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"The Real Keeper of this Historic Craft is the Hobbyist Blacksmith"
Bobby Floyd (Pres.ODBSA)
Welcome
to the
OLD DOMINION BLACKSMITH ASSOCIATION
(ODBSA)
Established November 2005
Officers:
President: Bobby Floyd
First V.P.: Tom Harrell
V.P. Operations: Missy Coates
V.P. Education: Master Blacksmith Dale Morse
V.P. Library: Wendell Wyland
Administrator: Val Harrell
Treasurer: Charlie Boothe
Editor at Large: David Hinshaw
Information: Bill Roy
Safety: Ron Howard
Photographer: Ted Crockett
Recorder Producer: Glen Bryant
Serving South Central and Western Virginia Blacksmiths Including but not limited to areas near Appomattox, Lynchburg, Danville, South Boston, Martinsville, Rocky Mount, Stuart, Ferrum, Floyd, Bedford and Roanoke.
Members of Old Dominion Blacksmith Association:
* 98% Hobbyists
* 2% Professionals
* 80 never blacksmithed before joining.
* 25 have done Public Demonstrations.
Our focus in 2010 is on Diversity!
Some Facts
If you have opened this page then you are a blacksmith, want to be blacksmith or just plain curious. Whatever, we are pleased that you did.
This blacksmithing group was first conceived when two of us (Charlie Boothe and I) were sitting around his forge in Nathalie, Virginia late one afternoon in the fall of 2005 and decided that we would form an association of blacksmiths in South Central Virginia, even it were just the two of us, so that we could learn more about this craft.
Our first official meeting/demonstration was held on January 7, 2006 near Lynchburg, Virginia and as of November 2008 we have had an average monthly attendance of 27 members.
So far, we have met once a month at different locations and blacksmithing shops in south central, central and south western Virginia and have had some of the best known master Blacksmiths in the country to demonstrate for us.
We are learning both blacksmithing and how to improve this association as each month passes.
We are simply a group of diverse people having a couple of things in common: the desire to learn more about this craft and to share what we learn with others. We have no dues, are not a non-profit organization and we will exist as long as people are willing to participate. If you are interested in joining us as an active member, please read on.
Purpose, Goal and Objective
The purpose of this organization is education for blacksmiths and for the public at large.
The goal of the Old Dominion Blacksmith Association is to share the working knowledge of one of the most important professions in the history of the world, that of the blacksmith. For without the blacksmith “nothing” would be what it is today.
Because this trade “as it was”, is now extinct, the objective of this association is to consolidate the tremendous cumulative knowledge of regional blacksmiths into one group for the benefit of all and to provide to all members the opportunity to improve upon their blacksmithing knowledge and skill by having “explanatory demonstrations” performed by its members/guests at each monthly meeting and to provide a venue where novice and experienced share their ideas in the hope that this historic craft will perpetuate well into the future.
Blacksmithing Dangers and Advice:
Blacksmithing is inherently dangerous in many aspects:(lungs, skin, eyes and hearing)
- If using coal as a fuel source, breathing coal smoke has been proven to be dangerous.
- Working with fire and extremely hot metal. We all get burnt so please wear gloves.
- Never look into the fire when white hot unless wearing protective shaded glasses.
- Always wear glasses or preferably safety glasses when working at the forge.
Make sure everyone watching you work has glasses and /or safely glasses on because hot metal will splatter.
- I love the sound of the anvil ring but it is not good for your hearing. This is the most neglected subject that I have found. None of the books on blacksmithing that I have read even mention this as a problem, but it is one. After meeting numerous blacksmiths, the one thing that has emerged is the amount of them that have some hearing loss due to hammering metal on the anvil. Try putting a magnet on the side of the anvil to help deaden the ring; the more bottom surface that sits on the block/stump helps; some blacksmiths mount their anvils on a lead sheet, piece of leather or silicone caulk before tightly fastening it the anvil base; also a chain around the waist of the anvil that is used as part of the fastening system will help. Always wear earplugs.
- Another neglected subject is the use of scrap metal. It can possibly kill you. Two blacksmiths died in recent years in North Carolina when heating some scrap metal. Zinc fumes etc are toxic. A lot of wrought iron that I have seen has lead paint on it. The best advice was given by Master
Blacksmith/Teacher David Tucciarone ("if you don't know what it is don't forge it.")
Benefits of Joining
Old Dominion Blacksmith Association
- Provides you with one of the quickest, easiest and least expensive ways to learn the historic craft of Blacksmithing
- Free one day hands-on Beginners Class for adults who join ODBSA. Instructor is Bobby Floyd and refreshments/ lunch are provided by Jocelyne Floyd. All materials are included.
- Each month a meeting/demonstration or event is held on a Saturday from 10:00 am until at least 3:00 pm, except in December
- Some of the best-known blacksmiths/artist/teachers in the country have been and will be demonstrating their skills/knowledge of this craft to you at our events and all have been willing to answer questions.
- No dues! Yet
- Your cost: Admissions fee or Iron-in-the-Hat Raffle
- Our Web site has a Beginner Section where many of the their questions have already been answered by our more qualified ODBSA members.
- Blacksmithing Library brought to you at each event (it's all free)
- DVDs of our past events $5.00. All DVDs of past events are for "ODBSA members only" and cannot be distributed to anyone else because this is a promise that we made to the professional blacksmiths that demonstrated to us.
- ODBSA logo T-shirts, coffee cups, mugs and hats (our cost)
- Our monthly Newsletter is free for the ones that use the computer. The Newsletter, which normally is six pages, is intentionally kept small (under 500kb) so that even the slowest dial up connection can download it fairly quickly. For the members with no computer and want the Newsletter (black/white copy) snail-mailed to them, the cost is $20 a year.
- Current News as it happens is posted on our web site
- Refreshments provided at some events (Donation Jar): Lunch provide by host at some events. Pay at sign in table or if donation, a jar will be furnished.
- Member suggestions/input are most welcome for serious consideration because it is your organization.
- Monthly events are held at various shops/studios providing members with cues of different designs for their own shop/studio.
- ODBSA provides Safety Goggles to everyone one in attendance at our events.
- We have an attachable wireless microphone that our demonstrators sometimes use that helps everyone in attendance hear over the noise of the blower.
- Tailgating used blacksmithing equipment is always welcomed at all of our events.
- For people new to this craft we will try to help you find the necessary equipment to get started.
- We now offer blacksmithing equipment to rent for new members that need one or more items to get started. Maximum time limit is three months.
- When available, Blacksmithing coal can be purchased at the same price we paid for it.
- Free download for Old Dominion Blacksmith Association "Brochure" from the Membership Page.
ODBSA Events in 2009:
All Monthly events for Old Dominion Blacksmith Association will be held the Second Saturday of each Month except December (no event with be scheduled for this month). Some of our events offer hands-on training for those that want it.
Demonstrators
Below are photos of some of the Master Blacksmiths and Gunsmiths that have demonstrated for Old Domionion Blacksmith Association since January 2006. Some have demonstrated more than once for us.
Note: if you click on any photo it will enlarge it and produce a slide show.
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