July 4th, 2013

Harper's Ferry, West Virginia is one of my favorite places in the world.

Why? I don't really know. Maybe its the rustic, civil war town feel that captures my imagination. Perhaps its the bustling train station where passenger and freight trains mosey by. It could be the scenery, with the mountains surrounding the small riverside village. Whatever it is, I love Harper's Ferry.

I went there on July 4th, to spend a quiet day reading and exercising. So, I trekked down there, laden with A Man of the Beatitudes,my journal, prayer book and my trusty Bible (NAB), some water, my flat cap and a pair of cool shades, and spent the day relaxing. I saw on the map that there is a blacksmith shop nearby, so I went to check it out. To my dismay, it was closed. That will wait for another time, another time!

However, I climbed the hill that leads to the churches above the town, and got a tour of the quaint and majestic St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church.


This crucifix was imported from Italy, and is an approximate match to the Shroud of Turin. It was hand painted and serves as a beautiful devotional piece at the rear of the church.

This Sanctuary lamp dates back to before the Civil War, and is beautifully adorned in the style of its day. It survived the war and the remodeling done in 1888 (or thereabouts).

The altar featured a carved relief of the Last Supper, and behind it shows the tabernacle, flanked by three rows of candelabras. The ones in the middle, with the porcelain roses, are from the early 1800s.

Showing the whole sanctuary in its splendor. The marble is imported from Italy, and truly shows the faith of the builders of the church.

 

After touring the church, I nestled myself down in the ruins of the old Episcopal church and began to read. After a few hours, I got up, hiked on the Appalachian Trail to my car, went to St. James (the sister parish of St. Peter) for a visit. Afterwards, I traversed to Shepherdstown WV to visit Nick and O'Hurley's for another Thursday Jam Session.

 

Then, back to MD and to bed for me!

 

What a great Independence Day! 

Upcoming Series

Dearest Readers,

Prepare thy selves.

Upcoming over the next several weeks, I will be posting a series of instructionals. They will be pictorial references about the elementary tools, processes and techniques of Blacksmithing, as well as insights and quirky sayings that I will interlace as I see fit.

Stay tuned for more attractive and appealing posts! Share with your friends and family, co-workers and old schoolmates. Tell your enemies, as well. Maybe even your mother and father! Perhaps tell your clergyman, rabbi, barber, dentist, gynaecologist, mycologist (who, ironically, is the most entertaining type of scientist), and if you're daring, even the President! (at least of the president of your old sorority).

Hammer on!

Blacksmith Days

Well, it has been a good semester.

Yet that is no excuse for me slacking off on my blog. I appologize to you, my dear readers.
But, I have something exciting to share with y'all!

Last Sunday my sister and I attended the 2013 Blacksmith Days at the Carroll County Farm Museum, hosted by the Blacksmith Guild of Central Maryland.

Demonstrating was Ken Schwarz and Randy McDaniel. Although I did not get to see Randy McDaniel's demonstrations of the hydraulic forging press, I did get to see some fantastic and mezmorizing colonial ironwork from Ken Schwarz, Master Blacksmith at Colonial Williamsburg.

The event began on Saturday, but, being busy butching hens and selling random items at a yardsale, we were unable to get to the Farm Musuem until Sunday afternoon. The event was winding down, but I still got to see some fantastic forging demonstrations by Ken.

The first item that I saw being demonstrated was a strap hinge, as seen on colonial houses in the Chesapeake and East Coast area.

The strap hinge was traditionally forged and firewelded, being made from real wrought iron. He used Borax as the welding flux, and boy O boy was that thing cool! The edges were chamfered, several holes were punched, and the spade shape was demonstrated right in front of us. For the spade he flattened the end to make a three sided taper, which was a revelation to me. That's how to make perfect spade-leaves! I always went with a four sided taper, which made for the long, willow leaves as seen in other posts. 

The next item he showed us was a colonial nail header. He first passed around an example of his previous work as he began to forge a new one. 

Nicely welded and forged beautifully! 

Ken began by straightening out a length of coil spring for the head of the header. 

He then got ready to weld the coil spring onto some upset mild steel square bar. His striker (presumably his daugher) worked with marvelous efficency, and the weld stuck on the first hit. 

Perfectly formed, ready for the hole to be punched! 

His striker worked wordlessly as he directed in a well rehearsed, fast paced dance. 

After a few more refinements, Ken quenched the well made tool and passed it around for all to see. 

Ken hammered out multiple nails, demonstrating the effectiveness of the nail header. 

The four-clout head of the nail, hammered with precision:

A look at the tools of the trade: 

And Ken had some displays of his work, which is in the true colonial fashion. The demonstration ended after the nails were made, and people were allowed to mill around and ask Ken questions. My sister and I snapped some photos of the exceptional work. 

A fire dog

Traditional joinery, as well as a square corner adorned the fantastic work. 

A trivet, rivetted in place and welded together.

A detailed rivet joint. I am going to make one of these! 

Not real sure what this is.... Anyone know?

Here is showing the process for a shutter hook, strap hinge, and regular hinge hook. 

Well, that's that! 

Happy Hammering!