Thread: September 22 - September 25 2011

I would be cheating if I joined in on this - I spent the day at Mike's, heat treating my first three razors. We talked a lot, so I know the answer - much as I'd love another piece of Mike's damascus, I'll keep the secret, at least for now. I hope to be able to join the party in September.
Skip

41-26-52.6929N / 090-30-33.3292W
~Richard

-84.215656 , 40.052641
Richard

See how he is!

Richard, I dunno where you were going with the first guess. The second is close enough to end the contest. Sorry Randy, Skip kept throwing hammers at me until I gave in.

Everyone interested in a Fall Conference follow this link: Southern Ohio Forge and Anvil (SOFA) Blacksmith Association

It's located in Troy Ohio at the Miami County Fairgrounds. The SOFA folks have a well deserved reputation for hosting a very fine event and they are legendary for tailgating. This is a place central to the eastern half of the US.

This is not tailgating in the way your ordinary sports fanatic thinks of it. But pickup trucks and trailers loaded with all manner of metal working related goods for sale. The party stuff happens on the side after everything is sold and replaced with somebody else's tools and stuff. There will be all manner of tools and materials.

Since I was asked to do some fine edge work, in the context of Tools and Tool making, razors came up. That led me to think that this would be a great opportunity for a lot of razor folks to have a big gathering. We can setup our stuff in the tailgating area and have a razor island in the middle of a special time for a lot of other people. They will drift by to see what we have going on. To follow one thread here, I thought about making a spatula, have Lynn hone it and then shave Randy with it....

Tradition indicates that folks who come to the conference to see demonstrations will also bring along items of interest. I expect that knowing a razor demonstration is going on, there will be an accumulation of razor related items brought to the event to have evaluated or horse traded with others of like-minded expectation. This is an opportunity to show other talents, collections, hones, supplies, appraisal, teaching etc. that we have until now done here.

Honemeisters, I will need your help making sure I get the correct information to the crowd about sharp, and stones, and there will undoubtedly be old razors that require attention. Collectors, you can imagine all the old razors that will drift in, and perhaps out of the fairgrounds. I can't possibly describe the variety of types and shapes and provenance of old razors to the same degree you can. Makers, your stuff will stand out. Restorers, you can setup a table and talk about tips and tricks for getting stuff to shine. Brush-makers, strop makers your tools are necessary for completing the job. All your help will enrich this conference. Someone will very likely ask me a question and I will stall, because I'm still learning a lot from this place. Having you nearby means that person will have the right answer before they leave.

I will likely be really distracted by the blacksmithing stuff that will draw my eye. Anyone interested in the forging, grinding and heat treatment of razors will have the demonstration to attend. There are going to be outstanding smiths of a wide variety of talents demonstrating. I'm not the only one. Serious artists and legends in the metal world.

Think big for just a moment. We've all had discussions about having a large conference of razor fans. The regional gatherings are the beginnings of this kind of idea. This conference could be a good opportunity for a dry run at having a much larger event. In this case, we don't have to worry about all the details of a large conference like the food or hotels or biffies, that's already organized and well practiced. All we have to do is organize ourselves within this ready-made context.

I'm honored to be invited to demonstrate. I never thought I'd get up on this big a stage. I have to do this. I hope you all can too.

38° 37' 38" N / 90° 11' 52" W

The event sounds like a great opportunity and a fun time. I am going to start looking at my calendar and pondering. There are not many things more fun than hanging out with like minded folk.

Charlie

The demonstrations are getting organized. I will be showing the use of a rolling mill to make thinner blade stock as a part of the Tools and Tool Making theme for the whole event.

But I have been asked to make razors. This will focus on questions or techniques that forumites will be interested in. I did a little grinding at Lynn's last time.

Does anyone have something they want to see me do? I'll have some blades that I will forge to shape, and some that I will likely do stock removal to show contrasting methods. I'll probably be using a Bader III grinder (2x72). I can cover finish grinding and will do heat treatment. At least two of the razors made will be tested to destruction to show the effects of different heat treatment methods, grain structures etc.

If you can be there, I'll develop the demonstration around the stuff SRP folks want to see first. Give me some ideas so I can start practicing.

I think you have all the bases covered, I can not think of anything else to add. I am looking forward to the forging demo and the lumpy grain versus fine grain demo.

Charlie

Okay, a reminder that this is coming up in two weeks. I'll be in Ohio on the 22nd. I'm pulling together some O-1 for the heat treatment process. I've got one forge built just to play with. The rolling mill is coming with me, along with the big buffer and the salt pots. I'll discuss tooling as I go along including the variety of ways to get the job done.

I have a bunch of pattern welded steel ready to go. I'm hoping to get a few blades done at the conference for their auction/gallery so this will include some of what I know about polishing and etching PW steels. If someone has some scales available perhaps we can get them dressed properly, I'm not ashamed to ask for help there.

Anyone who can be at this event will be most welcome. Who all is going to be along?