Alex Bealer Blacksmith Association

Tannehill State Park
McCalla, AL

Featured Demonstrators:
Bob Trout and Tsur Sadan

Family Activities:
Show & Tell
Beginners Classes
Iron Art Auction
Tailgate Tool Sales

2006 Demonstrators:
Robert Trout - Ontario, NY
Tips and Techniques for the Copper Shop

Bob is a Roycroft Renaissance Master Artisan in metal. He is the past
president of his local ABANA chapter and site facilities chairman for two
ABANA conferences held in Alfred, NY. Bob has been working with metal
almost his entire life, first as a sheet metal fabricator/welder for 32
years and as a blacksmith and ABANA member since 1980. He maintains his own
shop in Ontario, NY. Bob will be demonstrating forging copper pipe,
hammering and chasing techniques, soldering, patination and finishing
techniques

Tsur Sadan - Shacharut, Israel
Traditional Forging and Striking

Tsur opened his blacksmith shop in Shacharut, Israel, after serving a four
year apprenticeship with Uri Hofi. Tsur sees himself as a modern day
village blacksmith. Although he has worked for architects all over the
country, you can still find Tsur lying beneath an old tractor from
someone's farm.

Besides running a busy blacksmith shop, Tsur feels that teaching is an
important part off his life as an artist blacksmith. Tsur has been a
demonstrator at numerous ABANA events through out the United States and
teaches several time a year at the Ozark School of Blacksmithing in Potosi,
MO. Tsur with the assistance of Tom Clark, will be demonstrating
traditional techniques to forge a grille, concentrating on slitting and
drifting, and the use of a striker to help move the metal. In addition they
will be showing how to make various tools for the shop; hand hammer,
hardies, bending fork, tongs and what ever other things the audience might
want to see.

Family Program

Pre-Registration is recommended! Classes will fill-up fast. Don't miss out.
The minimum age is 15 years, 12 if accompanied by an adult.
Each class is limited to 10 students to ensure personal attention.
All classes are beginner level with no experience needed or required!!!

Kaleidoscopes - Instructor: Carol Goodrum - Carol will be teaching you the
Secrets & Magic of Kaleidoscopes. Make your own from PVC & learn the
secrets that will allow you to make even more sophisticated ones when you
return home.
(Class Fee $15)

Flowers in Copper - Instructor: Rick Jay - Learn to cut, shape and assemble
beautiful copper flowers of all types. Most of you are familiar with Rick's
work and the great detail and realism he puts into his copper flowers. This
is a chance to spend a few hours and turn out your own versions. Your
finished flowers will be suitable for use singly or as part of a larger
project. Some basic familiarity with hand tools will be helpful in
achieving good results. Instructor will provide patterns and materials.
Students should bring work gloves. (Class Fee $25)

Hummingbird Feeder - Instructor: Stacy Stegall - will teach the
construction of beautiful Hummingbird Feeders using wine bottles & copper.
Students will learn to cut copper leaves & use the art of repousse' to
embellish them. You will solder stems on the leaves, solder them to the
vine which supports the wine bottle feeder, then using a colored patina on
the copper you will create a beautiful Hummingbird Feeder that will be the
envy of your neighbors. All materials and tools will be furnished. (Class
Fee $20)

Green Coal
The AFC has 8 teaching stations available for hands-on instruction by
accomplished blacksmiths. If you are just getting started in blacksmithing,
here is your chance to learn the basics from some of the best the AFC has
to offer. If you have a project you've been working on and need
help...bring it along. $10 per session.

Friday Night Blast
Make plans to attend the forging contest that is as funny as it is intense.
The contest will be nail making, but with a twist. This year we will allow
teams but the teams will be paired by skill level, experienced smith with
in-experienced smith. The AFC is an educational organization so in that
spirit we will team the 2 smiths with the intent to teach. Assigned
partners will have to switch positions half way through the contest. This
should be a blast, please consider participating. Prizes awarded.

The Auction
Your donated items for the auction are very much appreciated. The auction
proceeds are where the AFC generates its income to offer blacksmithing
scholarships and to host the free workshops each year. The conference fees
pay for putting on the conference but the auction is how we continue to
provide the activities that further the art and craft of blacksmithing. Our
auctioneer this year is Col. Anthony Goodrum. Remember, this is a charity
auction, bid generously.

If you cannot attend we welcome your donations. Please send them to:
Mike Linn - AFC Auction
13784 Dianne Drive
McCalla, AL 35111

Iron-in the-Hat
This year the AFC will be conducting iron-in-the-hat to help raise funds
for our educational programs. Tickets are $1 each, 6 for $5, 25 for $20.
Two drawings will be held for items donated and the centerpiece is a
blacksmith's toolbox. Any items for the general iron-in-the-hat or tools
for the toolbox would be greatly appreciated.

Please send iron-in-the-hat donations (if you cannot attend) to:
Mike Linn - Iron-in-the-Hat
13784 Dianne Drive
McCalla, AL 35111

Registration
Gate entry will begin Thursday (Sept.8th) afternoon. Pre-registered
attendees pay $30 and AFC membership is required; AFC dues are $20 per year
and include 6 issues of the Bituminous Bits. Registration at the conference
will be $35 for 3-day and $20 for 1-day, per person.

Those attending the demonstrations or are setting up tailgate sales are
required to pay the conference fee. Family members or temporary visitors
need only sign the release and obtain a badge for TEMPORARY entry into the
conference area. Family members, of a registered conference participant,
attending family program classes only, are not required to pay the full
conference fee. If you take up space at a blacksmith demo you must pay the
conference fee.

Location
Tannehill State Park is located approximately 25 miles southwest of
Birmingham. Take Exit 100 from I-59/20 and go east about 2 miles to the
park or take Exit 1 from I-459 and go south about 7 miles, the park
entrance will be on your right. The conference will be held in Farley Field
at the extreme northern end of the park.

The blacksmithing demonstrations will be in the Forge Pavilion. Plenty of
bleacher and chair seating are available.
The family and children's programs will be held in nearby tents and
pavilions.

For more information please contact:

Mike Linn at
205-477-7643 (bamablacksmith@comcast.net )

Schedule of Events

Friday Sept. 8th
8:30 am to 11:30 am
Featured Demonstrator - Bob Trout
Featured Demonstrator - Tsur Sadan
Green Coal - up to 8 students
Kaleidoscopes - Carol Goodrum
Copper Flowers - Rick Jay

11:30 to 12:30 Break for Lunch

12:30 to 4:00 pm
Featured Demonstrator - Bob Trout
Featured Demonstrator - Tsur Sadan
Green Coal - up to 8 students
Hummingbird Feeder - Stacy Stegall (1-4 pm)

7:00 pm
Friday Night Blast
Forging Contest

Saturday Sept 9th
8:30 am to 11:30 am
Featured Demonstrator - Bob Trout
Featured Demonstrator - Tsur Sadan
Green Coal - up to 8 students
Kaleidoscopes - Carol Goodrum

11:30 to 12:30 Break for Lunch

12:30 to 4:00 pm
Featured Demonstrator - Bob Trout
Featured Demonstrator - Tsur Sadan
Green Coal - up to 8 students
Hummingbird Feeder - Stacy Stegall (1-4 pm)
Copper Flowers - Rick Jay (1-4pm)

4:15 Sharp
Auction
Awards Ceremony
After Auction - Dinner

After Dark
Playtime at the shop - Impromptu Demos and Miscellaneous BS Sessions.