demo Barn
9:00am-12:00pm: Jon Andersen Class at Youth and Beginners Station
12:30pm-1:45pm: Lunch at Cook Shack
12:30pm: Hands-on Workshop Participation Drawing at Cook Shack
1:00pm-3:00pm: Registration and Merch Table Open in MC
2:00pm-5:00pm: Steve Howell in Demo Barn
2:00pm-5:00pm: Pele Warnock Class at Youth and Beginners Station
1:00pm-4:00pm: Hands On Workshop with Peter Clark in the MC
5:30pm-7:00pm: Potluck Dinner at Cook Shack
7:00pm-8:00pm: Slideshow with Jeffrey Funk
8:00pm-ish: Forging Competition Starts in Mentoring Center
8:00pm-9:00pm: Registration and Merch Table Open in MC

Flexible throughout Friday

* Open Repousee Table with Louie Raffloer
* Name Stamping in Leaf Forming for NWBA Tree
* Silent Auction
* Archives and Member Galleries

Saturday, May 20th
8:00am – 10:00am // 1:00pm – 3:00pm // 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Registration and Merch Tables Open in Mentoring Center

7:30am-8:45am: Coffee and Breakfast at Cook Shack
8:00am-10:00am: Registration and Merch Tables Open in the MC
8:30am: Hands-on Workshop Participation Drawing at Cook Shack
9:00am-12:00pm: Jeffrey Funk in Demo Barn
9:00am-12:00pm: Hands-on Workshop with Tim Middaugh in the MC
9:00am-12:00pm: Ben Czyhold Class at Youth and Beginners Station
12:30pm-1:45pm: Lunch at Cook Shack
12:30pm: Hands-on Workshop Participation Drawing at Cook Shack
1:00pm-3:00pm: Registration and Merch Table Open in MC
1:00pm-4:00pm: Hands On Workshop with John Williams in the MC
2:00pm-5:00pm: Ben Czyhold Class at Youth and Beginners Station
5:30pm: In Memoriam Ringing of the Anvil and Dinner Banquet
6:00pm: General Meeting / Live Auction
8:00pm-ish: Forging Competition Starts in Mentoring Center
8:00pm-9:00pm: Registration and Merch Table Open in MC
9:00pm: Silent Auction Closes – Collect Your Winnings!

Flexible throughout Saturday

* Open Repousee Table with Louie Raffloer
* Name Stamping in Leaf Forming for NWBA Tree
* Silent Auction
* Archives and Member Galleries

Sunday, May 21st
9:00am – 12:00pm
Registration and Merch Tables Open in Mentoring Center

7:30am-8:45am: Coffee and Breakfast at Cook Shack
9:00am-12:00pm: Registration and Merch Tables Open in MC
9:00am-12:00pm: John Williams Demo in the MC
9:00am-12:00pm: Open Forge at the Youth and Beginner’s Station
12:00pm-4:00pm: Volunteers welcome to help w Conference Breakdown!

We need your help making this Spring Conference the best it can be. Learn more at the Conference Registration Desk and sign up to Volunteer!

CLICK HERE to learn how you can join the NWBA and gain access to our wealth of online events focused on forging!

Live and Silent Auctions

If you’re coming to Spring Conference, bring something to donate to our Live and Silent Auctions!

The Live Auction will take place on Saturday at 6pm at the Cook Shack, during our Dinner Banquet. Winners can pick up their handforged and handmade items at the Cook Shack on Saturday evening.

The Silent Auction will be held in the Mentoring Center. The Silent Auction will open on Friday morning and close at 9pm on Saturday evening. Winners can pick up items in the Mentoring Center after 9pm on Sunday or before 12 noon on Sunday.

If you have something to donate, bring your item or items to the Conference Registration Table in the Mentoring Center!

Cook Shack Meals and Mess Kit Competition

We’ll be cooking up a storm in the Cook Shack at Spring Conference!

Food will be provided at the Dinner Banquet at 5:30pm on Saturday, and we invite Conference Attendees to bring something to add to our Potluck Dinner at 5:30pm on Friday. Check the Conference Schedule for daily Cook Shack mealtimes.

To cut down on disposable plates and utensils used during meals at the Cook Shack, we introduce this Make your own Mess Kit Competition. To join the competition, forge one or more utensils and make them as simple or complex as you like. You can include a plate or bowl that you made by hand or just bring one that you use at home.

Bring your mess kit with hand forged utensils to the Dinner Banquet on Saturday evening to enter it in the competition for prizes! Prizes will be awarded for creativity and craftsmanship. Even if you don’t forge your own cutlery for the competition, we encourage everyone to bring a mess kit for meals at the Cook Shack!

Click Here to learn more about our 2023 Spring Conference