Oct 2006 HABA Houston Area Blacksmith's Association

Houston
Area
Blacksmith's
Association

7418 Branch Point
Houston, TX 77095-2649

To Preserve and Promote the Art and Craft of Blacksmithing Through Education.

Welcome to HABAIRON.ORG, the website of the Houston Area Blacksmith's Association, the Internet resource of choice for the blacksmith in and around Houston, Texas. We have the technology!

October 28 and 29, 2006

“Smithing in Texas”
at
Barrington Living History Farm

On October 28 and 29, Barrington Living History Farm invited HABA members to the farm for a weekend of forging. Last year the farm asked HABA to consider building a steel harrow that their team of oxen can pull to till the garden. In the past, several HABA members showed up to make or repair whatever was needed. It is always an enjoyable weekend for the members and the public who stop by to see what is being built.

Our request list for this year included:

Forged nails and hooks for hanging tools and stuff on the walls
Flat and or rounded chisel for wood working
Barking Iron for removing bark from tree limbs
Handle for the gate latch rod (yes they got our hinges installed on new gate)
Claw hammer
Primitive farm forge to use with bellows

Mark Sanders sent a description of the bark spud and said they need this to prepare a shipment of logs for a bridge they will be building this year. Click BF List to download the pdf file. There are several sources of info on the web and several are listed on our event page.

"Bark peeling was a task requiring the use of special tools, known as peelers or barking irons, which were forged by a blacksmith. Men used a rod made from a solid piece of iron which terminated in a flattened blade. It was around two feet in length and was used for stripping bark from the trunks of trees. Women used a smaller and lighter tool with a wooden handle and iron blade around one foot in length. It was used to remove bark from saplings and branches." from Woodland Industries in the Wyre Forest

Our web page with all the details is Smithin' in Texas 2006. Saturday included forges from Tee Hines, Dave Koenig, Fred Titera, and Richard Boswell with help from Christian Darce. On Sunday Ed Malmgren joined in to greet the visitors and Members who came from near and far to say hello and help out.

Here are some photos from Richard Boswell and Tee Hines from Sunday's work day. Please click to enlarge.....

Notes about this Website

This website is Under Development and will continue to evolve for HABA Members.

The use any of the material from this site is at your own risk. All persons associated with this material disclaim any responsibility or liability for damages or injuries resulting from the use or application of this information. They assume no responsibility or liability for the accuracy, fitness, proper design, safety or safe use of any information presented here.

Please send all feedback/correction/omission/suggestions to your webmaster, Richard Boswell .
Enjoy!