Ashokan 2007

Kevin R. Cashen said:
I was just discussing things today with a well known smith, cutter and ABS member who you would all recognize that I hope will be one of our guest demonstrators this year. As soon as he can confirm that he will do it I will let you know who it is. Tim Z. should be doing some leg work to invite another very recognizable name to share their knowledge. Every year we say we will get this thing together sooner but life inevitably gets in the way. It always manages to come together quite well in the end however.
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You pack in too many people, Kevin, and we'll have to add a day!
Wouldn't THAT be horrible!
 
Kevin R. Cashen said:
Ashokan is one of the oldest and most respected hammer-ins in the U.S. Even before the A.B.S. really got rolling some of the best known bladesmiths in the business have been gathering there to share information and for years it has been renowned for a source of quality information that is free of the commercialized garbage and political concerns. While one of the oldest, The New England Bladesmith’s Guild is not one of the better known organizations because of its strict adherence to pursing facts with little concern for what the pop culture of knifemaking thinks. I was quite intimidated years ago when my heretical positions and pursuits caught the attention of the Ashokan organizers and I was invited to lecture there. I remember my first demonstration included my “psychic edge packing” routine designed to irreverently blow the concept out of the water, while it could have gotten me lynched at another venue, it was a hit at Ashokan. At the time I had no idea that asking dangerous questions would someday make me a Grand Pubah (the tongue in cheek term for an organizer of Ashokan) in such an esteemed organization. It is an honor that I still feel unworthy of, but there is also a lot of grunt work involved so I guess it balances out.

That being said, Tim and I were just on the phone 2 days ago discussing what we need to do at this year's Ashokan. We have some demonstrators lined up and we are started to build a seminar. To now is a great time for this thread…

What would any of you folks like to see covered, demonstrated or discussed? Are there any questions that you wished the mainstream had the guts or honesty to ask? That is the sort of thing we do very well at Ashokan.
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Dang......I will probably be in Europe when this thing is happening. Guess I will have to settle for the Paris Kife Show as a consolation prize. I would love to see the "psychic edge packing" though. Maybe you can show it to me at Blade if i can't make it to Harley's....:D
 
I've got it on my calender, and am lookig forward to going again this year. This has become my favorite hammer-in to go to.:D

Hey Kevin, How about some instruction/demo on clay coatings and the like? Do's and don'ts....the efects on different steel...etching and hamons...etc.



If you havn't been to Ashokan yet you need to get there!
Mace
 
I have no idea if I can make it or not but is this something a total newbie would benefit from? Or is it more for experienced guys who already have a general concept of how to build a knife? I've been devouring this site for a couple of weeks now but am just now attempting my first blade.

Mike
 
Menglish said:
I have no idea if I can make it or not but is this something a total newbie would benefit from? Or is it more for experienced guys who already have a general concept of how to build a knife? I've been devouring this site for a couple of weeks now but am just now attempting my first blade.

Mike
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The only problem you may have as a newbie at a hammer-in is your brain getting full! Any opportunity to get to a hammer-in will benefit you more than WEEKS of solitary work on projects. Bring stuff you're working on, you'll get some ideas and help if you want it.

-d
 
Menglish,
This is one of the BEST arenas for a newbie. You will learn more in a weekend than you could in a year on your own. Having said that there is still plenty to interest any experienced knifemaker.
Thanks,
Del
 
delbert ealy said:
Menglish,
This is one of the BEST arenas for a newbie. You will learn more in a weekend than you could in a year on your own. Having said that there is still plenty to interest any experienced knifemaker.
Thanks,
Del
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If you hang around Del too long you'll learn more than your brain can hold!

-d
 
Deker, if my brain gets any fuller than it is already it may pop! Everytime I believe I have a concept figured out someone uses a new term or something and it's right back to Dumville for me! I am in awe of the knowledge that is dispensed here. Now I just need to figure out how to use it!

NY is quite a trip for me. Anything like this nearer to Michigan?

Mike
 
Mace said:
...Hey Kevin, How about some instruction/demo on clay coatings and the like? Do's and don'ts....the efects on different steel...etching and hamons...etc....
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Mace, you will be happy to know that it looks enough like a sure thing that I can announce that we will have Burt Foster as one of our guests this year to show us how he gets those fantastic clay treatments on his bowies and camp knives. Other exciting demonstrators are pending.

Menglish, you are around 1 hours drive from me in Michigan and I have been speaking with some of the other folks around the great lakes about how it is time for me to get off from my butt and re-energize the base again here and start having our get togethers again. An actual hammer-in may be in order but I am also feeling the urge to teach here in the Wolverine state.

Menglish if you are interested in Ashokan, and we can coordinate it, we normally form travel party's so that we can carpool, on the years that there may be room in the Grand Pubah mobile taggers along are welcome.
 
Kevin, Burt will be well rehearsed - that's one of the topics he'll be talking about at the New Northeast Hammer-in as well.

I can't wait. Both events are sure to be a great success, and at Ashokan I'll be able to kick back and watch the demonstrations instead of constantly running around and making sure all the primadonna bladesmiths have enough sparkling water ;)
 
Menglish, there is going to be an ABS Hammer-in in Troy, OH. I believe it will be in August. I have been the past 2 years. The instructors have been excellent (Mr. Cashen very much included) and the facilities are out standing. From what I've read and heard, Ashokan also sounds well worth the trip.

Pete
 
Wulf said:
Kevin, Burt will be well rehearsed - that's one of the topics he'll be talking about at the New Northeast Hammer-in as well.

I can't wait. Both events are sure to be a great success, and at Ashokan I'll be able to kick back and watch the demonstrations instead of constantly running around and making sure all the primadonna bladesmiths have enough sparkling water ;)
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I knew Burt was doing the demo at your Hammer-in, but I also thougth along your lines that he would be well rehearsed by the time he made it to Ashokan;) . I am sorry I didn't keep in touch with you better about yours, but this spring things just got away from me and although I would have really enjoyed visiting your get together, it turns out that this summer I will be stretched far too thin, so it may be for the best this year.
 
Hey Kevin,
How about something on tangs handles and guards (proper construction, tips and tricks).....fixtures and jigs, pique work.......Forged guards(clam shell, half penny...etc.)
Just some more ideas.:D
Mace

Forged guards would be awsome!:thumbup:
 
Mace said:
Hey Kevin,
How about something on tangs handles and guards (proper construction, tips and tricks).....fixtures and jigs, pique work.......Forged guards(clam shell, half penny...etc.)
Just some more ideas.:D
Mace

Forged guards would be awsome!:thumbup:
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This would be great. Butt caps and diferent methods to attach too.
 
Mace said:
Hey Kevin,
How about something on tangs handles and guards (proper construction, tips and tricks).....fixtures and jigs, pique work.......Forged guards(clam shell, half penny...etc.)
Just some more ideas.:D
Mace

Forged guards would be awsome!:thumbup:
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Yeah! More on handles, guards, and finish work!

-d
 
My only question is , who's going to videotape all this and how can I get a copy? I won't be able to be there, but it sounds like stuff I need to learn, and would really enjoy watching.
 
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