Hammer-in Notice

C

crex

Joined
Oct 4, 2002
Messages
737
Hope you won't mind Andy, seeing as how you always show up at these events.

Trackrock Hammer-in
Spring Event 2013
Notice: Open to all & no admission fees
Date: Weekend of April 12 – April 14
Location: Trackrock Campground, Blairsville, GA
Directions: WWW.TRACKROCK.COM
Activities: Bladesmithing, Hawk forging, Leather Crafting, Forge Building, Anything Knife Related
Who: Anyone interested in knives, knife making, hawks, leather work, collecting, trading, etc. Watch, meet and talk with several talented bladesmiths, master leather craftsmen, collectors, etc.
See old discarded steel, scrap metal, wood and bone transformed into functional works of art.
General: Craftsmen from several states, finished knives on display, collections on display, etc.
Family oriented event, Behave! No unsafe or reckless behavior will be tolerated.
Saturday BBQ: Saturday lunch is catered on site at cost. You must RSVP by April 1st to partake in this lunch.
Additional: “Iron in the Hat” event Saturday to help fund event. Please bring usable item for this event. A chance to pick up valuable plunder - knifemaking materials, parts and pieces. Strictly voluntary, participation encouraged.
Knife Raffle: Custom carved knife handle donated by GritsKnives. Proceeds go toward the purchase of major equipment to be used at future events.
Accommodations: Full hook-up & primitive camping available (check web site), Trackrock is an excellent campground and very well maintained. Several motels near: Blairsville and Young Harris. Contact Trackrock Campground for further information at above website.
Please contact me if you wish to participate, or need further information about the event.
 
Doh! I was supposed to do this. Sorry Carl.

I can't wait to be there.
 
Sounds like a great time. Wish there was something like this in Utah.
 
Hope you folks have fun at this thing, wish there was one in this neck of the woods!
 
This is really a great time for anybody that enjoys knives of all kinds. You don't have to be an actual maker, but we've "turned" a bunch over the years. Great chance to watch knives being made from start to finish, great chance to make one if you want, and just a super group of people. The site is wonderful and within driving distance of a bunch of Fiddleback owners. I do understand Canada or Arizona being out of the picture, but we do have a fellow driving from Rhode Island for his second session.
 
To everyone who will be attending: have a blast!!! I hope y'all get great weather and enjoy yourselves thoroughly :)
 
Thanks guys. RLo is dead on....it's meant to be fun for all. Here in GA we only have to wait a few hours for the weather to change. Never been a problem....always around 1600 to 2000 around the forge so it's always cooler anywhere you go.
You guys that live too far, start a thread to get some interest going in your areas on several of the forums. It only takes one to start and gets like a light bulb on the back porch. They start circling closer and closer until you have two, then three (Arlo Guthrie said that makes it a "movement"). There are makers and those that want to learn everywhere and I mean everywhere. Do a couple of demos for church youths, hunting/sporting groups, craft show or two and that back porch light will get brighter and brighter.
You don't have to be good to share what you know. As you gain attendees you will develope a "knowledge bank" and all will benefit and learn. It will amaze you what can happen and how it will effect your skill developement. Just cut 'er loose and let 'er run!

John Poythress, I and 12 other knifemakers got together on a similar whim about a year after Mark Williams and I started up Trackrock HI's. We formulated and chartered the Georgia Custom Knifemakers' Guild, a long time dream of John's (rest in peace JP, we miss you). Just another example of getting it together. I have personally benefitted greatly from both in new good friends, connections, and skill growth.

On a sad note, one of the original 5 Trackrockers and a charter member of F.O.O.S.R.K passed this Wednesday. Hillbilly Chuck - Chuck Fogarty lost his battle with cancer. He was a veteran of the first "Sandpit Skirmish" an a chemical specialist. Definitley took a toll on his health. Great guy and good friend, I will forever miss his booming "How R You" everytime he walked in. God Bless you Chuck....I hear He has forges set up and running down along the River so the sweet sound of anvils ringing will blend and carry with the trumpets.
 
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Btt.................. ....
 
crex, my deepest condolences for the loss of your friend. It sounds like he will have some people standing around an anvil or a fire pit and sharing their remembrances of him at this event...to be remembered fondly and with a smile among friends and family is about the best we can really ask for upon leaving this world.

I hope that many memories are shared and relived as y’all are having a blast making new ones!
 
Sounds like a good time!!
It's about 8 hours south of me but I may have to fire up my classic Winnebago and cruise on down.
Already put it on my calendar.
 
Putting the finishing touches on my mini forge, but I am smelling a gas leak. I have to sort that out before I try to forge with it inside a barn.
I want to have a blast at Track rock but I don't want to have a "BLAST!" at trackrock!
 
Lp gas leaks are not a good thing. Nothing stops the action at Track Rock like a little whiff. Are you coming Th. or Friday?
 
Paul, bottle of soapy water will find the leak real quick. Fix it and load it up.
RLo's right, nothing stops things like a wiff of Lp.
Wildman - load and go.
 
Yes, Im in. Trackrock just switched my campsite out of the middle of a bunch of scouts. (Whew!)

I may just bring the big blower/digital rig but it is a lot to carry. However, I know it doesnt leak! I think I have the line fixed. I was concerned my venturi wasn't generating enough pull and that I might have gas out the top of the burner. Can't plug that! I tweaked it and it seems better but I am used to using the forced air rig so I am new to the ways of the venturi burner.

My friend Kyle has been making stainless damascus. I think he is going to come up. If you ever want a challenge, just layer up some sheets of stainless, weld a box around them and then try to get them to stick together in your forge. His 100lb little giant helps a lot, but getting the stainless to actually weld is beyond me...but not beyond him!

I plan to bring the Burr king along again regardless of which forge I take.


@@@@ Update: I believe it is very important to have the gas port pointing straight down the venturi rather than off to one side. Gas leak fixed...
See you guys Friday
 
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Andy, It wasn't the same without you. I ground my finger tip off, burned my hand and spent 3 hours on the couch recouperating when I got home but had a great time as usual. Hope all is well.
 
Don't let Brother Paul fool you, he tore it up this weekend. Neverheard him whimper once (in front of the crowd, that is).
Thanks for all your help Paul. It was a good weekend and a good crowd.

Sorry you couldn't make it Andy (we waited for you like pigs at a trough). Missed a couple of true artisians that joined us this weekend. GRITS/House Norris and YellowKnife/Benjie brought some serious work for all to see.
Hope everything is ok with the family.
 
I real upset that I missed the hammerin. I won't miss the next one Carl.
 
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