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Thad in AR. 
Orange Level Access
Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Arkansas
Points: 9595
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 Topic: My first ever Blacksmith demonstrations
Posted: 23 Sep 2022 at 5:15am |
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It’s Heritage Days this weekend in Berryville AR.
I belong to a group that sets up a Confederate soldier camp each year.
The Blacksmith from years past can’t make it this year so I was asked to step in last minute.
I’m very unprepared and out of practice.
I spent Wednesday night cutting out parts and most of last evening gathering and loading.
I have to use a hands crank forge ( I’m very unfamiliar with) for this. I just finished the forge recently and only got to try it briefly.
Wish me luck. All the local schools will have gradeschoolers there at different times today.
Hope I make a good impression on the young
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Bob D. (La)
Orange Level Access
Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Louisiana
Points: 25529
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Posted: 23 Sep 2022 at 5:24am |
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Here's wishing you luck Thad. Just don't try anything your completely unfamiliar with and you will do fine.
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When you find yourself in a hole,PUT DOWN THE SHOVEL!!!
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Dennis J OPKs
Silver Level
Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Overland Park,
Points: 497
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Posted: 23 Sep 2022 at 7:14am |
Just a word to the wise. I don't know your layout, but distance is critical. I've been a volunteer at the Agricultural Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs, KS for many years. They have a blacksmith shop and did demonstrations-not recently though. It was done by a local smithy.
Anyway, I didn't observe this, but a kid was too close and got kit by a flying piece of hot iron, I assume while he was hammering it and a piece flew off & burned him in the scalp, I think. No lawsuit & they paid his medical bills. Have no idea how far that stuff can fly.
Good Luck, I remember my Dad bought a forge at an auction & rebuilt it. He used it a few times.
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steve(ill)
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 85478
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Posted: 23 Sep 2022 at 5:24pm |
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all the kids and 90% of the Adults dont know what your really doing anyway.. Talk confident and ACT like you know what your doing.... as Dennis said, Safety FIRST.
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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SteveM C/IL
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Shelbyville IL
Points: 8471
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Posted: 23 Sep 2022 at 5:27pm |
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Like the distance comment. Just heat a piece of round stock and pound it flat. That will probably satisfy most. lol
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DMiller
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Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Hermann, Mo
Points: 33121
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Posted: 23 Sep 2022 at 5:49pm |
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Speak of Heat Colors, Red, Orange, Yellow and White, the importance of each.
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desertjoe
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Joined: 23 Sep 2013
Location: New mexico
Points: 13674
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Posted: 23 Sep 2022 at 10:41pm |
Hey Thad,,,,like most say,,KEEP IT SIMPLE to those things you know about..Most kids LOVE fire and you can lead them thru the different stages of heating metal and reasons for each color stage. Also, have you a pail of water to impress them little buggers with the optics of quenching of the HOT metal and reasons for such,,,,,You'll be OK,,,!! Good Luck and wisht I could be there to help with the forge,,,,, 
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Thad in AR.
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Arkansas
Points: 9595
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Posted: 24 Sep 2022 at 5:55am |
I think I had 8 different classes of gradeschoolers from around the county. I got about 20 minutes with each. I made split crosses for each class. It was a fun day. I feel like I put in a real days work. Not so nervous about today. Hardest part is loading a 168 lb anvil that’s bolted to a very large white oak stump. No tractor at the show. One funny thing I saw was a lady in a old time dress and Bonnet walking in a plastic outhouse while smoking a cigarette and looking at a cell phone.  The music was very good. This is the second year of this. Hope it gets better each year. And Joe I sure wish you were here to turn that hand crank blower for a while.
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tadams(OH)
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Joined: 17 Sep 2009
Location: Jeromesville, O
Points: 10609
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Posted: 26 Sep 2022 at 2:11pm |
That turning the hand crank blower would have been a good thing for one of the kids to do to see what real work is like. Glad to hear it went well.
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