Alex Bealer Blacksmith Association

This month's meeting was hosted by Linda Holmes-Rubin at her home shop in Canton. Beautiful property, but leave early, it's no small trip! Tony led a medium-short business meeting, and then Lance Ziegler demonstrated the Clay Spencer tire hammer.

I didn't have my camera with me, but if folks will upload the pics they took (instructions on how to upload pics are here) then I'll insert them into this article.

From the business meeting:

• It looks like Tony's going to be drafted into another year as president. The post of vice-president is still painfully vacant.
• Reviews for the SBA scholarship are underway. There were four entries.
• Membership committee is meeting to streamline tracking of membership stuff so folks don't get overlooked in newsletter distribution and other things. Postcard mailings to lapsed members may be one result.
• If you're an ABANA Member, get your vote in for Al McClure for a board position.

Lance did a freestanding calla lily on the tire hammer. He produced it from a single railroad spike. He demonstrated the control of the hammer and the utility of it for folks that may have thought that a power hammer was out of their budget and shop plan. For power, he considers it roughly comparable to a 25lb Little Giant.

When complete, the demo item went into Iron in the Hat. There were four forge items plus the normal collection of treasures this time around. The forge item was a towel rack, toilet paper holder, or coat rack. It's good to see forge item turnout on a light upswing. I hope that continues next month with the andiron/fire tool.

Linda put out a lunch for all, and conversation was in good supply on the upper deck. Thanks to Linda and Lance for a good meeting.