CBA News

Waynes World Registration Now Open

2012-01-26T04:43:03Z

Online registration is now open for Waynes World 2012 in Lake Matthews, CA.

Tony Swatton is the lead demonstrator.

To register online for the event, check out the Waynes World home page for more details.

Spring Conference Online Registration Now Open

2012-01-22T04:26:51Z

Online registration is now open for the 2012 Spring Conference in Petaluma, CA.

Don’t miss demonstrations by Roberto Giordani, Lee Sauder, Brian Russell, Tim Cisneros and Brett Moten.

Click here to register online for the event, and check out the Spring Conference home page for more details.

Spring Conference 2012

2012-01-01T00:26:09Z

The Conference Team 2012 is pleased to present the demonstrators for Spring Conference (April 27-28th, 2012) in Petaluma, CA.

Themed Forging Connections we have provided a group of artists whose work truly pushes the envelope in the blacksmithing world. Hailing from Italy, Roberto Giordani will be headlining the event. Lee Sauder from Lexington, VA will be taking us on a journey from ore to art while Brian Russell from Memphis, TN will be working with aluminum and glass. From our own organization we’ll have the pleasure of watching Tim Cisneros and Brett Moten work together.

We are saddened by the passing of our friend, Bobby Sharp

2012-01-06T02:49:53Z

We are saddened by the passing of our fellow blacksmith, Bobby Sharp, who died Monday, December 12 from cancer.

The family will be holding a memorial in Oakland on Sunday, December 18 at noon to celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested a contribution be made in Bobby’s name to the CBA Scholarship Fund, c/o CBA Secretary, 4747 Vine Hill Road, Sebastopol, CA 95472. Bobby will surely be missed throughout the blacksmith community. — Lowell Chaput, CBA President

Bottero Workshop Photos

2011-07-02T18:43:49Z

Special thanks to Nina Alter and Paul Boulay for sharing their photos from the Bottero Worskshop at Mike Bondi’s shop June 17th – 19th.

Click here for Nina’s slideshow on Flickr, and click here for Paul’s slideshow on Facebook.

Casting Blacksmith for Discovery Channel Show

2011-06-20T16:25:01Z

Are you the best Blacksmith in the country? Powderhouse Productions and the Discovery Channel are casting a new reality-competition TV series called BEST IN THE BUSINESS that will highlight and celebrate the great American Worker!

We are on a mission to find the best of the BEST, and to bring some long overdue recognition to the workers that make this country so colorful and so great!

If you think you’re the BEST BLACKSMITH around, have GREAT ENERGY, a REALLY FUN, DYNAMIC PERSONALITY and some MAD SKILLS, contact us about being a CONTESTANT ON THIS TELEVISION SERIES!

To apply to be a contestant go to: http://www.jotform.com/pow_casting/bizcasting

HERE’S WHAT WE’LL NEED FROM YOU:

BRIEF WRITTEN BIO

What is your line of work?
How long have you been doing what you do?
What is your special “trick” or mad skill?
What sets you apart from other people in your profession?
Info on your background and family
What do you do for fun?
Address and all contact information

PHOTOS:

2 photos of you, 2 photos of your workplace

5-MINUTE VIDEO (Maximum)

Talk directly to the camera and introduce yourself.
TELL US about your background and why you’d make a great contestant. Be colorful!
SHOW US your skills!!! Let’s see exactly what makes you the BEST in your business! Have fun and be creative!
PLEASE DO NOT PUT ANY MUSIC IN YOUR VIDEO

CONTESTANT ELIGIBILITY:

You must be at least 18 years old to compete.

*Please note: All submission information, including photos, videos, & written submissions will become the property Powderhouse Productions and may be used for broadcast. Potential contestants that are invited to be considered for the casting process will be required to meet other eligibility requirements and execute additional releases and rules as a condition of their participation.

Board Opening for Treasurer

2011-06-20T16:29:19Z

There is currently an opening on the CBA Board of Directors for the position of Treasurer.

The Treasurer position brings a stipend of $300 per month and is responsible for the following:

Accounts for and reports on the financial matters of CBA, keeping all financial records as required by the by-laws and legal authorities
Has control over CBA credit card machine and all transactions associated with it
Produces detailed reports for the board of directors for scheduled meetings
Produces and files legally required reports with financial authorities
Standing member of the Finance Committee

The Treasurer position also performs the following recurring duties:

Monthly

Pay Bills (1st and 15th of the month)
Monthly Bank Reconciles
Credit Card Reconciles
Maintain files, records and receipts of transactions

Quarterly

Stipend Payments
Insurance responsibility
Quarterly Financial reports – presented at BOD Meetings

Annually

Tax return prep
1099 Prep
Issue and collect W-9’s
Operating expense budgets for board approval
Provide Annual Financial Report for Magazine

Anytime

Approve and fund conference and event budgets
Pay Vendors at conferences and events
Securing ins. for conferences and events
Participate in registration either on back end or at the event
Maintain communication with secretary
Answer Member questions/deal with problems
Deposits monies/checks received for auction items at events

If you’re interested in applying for the Treasurer position, or would like to learn more, please contact CBA President Lowell Chaput at president@calsmith.org.

Claudio Bottero Workshop

2011-05-27T18:25:32Z

Italian Master Blacksmith Claudio Bottero, with his son Massimiliano, will conduct a 3 day demonstration/workshop June 17-19 that will focus on the creation of contemporary sculpture using traditional techniques.

The workshop will be held at Michael Bondi Metal Design at 2801 Giant Road, Richmond, CA 94806.

The sculpture will be made up of three different elements, each representing a bird in flight. Each element is composed of two parts joined by a “throttling”, embodying the birds head. The three elements will then be fixed to a base by the end of the wing.

The most important feature of this sculpture is that an oscillation develops throughout the piece thanks to the tapering of the base wing of each element. This gives the entire 10 foot sculpture a lifelike effect. The following pictures give an idea of the design concept, click them to see full-size images:

This workshop is open to blacksmiths and metal art enthusiasts of any skill level. Bleacher seating will be provided to watch the event.

Friday will consist of Claudio, Massimiliano, and two CBA assistants demonstrating the techniques required to create this sculpture.

The format for the following two days will allow three CBA members per day to work on producing the sculpture, with the help of one of the assistants and the supervision of Claudio and Massimiliano. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch and work with one of the worlds greatest master blacksmiths.

Lunch will be available each day and there will be an opportunity on Sunday afternoon for event attendees, as well as enthusiasts who were unable to attend the entire event, to meet Claudio and his team and to admire their work.

Pricing:

CBA members:

Hands on participants: $250/ 3 days
Spectators: $100/ 3 days
$50/ single day

Non-CBA member spectators:

$125/ 3 days
$65/ single day

Sunday 12 P.M. til close: $25

Space is limited and seats will go fast so please contact me A.S.A.P. if you are interested in reserving your spot for this event.

Get out in the Shop, Get dirty, and Get involved!!!!

Josh Buhlert
CBA Education Chairman
education@calsmith.org

CBA Education on YouTube

2011-03-23T07:17:10Z

Check out the CBA Education channel on YouTube, featuring demonstrations and training videos from CBA events.

You can subscribe to the YouTube channel to receive updates when new videos are added. Check them out!

Dues Increase on April 1st

2011-11-11T04:05:10Z

The CBA annual dues have increased $10 effective April 1st, 2011.

With this increase, individual memberships increase from $45 to $55, and business/family memberships increase from $55 to $65 annually.

There are three ways you can join the CBA or renew your CBA membership:

Go to the membership page and select the type of membership to renew
Print the membership form and mail to CBA Secretary Herb Upham at:

CBA Secretary
4747 Vine Hill Rd, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Renew your membership while you register for the 2011 Spring Conference

Spring Conference Registration Now Open

2011-03-02T08:45:18Z

Online registration is now open for the 2011 Spring Conference in Vista, CA.

Don’t miss demonstrations by Nigel Barnett, Tony Swatton, Erin Simmons and Jack Da Silva.

Click here to register online for the event, and check out the Spring Conference home page for more details.

Call for Volunteers: Spring Conference 2012

2012-01-22T04:27:55Z

Hi everyone, I am looking for volunteers to help out in our gallery at our 2012 CBA Spring Conference in Petaluma, CA from April 27th through 29th.

Volunteers are needed to set up the gallery by receiving and cataloging items that are brought into the gallery for sale, show, raffle or for the Fire in the Hat auction. Also looking for volunteers to help break down the gallery at the end of the conference.

No experience necessary! You meet the best people in the gallery and you also get to see all of our blacksmith’s works of art too. Please e-mail me at Ladygould1250@yahoo.com. Hope to hear from you! :) Thanks!

Marti Barth
CBA Spring Conference Gallery Chairman, Petaluma 2012
Ladygould1250@yahoo.com

Oktoberfest 2010 In Review

2010-10-21T03:59:53Z

This year marked CBA’s Oktoberfest’s 27th anniversary. A beautiful setting, amazing food and fine blacksmithing was enjoyed by all.

Steve Lopes, our main demonstrator had this to say after Oktoberfest:

“Hello CBA members. I wanted to thank Toby Hickman and Mike Bondi for inviting me to your recent Oktoberfest. And to Fritz Hagist for being the host with the most (of everything!) And to your amazing cooks and foodies. I have never eaten so well. And to all of you who came and sat through my yak yak. I figure a picture is worth a 1000 words so I brought a lot of photos. I was welcomed warmly and clearly you all know how to have a good time! Special thanks to Tom Brown, the Comptche guitar whiz for some great jammin' too. There were folks I had heard about for years and it was good to meet some of you in person finally. I plan on coming back next year and just hang out to enjoy the redwoods and the smithing. All the best to you, you have a great organization.”

Sincerely, Steve Lopes

Nigel Barnett: Spring Conference 2011

2010-09-19T03:19:30Z

Nigel was born in Essex in the South East of England in 1963 and grew up in the small market town of Braintree, which was known for its iron works.

As a child he would play in the coal yard and fields next to the foundry and at night he would watch in awe as the night sky was illuminated by the opening of furnaces.

School was accessed via the lane that ran past the foundry, which often made for a very slow walk to school, though he was never late for art or metalwork. Leaving school aged 15 yrs Nigel was offered a position as trainee welder in the town where he grew up and by the age of 18 he had achieved A.S.M.E. IX coding and travelled the country as a pipe welder working on some of the many large construction sites of the 1980’s.

Nigel developed an interest in steam power and with his codings became a valuable asset to the steam preservation fraternity, restoring and maintaining steam powered traction and locomotive boilers, later specialising in sub contract welding of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and continues this interest today.

In the mid-nineties, following a fall on a construction site which saw him out of work for many months, Nigel decided to return to the work he loved: forge work and the creation of metal art forms.

Nigel trained at Hereford College in traditional forge work under the supervision of Paul Allen. Nigel’s forge and workshop is set in the heart of rural Norfolk, includes a showroom, museum of blacksmithing and a 4 ½ acre sculpture trail, with indoor and outdoor working areas of around 2 acres and uses an assortment of heavy machinery including power hammers and presses.

Hand tools play a large part in the production and repair of a vast range of ironwork both old and new and including many pieces which have to replicate original period design for the heritage sector.

Nigel often works on public art and restoration projects including works for the Royal Family and public park entrances. He has recently completed a 26 mile sculpture trail along a public foot path that occupies the former Marriotts Way railway line, using reclaimed track to create seating and sculptures, and is currently involved in the restoration of an undershot watermill.

Always keen to demonstrate and learn, he frequently opens his doors to students from home and abroad and recognises the importance of shared knowledge.

Nigel has recently spent 3 years as chairman of British Artist Blacksmiths Association (B.A.B.A.), is a Fellow of the Worshipful company of Blacksmiths and proudly holds a bronze medal. Some of his pieces can be viewed at www.artist-blacksmith.co.uk

Oktoberfest Registration Now Open

2010-09-01T05:09:04Z

Online registration is now open for the 2010 Oktoberfest in Cazadero, CA.

Steve Lopes will be demonstrating and the education team has an incredible program in store.

Check out the Oktoberfest 2010 page for more information, and to pre-register for the event.

CBA Members Featured in new Book

2010-08-21T05:05:29Z

Thirty CA blacksmiths will be featured in the book Passion & Power ~ Metal Artists in Western U.S by Nancy Zastrow.

After four long years, _Passion & Power ~ Metal Artists in Western U.S._ is finished and available for sale, featuring 416 pages and over 800 photographs. Check out [the author’s website](http://www.ironartists.com/book2.php) for more details and to order.

Bill Stone Passes on the Lead of Vista Forge

2010-07-14T06:23:14Z

Bill Stone, after leading the Vista Forge at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum at Vista for 16 years, has handed the lead of the group to Pat Downing and Tibor Laky.

Under Bill Stone’s watch, the Vista Forge at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum has grown to the presentation of Blacksmithing classes on four Saturdays each month with Introduction, Level I, Level II, and Forging to Dimension classes. The facility now has 17 forges that are used by the 50 or so smiths that call the Vista Forge home.

Likewise, Vista Forge has contributed to the education goals of the CBA with the hosting of CBA Conferences in 1998, 2004, 2008, and the 2011 CBA Spring Conference in planning.

Pat Downing (858) 926-9193 and Tibor Laky are picking up the lead for the Vista Forge Group at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum.

Please join us in sending a hearty Thank You to Bill Stone for his efforts.

Call for Volunteers at the Crucible's Fire Cabaret

2010-07-14T06:24:22Z

Volunteers are needed to promote CBA membership at the Crucible’s Fire Cabaret July 15 – 17.

Two to three volunteers are needed each night starting at 7:15 PM – please contact Chris Nieman at (510) 575-3569 if you are interested.

The Crucible is located at:

1260 7th St (at Union St)
Oakland, CA 94607
(Map)

Click here for more information about the Crucible’s Fire Cabaret.

Call for Entries - Ironwork III

2010-07-14T06:24:02Z

Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., a leading publisher of art reference, decorative art, and design books, is calling for images for the upcoming Ironwork Today 3.

We are looking for beautiful, professional quality photography of artwork by you or artists you represent and interesting, engaging information about you or your artists for potential inclusion in this new publication. All materials submitted will be reviewed. Those artists chosen will receive a letter of acceptance listing their pieces that will be featured in the book.

Schiffer Publishing takes pride in these books. For the artists involved, it is like a juried show in permanent, published form that will be available for years to come and available globally. The book’s listing of artist contact information and gallery locations is an excellent way to expand an artist’s or gallery’s patron base.

Unlike most juried shows, submission and inclusion in this book are absolutely FREE! An artist’s only cost for participation is a little time, creative writing, and professional-level photography. A gallery’s involvement would be to encourage their artists to participate. Contributing artists are credited on the page with the photo caption information, the introductory information about themselves, as well as in the listings providing their contact information and gallery and museum locations where their work is on exhibit.

In order to help keep the publishing house’s overhead low and avoid charging a submission fee as some publishers do, Schiffer Publishing does not provide complimentary copies of the book to contributing artists. However, every participant is offered an initial 40% discount should they wish to purchase copies of this book or any of our 4200 titles.

Our website has a complete listing of our titles in print.

Interested in participating? Download contact (.xls) and submission forms (.pdf) and email them to Karen Choppa. Our submission deadline for all materials is August 1, 2010.

Sincerely yours,

Karen Choppa
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road
Atglen, PA 19310 USA
Ph: 610-593-1777/Fax: 610-593-2002
karenc@schifferbooks.com
www.schifferbooks.com

Blacksmiths and Pleural Mesothelioma

2010-07-14T06:23:46Z

Because blacksmiths work with hot metal and fire, asbestos was an ideal material to use in a number of different ways.

However, exposure to this naturally occurring mineral has been shown to cause several asbestos-related diseases, including pleural mesothelioma. Those who worked as blacksmiths before the 1980s were especially at risk of being exposed to asbestos since regulations on using the substance were not yet in place.

One of the largest concerns for blacksmiths in terms of asbestos exposure came through the protective clothing they wore. While this clothing protected them from burns and high temperatures, it did not protect them from inhaling asbestos fibers.

Other apparel worn by blacksmiths that may have contained asbestos included gloves, aprons and face masks. The unfortunate exposure experienced by blacksmiths has placed many at risk of developing mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. From the time someone is initially exposed, symptoms can take as long as 50 years to arise. During this severe latency period, mesothelioma tumors slowly form and finally cause pain and discomfort after reaching a late stage of development.

Treatment for pleural mesothelioma is very limited when diagnosed during one of the advanced stages. To date, there is no cure for this condition.

Today’s blacksmiths can prevent exposure to asbestos in a variety of ways. First, it is important for all blacksmiths to use updated tools and equipment so that older tools do not present the risks of releasing asbestos fibers. The simplest disturbance of asbestos-containing materials can cause enough damage for exposure to occur.

Second, blacksmiths should remain cautious of their surroundings and place of work. Asbestos was often used for floor and ceiling tiles as well as insulation. An old working environment may still be constructed of these hazardous materials.

Blacksmiths who suspect they may have been exposed to asbestos should inform their physician for annual checkups. Regular checkups can help detect the early signs of asbestos-related disease and early detection offers the greatest hope for successful treatment.

To learn more about asbestos and its related diseases, please visit PleuralMesothelioma.com.

New Website

2010-07-14T06:25:04Z

Welcome to your new CBA website.

The goal of this website is to make CBA news, events and resources more accessible to the CBA membership.

CBA news will be published to the website, along with occasional magazine excerpts and related announcements. These news items will be compiled into an RSS feed for easy consumption. You can subscribe to RSS feeds through most web browsers (just by clicking the orange RSS icon) or through a desktop RSS reader.

Upcoming Events and Classes will be featured on the homepage, as well as on their own calendar pages (http://calsmith.org/events/calendar/ and http://calsmith.org/classes/calendar/). Within these calendar pages you can search for events or classes by month, date, or by tagged topic.

Tags are descriptive keywords attached to events, classes, news articles, or magazine issues to facilitate filtering and searching. Clicking on a tag will filter for items that contain that tag.

On the right-hand sidebar you’ll see what’s called a ‘tag cloud’, a jumble of tags that vary in size and boldness. The bigger and bolder a tag is, the more items it matches. Clicking on a word in a tag cloud will filter items by that keyword.

There is a new forum on the CBA website, but unfortunately the forum posts from the previous website were not transferrable. Hopefully we’ve managed to transfer the memberships, but if you didn’t receive an activation email, then please accept our apology and register for the forums here.

Current CBA members can put their shop on the CBA map by clicking the “Yes Please” box (under “Would you like to display your shop location on our map?”) on their profiles. Once your membership is verified your shop will appear on the map. You can take your shop off the map any time by just clicking the “No Thanks” box on your forum profile.

Current CBA members can also be featured on our Gallery page (there is a limit of 20 photos). If you have a gallery page and you’ve registered with our forums, you can enter your website address in your profile and it will display on your gallery page, directing visitors to your website.

Finally, CBA magazine archives are available here – check your most recent magazine issue for the password to enter the archives (the username is CBA.)

I hope you enjoy the new website, please contact me if you have any questions or find any errors with it.

– Stu Henry

Blacksmith Needed - July 25th - Fort Ross, CA

2010-07-14T06:23:29Z

We are looking for a blacksmith – or two – who can set up their gear in the fort compound for the annual Cultural Heritage Day at Fort Ross.

We have over 3000 visitors on this one day with over 100 folks in costume but right now we are missing a blacksmith and for many this is a highlight. We use coal and also ask the person to be in some sort of costume, however comfort for the blacksmith is important.

Contact: Robin Joy, Park Interpretive Specialist I
Fort Ross State Historic Park
19005 Coast Highway One
Jenner, CA 95450
(707) 847-4777
FRINTERP@parks.ca.gov

Propane Safety

2010-07-14T06:25:22Z

The following article was written by Jim Halverson and originally printed in the September/October 1994 issue of California Blacksmith.

Check List

Do you have the correct propane tank for the job? Frame-mounted D.O.T. approved tanks are best for farriers' trucks.
Is your tank certified? Tanks must be certified 12 years after manufacture and every 5 years thereafter.
Are your hoses, regulators and shutoff valves in good working order? Keep a bottle of Formula 409 spray cleaner on hand to check for leaks. If it bubble up, there is a leak.
Is your truck set up so that in the event of an accident, your propane tank will not be struck or punctured?
Does your truck display L.P.G. stickers on the left, right and top of your truck? In the event of an accident, these stickers will alert emergency personnel of the pending danger. It might possible save your life and theirs.
Do you carry a fire extinguisher?
Do you carry tanks in an enclosed compartment? If so, they should be vented to the outside environment.

Did you know?

Never lay a cylinder on its side. If it vents, it will release liquid instead of vapor. Did you know that one gallonw of liquid L.P.G. = 264 gallons vapor L.P.G.?
Do you know how many pounds of pressure are in an L.P.G. tank?
- At 50 ^oF = 86 PSI
- At 70 ^oF = 120 PSI
- At 90 ^oF = 165 PSI
- At 110 ^oF = 220 PSI
The safety release valve on your propane tank is set to relieve pressure at 275 PSI.
Some states do not allow vehicles that carry propane to drive through tunnels. (If caught, there is a big fine – $$$!)
If your tank does explode, it will throw horseshoes approximately on mile in all directions. (FACT!) Just ask Jim Keith.
Propane gas is heavier than air and settles to the lowest point. So, if you are cutting vent holes, put them in the floor, not the top.

A final note

In 1984, Jim Halverson spent $1,000 for a few hours in the hospital and 30 days' loss of work for a minor propane accident. Jim Keith spent $120,000 and a year suffering from his major accident.

Some costs you may want to consider: A D.O.T.-approved frame-mounted LPG tank, 10-15 gallons, will cost about $250.

The average price of a funeral, including cemetery plot, is approximately $3,000 to $5,000. Straight cremation is approximately $500 to $1,200.

Think about it.

E.A. Chase Tool Sale

2010-07-14T06:24:39Z

Legendary blacksmith E.A. Chase is holding an open house to sell his tools, first come first serve.

Tools to be sold range from small tools heavy equipment, and the sale is open to anyone who is interested.

This sale will continue each Saturday through April 17th (10:00 – 3:00PM), or by arrangement at a mutually convenient time by phone or email ((831)-425-4774 or (831) 423-3188, eachase2@att.net)

Check Craig’s List “tools” for more details.

Smithing Safely

2010-07-14T06:25:37Z

Recently while working at the forge alone, I turned around to dig through my tool bucket for a chisel, and a surprising chain of events began.

I’m not sure if I bumped my 15" piece of metal or if it became unbalanced and slipped, but nonetheless it fell out of the fire. As I kneeled over my bucket with my back to the forge, the hot end of my project hit my back as it fell, near my shoulder.

My shirt immediately caught on fire and started burning. I couldn’t splash water from the slack tub because the flames were on my back. I started to panic but remembered to “stop, drop, and roll.”

Thankfully, I only have first-degree burns in three places on my back, and my hair did not catch fire.

My lessons learned: Keep my tools at least a couple of feet from the side of the forge (not behind me). Never turn my back to the fire. And always wear cotton clothing at the forge. Synthetic fabrics can flare the fire and contribute to severe burns.

by Audrey King, Sacramento, CA
(from California Blacksmith, May/June 2005)