Ashokan 2010 photo's

Kevin, if I were to bring a ground out sword, say of O1, would there be
a way to heat treat it at Ashokan next year? probably a blade about 18-20" ?
G2
 
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Matthew Gregory said:
Now I'll really freak you out... this year was actually kind of subdued compared to others.
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Now THAT'S what I want to hear! If you can't play hard, why play at all?

Didn't get a lot of shop time last week - my job is going to be pretty hairy till after Hallowe'en - but the little bit of work I did get in tells me that I learned a hell of a lot, pretty much from everybody up there. I'll be back, for sure.
 
Hey, DrDoc, anyone other than us from outside the New England area that you noticed?

I had an unexpected thought, how do you heat treat a sword? Dave's kiln is only 24" long. Obviously I have to send it out. Do the main places also HT swords, or are they special places to have it done?
 
I was just wondering if someone might bring a salt bath heat treating type tube, like they did one year?
G2
 
I heard through the grapevine that perhaps the object will be to go from ore to heat treated and ground blade by the end of the weekend....
 
Thanks for the in depth look. Lots of talent there and the demos are top notch. The close up mug shots must be from Kevins microscope camera but otherwise looks like allot of fun.
 
I am definitely coming back (and staying longer, but I may spring for a hotel room so I can sleep) next year.
I am becoming fascinated with daos. I really like them, and you can make them without tsuka or habaki or tsuka maki (handle wrap, split handles, partial tangs and blade collars are all OPTIONAL on Chinese dao). More variation is accepted compared to Japanese blades. It will be years before I really become even adequate at this, but I want to find an idiom to work in that is a lot of fun, and that is not already covered by dozens of really good knife makers (bowies, kitchen knives, hunters, and japanese swords are all OUT - too many people already too good at it).

Hopefully, I will have one or two put together by then (there was a lot of pattern-welding in Chinese sword history, too, it turns out).

So, Ashokan with a dao for general pillaging. And, so I can look at the stuff all of you who really know what you are doing bring/make.

Kevin
 
Great, great pix Gary!! You really captured the event, especially the individual portraits of some of the guys.
 
Thanks JD, good to see you again there, been a while!
G2
 
NickWheeler said:
Man, I wish it wasn't so damn far away!!! I would have LOVED to have been there!!!

If for no other reason, to make fun of all the guys wearing skirts and all the weird hair-do's ;) :D


One of these years I'll get out to see this in person!!!

Thank you for the pics Gary!!!

Sam looks like he was having too much fun! :D
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Maybe we should drive down together......that would be a long drive!

I would love to go to a hammer in, and learn.
 
Just a bring back for those that are wondering what Ashokan is all about, see you guys there!
G2
 
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OMG I'm SO hot!!!!


Wish I could make it this year - too many cool folks I don't get the chance to see much. Sux...
 
Man, that's too bad, guess we don't need those T-shirts this year then :(
was hoping you'd make it along with a nice sword or two :)

and yep you do look snappy there ;)
G2
 
Gah, that reminds me that I still need to go register! Been so busy with work and my car restoration that I havent done much in the ways of knife/sword work this year =(
 
THIS IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT FOR ALL GOING TO ASHOKAN NEXT MONTH

Tim Neu has been running things for the past years, and he let us get away with a lot that was not in the rule book.
He no longer is there, and the new folks are going to enforce the rules.
With the new facilities in progress they are going to nip any future problems in the bud now.
Our observance of the rules will help us be able to continue the Ashokan Seminar.

NO ALCOHOL
In the past we have enjoyed a quiet drink with friends, but some have abused the wink/nod and it got out of hand in the forge area.
This year NO ALCOHOL is allowed. Unlike Sam's dates, NO means NO this time . If you bring it and get caught, you will leave...and we may loose our best seminar.
Conduct in the forge area must be contained, also, and safe forging and such observed. Horseplay can be taken to the foot bridge.

Lets all respect the rules of our host.
 
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