Northeast Blacksmiths
Association

Northeast Blacksmiths
Association

Northeast Blacksmiths holds its meets twice a year at the Ashokan Center of New York State. The Ashokan Center is in Olivebridge, N.Y., several miles west of Kingston, N.Y. The meets are held the first weekend in May and in the first weekend in October every year. The main demonstration is in the blacksmith shop and there is a "Hands On" workshop for beginners.

Current Newsletter available near bottom of page

A member sent in some old pictures from a meet many years ago. See an old NBA meet and see if you recognize anybody. If you do contact me and let me know so I can fill in some captions,
Larry Brown
Click here for picts

New England Bladesmiths Guild upcoming Ashokan Seminar on 9/16-18. Their website is at http://www.ashokanknifeseminar.com/index.html

We had Fred Crist as our demonstrator September 30, October 1, 2, 2011. For more info on Fred and his work:

http://www.facristmetalsmith.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jvpp4O9w6o

Frederic A. Crist has over 30 years experience in designing and forging metalwork of all kinds including gates, exterior and interior lighting, railings, furniture and sculpture.

Mr. Crist received a BFA in sculpture from Philadelphia College of Art in 1977. He was employed by Samuel Yellin Metalworkers from 1977 until 1988. While at the Yellin Shop he advanced to the position of Mastersmith and has executed major works for the city of Philadelphia, the National Cathedral in Washington DC, the University of Pittsburgh, Yale University as well as numerous other commissions.

Rather than my usual President’s message I am providing info on two topics of interest: Acetylene shortage, Ashokan construction.

If you have gone to your welding gas supplier recently you may be aware that there is an acetylene shortage here in the US.

In March of this year there was an explosion at the Carbide Industries plant in Louisville, Kentucky, the supplier of nearly 70% of the acetylene gas used in the US. The explosion caused enough damage to shut the plant down and it appears that it may not reopen “disrupting future production, which is expected to last for a significant and indefinite period of time.”

Suppliers are looking outside the US for other sources, but the shortage will be long term, prices will rise, and you can expect to pay a surcharge on each tank of gas. Even now, 7 months after the shut down, acetylene is sometimes hard to find, even rationed in some areas, and much more expensive.

There are several alternatives to acetylene for most cutting, heating and brazing or soldering applications. You will need to inquire at your local welding supply to find out what you can do to switch over to these gases. BUT, don’t expect them to work for welding!

For heating and cutting, Liquid Propane (LP) may be the most practical: it is the easiest to change your equipment over to, it is readily available and relatively cheap.

Another alternative fuel is propylene, which also works well for heating and cutting.

StarFlame C, from Praxair, is a mix of hydrocarbons in propane. It works well and in some ways is better than acetylene.

But be prepared, the conversion to these alternative gases can include changing your tips, hoses and regulators.

Update from Wayne Turner, Ashokan Center Director: “Construction of Ashokan's new campus is well underway. Three building foundations are rising up out of the ground as I write this. The fourth, the dining hall, kitchen and performance hall, is currently being excavated. We are still planning on taking possession of the new facility during the summer of 2012.”

“As you are aware, the blacksmith shop is safe and protected but immediately adjacent to the epicenter of the construction activities. Last fall I let your group kind of expand your activities behind the construction fence. That site is now very active and looks nothing like it did before.”

From what Wayne says we will be challenged for space around the shop. Parking in the designated areas will help to relieve some of the congestion.

Jonathan Nedbor

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

If you find this position filled please let me know so I can remove this announcement, Larry Brown, Webmaster

Clean Forging Coal Now
Available at Ashokan
Stock up from this new batch