Welcome to the
OLD DOMINION BLACKSMITH ASSOCIATION
(ODBSA)
Web Site
An Affiliate of
The Artist Blacksmith's Association of North America, Inc.
(ABANA)
By hammer and hand the whole world does stand
Cross in Fire
Photo by Chuck Almarez, Copyright (C) 2008
Journeyman Blacksmith/Educational Director for ODBSA Glen Bryant was demonstrating how to make a cross at one work station to a small group of our members at his farm near Clifton Forge, Virginia at our Monthly event on April 12, 2008 when Chuck took this photo. "One in a million photo!"
       
ODBSA has 54 "Active Members"
With An Average Monthly Attendance of 30 Since January 2006
Photo by Jerry Jones
ODBSA group photo taken on the 8th of September 2007 with Colonial Williamsburg Journeyman Blacksmith Shelton Browder as our Demonstrator. The location is only a few miles from the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia at L.T. Skinnell's Otter Hill Forge in Bedford, Virginia.
Introduction
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 June 2007 we have a total of 120 people signed up and became members of Old Dominion Blacksmith Association with an average monthly attendance of 39 since inception.
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 one thing in common and that is the desire to learn more about this craft. 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.
Warning:
Blacksmithing is inherently dangerous in many aspects:(lungs, skin, eyes and hearing)
1. If using coal as a fuel source, breathing coal smoke has been proven to be dangerous.
2. Working with fire and extremely hot metal. We all get burnt so please wear gloves.
3. Never look into the fire when white hot unless wearing protective shaded glasses.
4. Always ware glasses or preferably safety glasses when working at the forge.
5. Make sure everyone watching you work has glasses and /or safely glasses on because hot metal will splatter.
6. 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 tighly fastening it the 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.
7. 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 in being a member of ODBSA:
1. ODBSA is one of only 73 Affiliates of the Artist's Blacksmith's Association of North America, Inc.(ABANA)
2. Provides you with one of the quickest, easiest and least expensive ways to learn the historic craft of Blacksmithing
3. 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
4. For the beginner, some ODBSA members offer a one-day, introductory, hands-on training class at their studio/shop at no cost. More advanced instructions can be arranged.
5. 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.
6. No dues!
7. So for, No admissions fee to see these Nationally Know Master Blacksmith demonstrate for ODBSA
8. Our Web site has a Beginner Section where many of the their questions have already been answered by our more qualified ODBSA members
9. Blacksmithing Library brought to you at each event (it's all free)
10. DVDs of our past events $10.00 (our cost)
11. ODBSA logo T-shirts, coffee cups, mugs and hats (our cost)
12. Monthly Newsletter (free)
13. Current News as it happens posted on our web site
14. Refreshments provided at each event (Donation Jar)
15. Member suggestions/input are most welcome for serious consideration because it is your organization
16. Monthly events are held at various shops/studios providing members with cues of different designs for their own shop/studio.
17. New blacksmithing supplies are available at various events at reasonable price.
18. ODBSA provides Safety Goggles to everyone one in attendance at our events.
19. We have an attachable wireless microphone that our demonstrators use that helps everyone in attendance hear over the noise of the blower.
20. Tailgating used blacksmithing equipment is always welcomed at all of our events.
21. ODBSA is proud of the fact that our events start on time and are well organized.
Places where ODBSA monthly events were held in 2006.
1. Evington
2. Rustburg
3. Floyd
4. Long Island
5. Ferrum
6. Bedford
7. Martinsville
8. Lynch Station
9. Lexington
10. Charlottesville
11. Waynesboro
Demonstrators for ODBSA for the years 2006-2007 (Some of the best Master Blacksmiths in the country)
  
Jerry Darnell David Tucciarone Dale Morse
(Twice) (Twice) (Twice)
  
Peter Ross Joe Rotenberry Billy Phelps
Pasted Master of the Colonial
Williamburg Blacksmithing Shop (25 years)
  
Ken Schwarz Charlie Hanks Lee Sauder
(Master of the Colonial
Williamsburg Blacksmithing Shop)
 He requested that no photo be taken (Amish).
Fred Crist Jim Slining
 
Charles "Mac" McRaven Dan Easley
Author of
Country Blacksmithing (Rev.The Blacksmithing Craft)
 
Elmer Roush Shelton Browder
(Colonial Williamburg Journeyman Blacksmith)
George Suiter
(Master of the Colonial Williamburg Gun Shop)
Master Blacksmiths/Teachers Scheduled for 2007:
1. Charles McCraven
2. Dan Easley
3. Elmer Roush
4. Clay Spencer
5. Shelton Browder
6. Jerry Darrell
7. Jim Slining
8. David Tucciarone
9. George Suiter (Master Gunsmith from Colonial Williamsburg)
ODBSA in 2006:
1. We are not like a lot of other successful blacksmithing groups in Virginia because we are in a very rural area.
2. We want to see the best and to do that we need money to pay for them, therefore, we need active members. The members have no dues but they are required to participate in the Iron-in-the Hat raffle when in attendance. ODBSA events are held at a different location each month on a Saturday between 10:00 am until at least 3:00 pm.
3. Part of the learning process is seeing other blacksmithing shops/studios, what equipment they have and how it is arranged.
4. In 2006 we did travel to see the best in areas not covered by other associations/guilds in the state.
ODBSA in 2007:
1. Due to the raising gas prices we will not be traveling as much as before but will concentrate on having our events from Roanoke to Lynchburg southward toward North Carolina.
ODBSA in 2008:
1. All Monthly events will try to be held the Second Saturday of each Month except December (no event with be scheduled for this month). We are planning on having many more of our events this year with hands on classes. We will also be doing a little bit more traveling to accomplish the hands on classes.
Statistics: April 2007
1. Average attendance at ODBSA monthly events in fourteen months is 38 members/guests.
2. There were 114 people that did sign up to become members of ODBSA since Jan. 2006.
3. There were 22 members who “only” came to one Meeting/Demonstration since joining.
4. Two members who signed up have yet to come to any Meetings/Demonstration since mailing in their application
5. We have 63 active members (the members who attended at least one of our events in the last six months).
6. We only have 31 members that are the "real core" of ODBSA (the ones that attend the majority of our events since joining).
7. "Active members" that live within a 75-mile radius of Bedford, Va. are about 50.
9. Eighty six percent of our members had never been a member of any blacksmithing group before joining ODBSA.
10 Fifty percent of our members were novices (0 to 10 hours blacksmithing) when first joining ODBSA.
11. Of the 114 people that joined ODBSA 109 members blacksmith as a "hobby".
12. 9% of the "core members" are women
13. ODBSA has three Associate members (under 18 years of age)
14. 88% of the ODBSA members have a computer and accept communication by the computer
Protocol for ODBSA members/guests at of our events:
1. First thing, when you arrive please go to the sign in table and register with our Administrator. When you and your guest sign-in you are not only signing a waiver of liability but it lets us know who is there and if your intentions are to attend the next event. You will be given or you can pick up your nametag. At the sign-in table you can also purchase dvds of ODBSA past events/other events, coffee cups, beer mugs, hats, and t-shirts all of which are offered at ODBSA cost. Also at the table is the ODBSA membership application, ABANA applications etc.
2. Next, go see our Treasurer at the Iron-in the-Hat table and give him/her your item/items that you want to donate. He/she will prepare a card that describes the item/items that you donated and place a cup (for the raffle tickets) next to your items/item. You can now purchase some tickets (for those that do not donate an item you will need to either buy $20 of raffle tickets or pay $20 admission fee). Those wanting to buy more raffle tickets later on can come back after lunch and do so. ODBSA definitely encourage you to donate your personally made hand-forged item/items to the Iron-in the Hat.
3. After this you can wander over to our Library to see the VP in charge of the Library and check out a dvd or book. Remember that V.P. in charge of the Library wants them back no later that 3 months. You can also visit the Library table after lunch and at the end of the event.
4. Now you can relax, get your coffee and pastries that's offered at each event. Yes, we do have a donation jar and the proceeds go to the person providing these refreshment.
5. All events start on time at 10:00 a.m. We ask that you try not to be late because this disrupts everything including the demonstrator. If you happen to be late: you must sign-in yourself, get your own name tag, keep and do not give the item/items that you brought for the iron-in-the hat until lunch time and do not go to the library table. All the officers handling these tables want to see the demonstrator. If you are continually late to our events, unless job related, we will ask that you not come back.
6. We normally have lunch at 12:00 pm. If our host provides lunch, a donation jar is provided and the recommended donation for lunch is $5 and all monies go to our host.
7. After lunch you will be given more time to purchase raffle tickets and check things out of the library.
8. After everyone has finished buying tickets and checking things out of the library, the Iron-the-Hat raffle starts (this is somewhat flexible but usually starts a little after 1pm and it lasts about 15 minutes and then the demonstrator starts again).
9. All demonstrators are asked to continue until at least 3 pm. At most of our events they will continue on well after that. In fact at some events they did not finish until 5 pm.
10. At the end of the demonstration we normally auction off some of the items that the demonstrator has made during the day or items from previous demonstrations.
11. Glasses or goggles must be worn, especially, if the demonstrator is working with welding heat. Goggles are provided by ODBSA.
12. Three things that we ask of members/guests. Arrive early and if you have a conversation with someone else while the demonstration is going on make sure the demonstrator is not disturbed by this and enjoy “your” day.
Contact Us At: va18@hotmail.com
(Please put Subject as Blacksmithing or ODBSA in your e-mail or it might be considered Junk Mail)
Note: You can remove your name or add friends to the ODBSA Newsletter mailing list by contacting me at above e-mail address. This e-mail address is monitored almost daily.
***Anyone may reproduce anything on our Web Site or Newsletter but we would appreciate acknowledging where it came from.***
ODBSA had an article published in ABANA's magazine "The Anvil's Ring" *Volume 34 l Number 3 l Spring 2006 l page 45
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