I like the idea of a handle shaping demo, maybe also handle design. The sword demo would be great also. I remember Don Fogg use to do katana demos, that would be right up my alley. Good idea on the tong demo Gary, another area I would like see.

Brion

Dereck Glaser did a demo at the HI in Maine last summer where he made a pair of box tongs. It was way cool!

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I sure couldn't go back home and make a pair after just watching it in a demo. Can you fellas really learn that way? Do you have photographic memories, or take superlatively thorough notes, or video record the demos or something?

Hammer-In Demo's

The hands on approach? A few thoughts on the matter.

The problem of having such an approach is pretty straight forward. Whether it be handles, tongs, forging etc.; the demonstrator can do the demo and talk about it in somewhere in the one to two hour range. For most new persons; much,much longer.

Lets talk tongs. Lets say we advertise hands on tong making for one of the hammer-ins. We have from thirty to fifty attendees show up; the usual amount; that expect to make a set of tongs. They are an exceptional bunch and average four hours each to make their tongs. That makes up to 120 to 200 hours shop time. Six guys working at once; you have 20 to 30 working hours in the project.

Not doable for a hammer-in in my opinion. That is the reason that classes are given on these things.

In some instances; I think weekend classes are ideal.

After several years of hammer-ins; I think many attend looking for the big secrets of knifemaking. There is not any. There is the chance to share information with makers from all skill levels. The demo's are great; but the chance to listen in on groups of guys with the same passion as you allows you to pick up the little grains of knowledge that add up to a mountain.

Watch what the demo guys do as soon as they are finished; they huddle up and look for some new info.

Mike

Mike and Phil, thank you for your ideas and observations. As usual both of you have some good ideas and advice.

I was in contact with Nick Rossi at the New England School of Metalwork several weeks ago and asked if he and Dereck would film a "How to Make Tongs" for bladesmithing video for our ABS YouTube Channel. Nick and Dereck had already been considering doing it and will film it when they have time. I will upload it when I receive it.

I agree that it would be unmanageable to have an entire hammer-In group of 60 to 70 attendees participate in a hands on demonstration. There is always a solution. Last October at the California Hammer-In there were mini-classes on furnace building and sheath making limited to 6 participants in each several day class in addition to the regular demonstration schedule. There was an additional cost for materials. Michael Vagnino, ABS Coordinator for the California Hammer-In, told me that the participants had requested the mini-classes at a previous event round table discussion.

Dan; that sounds like a solution!!!

People putting their heads together, even if they have a different opinion ; can always come out with a positive.

I watched Nick make a pair of tongs, he made it look way way too easy.

Should be a great video.

M

I hear ya Mike about the accumulative effect of gathering bits and pieces of info here and there building up a body of knowledge to develop hand in hand with one's experience and practice.

I really appreciate all the demos I've seen...and meeting folks and talking story 'bout knives, steel, smithing, crafting, shops, tools and equipment, etc. The meals, cutting contests and general all around good camaraderie are TOP NOTCH too!

When the demos are recorded and offered for sale as DVDs then that's a real boon. I bet the NE School of Metalworks folks could sell a fair bit of videos with all the blacksmith talent they have there. Youtube recordings would be a real gift!

I personally would like to see more demos describing and showing the ins and outs of forge welding with kerosene instead of borax.

I think the videos are just what we need. Its a lot of work for the guys making it, but the benifits are long lasting and I can watch it over and over.

In some cases, at the hammer ins, I think teaching a class from a video would be in order. Perhaps as in the case with the tongs. The teacher could pause the video and expound on a point or to answer a question, then resume the video as needed. The video can provide the direction and structure to the demo and the teacher maintaines order and timing.

I agree with Mike. Some of the best demonstrations are done around the tailgate of a pick up. It'll happen when you least expect it. You just have to attend.

Another idea about using videos...

Folks in education have been talking about "flipped classrooms" for years. In short, a flipped classroom is one in which the practice work, what we typically think of as "homework", is actually done in the classroom in collaboration with other students and the teacher, and the lectures or direct instruction are delivered as videos or some kind of online website that the student accesses from home. Khan Academy and youtube are typical ways to deliver content, although there are some collaborative websites that are popping up now.

Of course one challenge is getting middle school and high school students to watch videos at home and actually come to class prepared. Not the case with us, though. If a presenter let us know ahead of time that we should read a certain book, watch a particular video, or study a set of drawings ahead of the workshop, we all would! Then we would arrive with some common knowledge and perhaps have an even more productive time.

Just a thought.

Hi All, after reading the responses I agree with most of all that's been posted. All I can add is that I have tried to keep the hammer-ins out here (CA) fresh. By that I mean, not repeating year after year the same thing (demo's over and over). I know that I have to make available to the attendees the basics of knife making. Forging a blade, which I cover in the green coal area of the venue. Grinding, I do for a year or two then skip a year. Handles and guards I'll do every other year unless I have several requests to offer it again. What I try and offer are demos that are fun to watch and give them new things to think about adding, to their repertoire of knife making skills. This past year we added mini classes to the hammer-in. One done by Bill Burke and the other by Aaron Wilburn. Both were well received and attended. If fact the group is wanting more of the mini classes. So I plan on offering one, maybe two for this year's event. The past two years I had Tom Ferry do a damascus demo using clay instead of steel. I can not begin to tell you how well that went over. Instead of working on one pattern for the weekend, Tom was able to make several patterns to completion in about 4 hrs. The group was really taken by the demo.(I might suggest that demo to you who put on hammer-ins as a consideration). I guess the bottom line here is to keep your group excited about coming to your event. Think outside of the box, as they say.

A side note to J.D. How about welding without flux or kerosene. I don't mean a dry weld.

About the DVD's, I think I would like a discussion on this. For me it has to do with intellectual property.

Be well and take care

Michael

A demo about forge welding without a press or power hammer would be fun too--all by hand. It would be great to see someone make cable damascus or some san mai (with two different types of carbon steel) by hand...something simple, that folks new to forge welding could then try in their own shop to get their feet wet.

Something that I talked to Steve Culver about at the Arkansas Show was "Where do you go after removing the damascus blade from the final etch in ferric?" Most of us do a similiar process up to that point but afterwards we may differ in techniques of how to show off the etch. <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//wink.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' /> This might make for a very good demo.

Gary

This would be a very good demo. But too, it would be great for Topic of the Month. Might have to put this question up soon.

I would like to see a demo or mini class on how do you use your rotary platen. I know there are several smiths that use them.

I think it would be helpful for those that don't have one, to be able to see what can be done with one, and then decide whether it belongs on your most wanted tool list.

Greg Neely put me on to one use of the rotary platen, at the Smoky Mountain Hammer-in and it worked great! Thanks Greg!

Russell

That's a great suggestion Russell!

I've not seen a demo on the use of the rotary platen. Good information could be shared on the use of this tool.