Mace’s Hammer-In, 10-27-2012 (lots of photos)

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The next several posts will be images from the Hammer-In that Mace Vitale held at the Guilford Art Center on Saturday, 10-27-2012. As I had requested, the weather was pleasant and dry.

I took a wrong turn on the way there and arrived a little late. Mace was already giving a demonstration on Blade Forging.

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After Mace forged the blade, Andy Billipp ground it out.

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Dave Loukidis then gave a demo on guard fitting. He had some interesting techniques and gadgets. If you’ll notice, he uses clear packing take to cover and protect his blades while working on the guard. He also uses a homemade filing jig to square up the shoulders and put a little bit of a step around the tang where the guard will fit. That way, very small imperfections will be hidden when the knife is assembled.

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The filing jig.

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Dave uses this homemade jig to press the guard onto his blade. I took a bunch of pictures, so we can make our own.

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Then Mace gave a hand sanding demo. He showed us a chisel ground brass tool, which he uses to clean up the plunge cuts on his blades. He said it is uncomfortable to use, but it works.

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Barbara Wechter was supposed to be working on a bronze casting, but it looked like she was collecting cans instead. Oh my!
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Whew! It turned out she was actually mixing up sand in that barrel.
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The sand was for the sand mold she was making.
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Later in the day she and Mace poured bronze into the mold. It looked pretty darn hot.
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Since this was a hammer-in, lots of people were pounding steel.

Here’s the indoor forging shop.
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Dave, Kerry, and Vinny at work.
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Andy and ? working at the forge.
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Dave, Kerry, and Matt
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Kerry forging outside
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Another forger, but I never caught his name tag.
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Chris forging
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Andy forging
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Matt Parkinson
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I don’t know this guy’s name, but Mace said it’s his nephew.
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Finally, we have the New Jersey Steel Baron, Aldo Bruno, forging away. Who else would hammer with a cigarette butt hanging out of his mouth.
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Here is Mace forging out a leaf, which he later added to the raffle prizes.
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Speaking of the raffle, here are some of the items. Dave Loukidis got the first ticket and promptly snatched up the piece of W-2 round bar that everyone was drooling over.
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Here’s my swag from the raffle; two blades that Mace forged (one heat treated) and a piece of Blister Curl Maple.
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At the end, there was some customary rope cutting. Matt cheated and used a sword.

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Nice one. Looks like a great learning opportunity for you all :)

Awesome workshop...
 
Another good hammer-in ! I'm glad to see Aldo learning what the makers are talking about !!
 
Chris, Message sent. Thanks!

Aldo's been pounding for quite some time. Met him about 10 years ago at what I believe was the first ABS New England Hammer In.
 
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I went to highschool in Madison and had no idea at the time that these workshops existed in Guilford! Looks like a fun workshop and a great learning experience! I enjoyed the pics!
 
Thanks Chris! It was an awesome New England fall day. Glad we got it in before Sandy hit.
Good times...good times!
Mace
 
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