We have the dates and locations for the 2013 ABS Hammer-Ins posted but the demonstrators and demonstrations are still mostly in the planning stage.
Are there demonstrations that you would like to see added to our Hammer-Ins to advance your skills? Now is a good time to discuss your ideas for what you want to see and learn more about this year. I will make sure that your ideas are brought to the attention of the Hammer-In Coordinators.
Are there basic demonstrations or hands on classes that our Apprentices want such as basic forging, grinding, and heat treating?
 Are there demonstrations that the Master Smiths and Journeyman Smiths would like to see added to advance their skills such as Quillon Daggers, hamons, computer software in knife design, precious metal clay, gold inlay, handle carving, folders, advanced Damascus, using a milling machine or lathe to make knife parts, or engraving.
Last October there were mini-classes limited to 6 participants at the California Hammer-In in addition to the regular demonstration schedule. Bill Burke did a furnace building class and each participant built a furnace and smelt steel. The cost was  $100 per student and included all materials. Aaron Wilburn did  a mini class on sheath making and the cost was $40 per student and covered all materials.
What are your ideas and what do you want for demonstrations in 2013? Also please tell us which Hammer-In location you are planning to attend?
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
Send an email to Dan
Dan, everything you listed sounds good to me, particularly:
Quillon daggers
Hamons
Inlay
Handle carving
Folders
Machining
zack
Zack Jonas
Journeyman Smith
I can think of a demo from the past that I would like to see again. Ron Newton's folder class. He showed how to design one from scratch. I got in on the last of the previous one and really wish I had seen it all.
I would also like to sit in on an in depth discussion, allowing time for Question and Answers, of heat treating the higher carbon ranges of steels. The variables, issues, characteristic differences, etc.
With the interest in cooking knives, a demo or discussion about the steels and geometry pertaining to them would be interesting.
I would echo Lin's suggestion - some basic - yet concise and effective - folder classes with handout plans.
Also, I do like the ideas of handle carving and advanced Damascus like feather pattern and multi-bar.
Karl B. Andersen
Journeyman Smith
Engraving
Advanced handles -- with topics covering frame handles, take down handles, epoxy bedding, domed pins, working with ivory and ivory carving
Folders
Tips and tecniques that will save time.
fine tuning of heat treating to get the most from blade steel.
silver wrap handles like on Michael Price California Bowies
Antique Bowie design elements and construction like Samuel Bell Bowie
The idea of mini classes sounds pretty neat and I think would be a great addition to ABS hammer in schedules.
The Ohio and Kansas hammer ins are the closet to me.
Hey Dan, et al,
I have enjoyed every demo I have seen at the three summers of ABS hammer-ins in Maine. Unfortunately I am one of those guys that does not learn that well just watching folks do stuff if I don't get to do it myself. Whenever y'all get a chance for participatory activities that would be fine by me.
[list]
Hope all are faring winter well!
Aloha, Phil
Thanks Dan, for starting this thread! As one of the Symposium coordinators, it is essential that I know what demos the attendees wish to see.
It is of particular interest to me, to see that many of the suggestions in this thread are asking for demos in advanced knifemaking skills. I have considered the possibility of scheduling primarily advanced skills at the Heartland Symposium, with the view of making it the Symposium where Master Smiths and more advanced knifemakers could find demo subjects of interest to them.
Feedback forms were handed out at last year's Heartland Symposium. The top requested demonstration was advanced damascus, followed closely by handle construction techniques. Silver wire inlay and engraving tied for the next most requested topics.
I also like the ideas of a folder class as well as an advanced handle construction class.
Silver wire inlay. With the change in presentation requirements bolsters & guards. North Carolina, God willing, in March and maybe again in October.
All of the above sounds great, plus (for the July NE Hammer-In <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//smile.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':)' /> )...
High Temp and Low Temp Salt Bath Construction and Safe Use
Forge Design/Building would be great too.
|quoted:
Hey Dan, et al,
I have enjoyed every demo I have seen at the three summers of ABS hammer-ins in Maine. Unfortunately I am one of those guys that does not learn that well just watching folks do stuff if I don't get to do it myself. Whenever y'all get a chance for participatory activities that would be fine by me.
[list]
Hope all are faring winter well!
Aloha, Phil
I like what Phil is saying. I think a forging session where the attendees can request the demonstrator to show a particular technique. I have been surprised at how many smiths have never made a full tang knife. Same with grinding. It seems everyone is interested in some of the more complicated/ cool stuff but without a good foundation I think most folks will find attempting those projects more frustrating than rewarding. I am seeing a trend with students that come to my shop. Most of them are seeking some help with problem areas and not expecting to "make a knife" while there. Sharpening would also be good as Phil mentioned. I think it would be great if the demo was to grind, set up, sharpen and demonstrate the finished edge. How thin is too thin? how hard is too hard? What can one reasonably expect when "properly" set up and sharpened. Handle shaping might be a good one. Many years ago I watched Joe Cordova at the Moran School in AR do a slack belt handle shaping demo and I do contoured handles like that to this day. Sometimes I think making a finished knife is a good demo but you need a demo crew that works fast enough to complete the knife in the allotted time.
No matter what you see, record on film or annotate; you still have to practice, practice, practice.
Good suggestions.
Good luck to all,
Jim
|quoted:
Handle shaping might be a good one. Many years ago I watched Joe Cordova at the Moran School in AR do a slack belt handle shaping demo and I do contoured handles like that to this day. Sometimes I think making a finished knife is a good demo but you need a demo crew that works fast enough to complete the knife in the allotted time.
I think Handle shaping would be a good one as well. It is one of those steps that seems to be shown a bit less, and different people do it differently.
Also, I really enjoyed the demo at your shop visit last month where a competition cutter was made from start to finish. It is great to see some of the steps that you wouldn't be likely to see otherwise. One way to do this sort of thing on a time constraint may be to work on each of the steps, but with different knives. Have a bowie forging demo. A grinding demo. A heat treating demo. etc. The makers doing the demos wouldn't have to be using the same knife and with the handle shaping demo having an already glued up/pinned knife would be helpful and would save time as would not having to wait for tempering.
The,
Hamons,
Inlay,
Handle carving,
Folders,
all sound particularly good to me.
I especially like any classes on handles.
I like trying new things and expanding my abilities so I like the idea of learning how to make folders.
And, seeing as I don't have the machinery or skill to make damascus I would like to learn how to do Hamons on my blades.
Jonathan Stanley
Apprentice Smith
I agree that sharpening workshops would be great, especially if there is some hands-on time to practice and receive advice on technique. Participants could even be asked to bring their own stones and knives, so that we can learn to use what we have on what we've made.
A tomahawk workshop would be fun too (I've seen photos of a tomahawk workshop in the past-very cool). Some of the ABS folks make some really cool tomahawks.
Sword design/making demo would be fun to do as well--maybe someone who specializes in swords could bring a few and show how they're designed/made, just so participants can get a feel for the weight, balance, etc. I haven't ever even held a quality sword...would be fun to see what one feels like.
I really like the sheath making workshop idea too. Basic leather sheaths are pretty straight forward, but I've seen some really fantastic tooling that people do--not sure how they do that. Participants could sign up in advance and bring a knife to make a sheath for. I've noticed a few kydex specialists out there too--maybe someone would be willing to do a workshop and share some of their tips for those of us thinking of going that way.
To add to the salt pot workshop I suggested earlier, it seems that some of the supplies (like the seamless, stainless, thick-walled tubing) are best bought in bulk. To get a 2' piece it's extremely expensive, but to buy 10 feet and cut it into 20 inch sections it's just sorta expensive. A workshop where participants learn to use a salt pot correctly/safely, pay for their share of the supplies, and then construct their own pot--then go home with a ready-to-use salt pot (minus the firebrick and salt, perhaps, to save weight) and the knowledge and safe practices to use it right.
I like the idea of handle construction demos as that is an area that isn't done much. Another idea would be "How to make tongs". I've seen several inquiries on various forums about either how to make or where can I get tongs.
Gary
