This page is designed to help anyone, particularly beginners who are interested in learning to do the craft of blacksmithing, especially in south central and western Virginia including areas around Lynchburg, Danville, South Boston, Martinsville, Roanoke, Rocky Mount, Bedford, Stuart, Appomattox.


On this page you will find:

• Blacksmithing Schools

• Others who have helped ODBSA or myself

• Where can you purchase good blacksmithing coal ?

• Places to purchase mild steel

• ODBSA Blacksmithing equipment

• Other Blacksmithing Groups Newsletters on the Web

• Fire Pots

• Past Newsletters

Blacksmithing Schools 

 

 

 We are fortunate to have three professional blacksmithing schools in our area of Virginia that offer classes for the beginner to the advanced blacksmith. All of them do support ODBSA and we support them. Please contact them directly for cost.

 

 

 

 

  Non-Professional Class: Plantation Forge is located in Long Island, VA Telephone    # 434-335-5621 or va18@hotmail.com
Apprentice Blacksmith and President of Old Dominion Blacksmith Association Bobby Floyd offers a FREE one day hands-on beginners class to any new ODBSA member (9am until 6pm). After taking the one-day class you will understand more about blacksmithing than 95% of the general public. You will take home all the items you personally make during the day (wall hooks, nails and a fireplace poker).

 

Others who have helped or inspired ODBSA or myself:

• Jock Dempsey www.anvilfire.com was one of the first blacksmiths that helped me get started in this craft five years ago. When I first met him, he lived only about 8 miles from my home in Virginia. He was the first blacksmith to show me how to make a hook using his gas forge at his shop. I borrowed many books from him that were a great asset to me. He also helped me do a demonstration on the 4^th July at Patrick Henry’s last home Red Hill near Brookneal, VA a few years ago. Jock is the Guru on his Web site that he created years ago. Jock’s Web site Anvil Fire is a great one to visit. It has a lot of valuable information including how to make things. He will answer your questions about blacksmithing if you ask him.
• Dick Nietfield  www.blksmth.com is an accomplished blacksmith from Grand Island, Nebraska who did help ODBSA with the 80 plus questions/answers on our Web page called the “Beginners Corner.” He is also the USA dealer for Ernst Refflinghaus Anvils.   
• Danny Ward  http://dannywardhorseshoeingschool.com/ has let ODBSA use his horseshoeing school in Martinsville, VA to have three of our monthly events. He has been the host of our annual “Blacksmithing Challenge” held on the second Saturday of July since 2006. Danny is an ODBSA member and an accomplished blacksmith (no matter what he says). 
• John Elliott www.blacksmithsupply.com/ has brought us new blacksmithing supplies using his truck or van from Chester, VA to a few our monthly events. Many of members have bought anvils, tongs, swage blocks, etc from him.

• Appalachian Blacksmiths Association www.appaltree.net/aba/ has been in existence since 1978 and has one of best blacksmithing Web site of any blacksmithing group/association/guild. Dave Allen, the editor, does a wonderful job with the Newsletter and he is someone that I have communicated with a few times. They have published some articles that were in our Newsletter in their Newsletter and we appreciate this. The annual membership is $10 and you will receive their quarterly Newsletters. The Newsletter is well worth the price of membership.

•  The Shenandoah Valley Blacksmith Guild (around Harrisonburg, VA) is one group that I have admired since I’ve been involved in this craft. They are very low key, no Web site, not a part of any national organization and are not well known outside the area where they reside. This group has accomplished something that is exemplary. In the near 15 years in existence, a large part of their members have become very accomplished Blacksmiths. On the whole, they have accomplished this by learning from each other without the aid of paid profession master blacksmiths. They meet every second Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm, normally at the same place (a buggy shop) near Harrisonburg. They also have family participation with picnics and their spouses attend some events when they offer things like broom making, etc. Some of their members help train other members at their own personal shops. They change all officers every couple of years and really share responsibilities in everything. Their new president is Al McDorman (540-833-8708).

 

 

 

  Where can you purchase good blacksmithing coal?
         FYI- a five-gallon bucket of coal weighs about 33 pounds.

• Lloyd Burns who lives in West Virginia will deliver the coal to your shop. He has been doing this for years and has delivered it to a lot of famous smiths, plus Colonial Williamsburg and John C Campbell Folk School. He and his wife Ruby are very nice people and they have delivered a four ton load to my shop twice. His telephone # is 304-497-2371.
• Some of ODBSA members have gone to the other side of Bluefield, West VA at Key Stone, West Virginia (Blue Stone Coal Corp). This is not a mine but a cleaning facility that cleans and mixes 50/50 Sewell (strip mine and deep mine). The ratings of its use have been mixed. The first batch that we got was excellent coal but the last batch was not as good, but very usable. Others that have bought some at the same place in the last two years are Colonial Williamsburg and Dollywood. They dump it into your truck bed. Do not drive at all over the speed limit in the small towns getting there, including KeyStone, because they will ticket you.  - I called the (Blue Stone Coal Corp) on 01/19/09 and they are presently charging $159 a ton for small loads. This has doubled in price in a year’s time. If you were to get a semi-truck load the price is $300 a ton. No one has been able to tell me why it’s more expensive this way. Make sure you call before going and discuss how much you want, their hours of business, how much they charge, if you can write a check, etc.  Telephone # 1- 304-862-4529 Note: as of May 2010 they are not selling to the public at present because (I've been told) they were sold to the Russians and all is going overseas.
• Hill’s Coal and Trucking Co, Galax, VA 1-276-236-3507 --This is where Master Blacksmith Billy Phelps gets his. I called on 01/20/09  and they said they have blacksmithing coal and sell it $150 a ton. They do sell small quantities, but you will need to bring your own boxes or bags. The girl I talked with did not know what kind of coal they had other than to say they had blacksmithing coal. Note: as per member Charles Tarasidis in April 2010 they have smithing coal and are selling it for $105 a ton.
• Hatcher F.L.& Son Inc. Roanoke, VA 1-540-342-8723.  Jan 2010-- $250.00 a ton or 12.5 cents a pound. You must load it yourself. 50 pound bag is $12 and you must let them know 3 days in advance of picking it up. They said it came from Pocahontas seam or seams.           

• Monger’s Coal and Oil http://mcoinc.biz.biz Elkton, VA 1-800-700-6133

  As of 01/22/09  their price per ton is $348 and a 40 pound bag is $7.50. This blacksmithing coal is pea size stoker from a Pocahontas seam. Coal analyzes click HERE 

Places to Purchase Mild Steel

1. BMG Metal, Inc
    100 Industrial Dr.
    Lynchburg, VA 24501
    1-800-528-5003
2. Jarrett Welding Co.
    954 Goodyear Blvd
    Danville, VA 24541
    434-793-3717
3.  Hudson’s Welding Shop
     1757 Westover Dr
     Danville, VA
     434-822-1452
4.  Ace Steel 
     2200 Buford Ave S.W.
     Roanoke, Va
     540-985-0292  
5. Martinsville Iron & Steel Co 
    131 Virginia Avenue
    Martinsville, VA
    276-632-9781
    1-800- 626-7352 

ODBSA Blacksmithing Equipment

•  ODBSA now has 3 railroad anvils made by Journeyman Glen Bryant that you can check out until you find your own (6 months maximum time limit). 
• 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.

  Other Blacksmithing Groups Newsletters

 

 

 The following is a list of most of the blacksmithing groups that have a Web site that offers a “Current" Free Newsletter whether it is monthly, bi-monthly, four times a year or twice a year that can be downloaded without having to join the group.
Updated June 11th, 2009   
1.    Balcones Forge www.balconesforge.org
2.   Blacksmith Association of Missouri www.bamsite.org
3.   Blacksmith’s Guild of the Potomac www.bgop.org
4.   Central States Metal Artisans http://gpba.abana-chapter.com/ 
5.   Florida Artist Blacksmith Association www.blacksmithing.org 
6.   Kentucky Blacksmiths’ Association http://ky.abana-chapter.com/    
7.   New Jersey Blacksmith Association http://njba.abana-chapter.com/  
8.   Northeast Blacksmiths Association  www.northeastblacksmiths.org/
9.   North Texas Blacksmiths Association - http://home.flash.net/~dwwilson/ntba/
10.  Old Dominion Blacksmith Association www.odbsa.com
11. Southwest Artist-Blacksmith Association www.swaba-abana-chapter.org  
12. Tidewater Blacksmith’s Guild www.tidewaterblacksmiths.com
13. Western Reserve Artist Blacksmith Association www.wraba.com
14. Vancouver Island Blacksmith’s Association www.viblacksmiths.com 

                             Fire Pots

Fire pots for coal forges: from $180 to 325 not counting shipping and handling.
1.    Bob “Ironmonger” Cruikshank
Firepots---Call or write for sales brochure, Made in USA
1495 W. Possum Rd., Springfield, OH 45506
(939) 323-1300 www.creativeironforge.biz
Note: we’ve just got a new one & it’s an excellent firepot. Thick walls & well cast. He does not take credit cards.
2.    Centaur Forge www.centaurforge.com
Note: This is what I have in my rock forge and was the least expensive.
3.    Blacksmith Depot: www.blacksmithsdepot.com
Note: This is the most expensive but I’ve been told it is an excellent fire pot Fire pots for coal forges: fr

       Newsletters from the Past

The speed of your connection will determine how fast you can download each Newsletter. Some of the early Newsletter files are very large.

   December 05
   January 06
   February 06
   March 06
   April 06
   May 06
   June 06
   July 06
   August 06
   September 06
   October 06
   December 06
   January 07 
   February 07
    March 07
   April 07
   May 07
   June 07
   July 07
   August 07
   Sept 07
   Oct 07
   Nov/Dec 07
   Jan 08
   Feb 08
   March O8
   April 08
   May 08
   June 08
   July 08
   August 08
   Sept 08
   October 08
   Nov/Dec 08
   January 09
   February 09
   March 09
   April 09
   May 09
   June 09
   July 09
   August 09
   September 09
   October 09
  Nov/Dec 09