Northwest Blacksmith Association

Archive for How To Articles

2023 Third Quarter Issue of the Hot Iron News

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2023 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.

2022 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.

2022 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.

2021 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.

2021 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.

2021 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.

2020 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.

2020 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.

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Kellen Bateham: Forging Pliers

Kellen Bateham Demonstrating at the NWBA Mentoring Center Demonstration March 2019

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Organizing a Local Event

Northwest Blacksmith Association
Dedicated to education and the preservation of the art and craft of blacksmithing.

Our name and our mission. 

NWBA has been striving to expand our outreach. We now have a traveling exhibit of demonstrator archives, educating the public about the art and craft of blacksmithing.  We established our Mentoring Center so we could have monthly demonstration/open forge events.  These have been a great success, and yet they are not enough.  The Mentoring Center is located in Longview, WA, the southern part of the state, and not easily accessible to people who are farther than a 2-3 hour radius, and even that is farther than most want to travel for a one day event.  So, what to do? Read More→

Organizing Columbia Fire & Iron Events

Steve McGrew shares his experience with putting on local events in his area.

Types of events:

We have, so far, just three kinds of events:  hammer-ins, classes, and workshops.

Hammer-ins are open to the public to watch for free, but in order to cross the yellow tape and participate, they need to pay a fee and become members.  We have two hammer-ins per year, and the fee pays for membership until the next hammer-in.  The club doesn’t have a permanent facility, so hammer-ins are held at members’ shops; the club reimburses the shop owner for wear & tear and any supplies that are consumed. Read More→

Arnon Kartmazov: Lightweight Tongs

Arnon Kartmazov was the guest instructor for October 2016 4th Saturday event at the mentoring center in Longview. His Bridgetown Forge in North Portland welcomes visitors but does require a phone call setting an appointment (503-804- 1524) rather than just dropping in. Please check the Forge website for classes and product off erings. A mix of Uri Hofi (Israel) and traditional Japanese cutlery training have created a unique blend of techniques and the system that he presents, is not claimed to be anything more than what he does and what works for him. His systems have developed over a long period of study and practical application but are always growing and evolving; always open to a better idea or process. Read More→

Nitzan Lilie: decorative spiral, various animal heads, and flowers

From November 12, 2016 Mentoring Center Demonstration  Photos by Dan Bowyer

A pictorial essay of Nitzan Lilie’s demonstration:
Working bar stock into a decorative spiral, various animal heads, and flowers… Read More→

Mark Aspery’s Stag Horn Hinge

Stag Horn HingeStag Horn Hinge: Mark Aspery Demo, 12 March 2016, Longview, WA. Notes by Ike Bay

Editor note: Dan Bowyer took extensive pics of this demo.  See the full gallery of images HERE.

Best Quote: “Find the difference between handmade and custom made”

General info: This style hinge can be in pairs of matched sides, unmatched sides or on pintles. Suggested referances, “Professional Smithing” by Donald Streeter which gives a detailed how-to section. Examples of original pieces can be found in “Early American Wrought Iron” by Albert Sonn and Colonial Wrought Iron, The Sorber Collection” by Don Plummer.  This demo was for a non pintle style hinge. Read More→

Darryl Nelson’s Rams Head

Darryl Nelson's completed ram's head, demonstrating at Blacksmith Week 2014 on Mt. Hood

Darryl Nelson’s completed ram’s head, demonstrating at Blacksmith Week 2014 on Mt. Hood

Ram's Head Cheese Slicer by Darryl NelsonDarryl Nelson demonstrated forging a Ram’s Head Cheese Slicer at Blacksmith Week on Mt. Hood, 2014. As usual, Darryl provided the class with step by step samples pre-made and printed handouts for future reference.   Then, he demonstrated each step clearly and with lots of tips and tricks.  Darryl is a generous resource for NWBA and all blacksmiths who love the craft. Read More→

Gothic Candle Stand

Making a Gothic Candle StandA nice candle holder or two should be on every blacksmith’s bucket list. Here is a fancy one that takes two to three days to build.

 

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Wrapped Rose

Wrapped roseIntermediate Level

The petals and stem of this rose are made from one continuous piece of iron. It requires a little bit of MIG or TIG welding.

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Adjustable Bending Fork

Adjustable bending forkThis adjustable bending fork gets more use in my shop than any other type of bending fork.

Read More→