New board member John Adams all set to go pillage a village with the Viking style axe he made after visiting the Science Museum of Minnesota’s Viking Exhibit and watching Tom make an axe similar to one on display

Elections

The Annual Banquet/Business Meeting

New Officers

and more!

See: Elections page 4

Two Great

Full Weekend Classes

Coming Up In January

Beyond the Basics with Bob Johnson, Dick Carlson, and Myron Hanson

Jan 11^th and 12^th a two day workshop

See page . . . 9

Making an Antique Style Folding Knife

with Jim Moenck and John Adams

Jan 25^th and 26^th a two day workshop

See page . . . 11

You still have a chance to forge that last minute gift, or practice your backswing (miss your nose this time, think safety guys)

December 14^th

Open Forge Session.

See page 7

In this month's FORUM

Video rental form (front cover)

Metalsmith Back Issue Service

Membership application (back cover)

Publishing data

Call for Metalsmith Articles

Educational Grants

Sept board meeting 

Directory updates

Letters

Want Ads

Call for Workshop Proposals

Next Meetings

               - Board Meeting Jan 10th

                 Myron Hanson's

               - February 14^th, 3M Abrasives

               division

Workshops

Call for Advanced Smithing Class proposals

All Beginning Blacksmith Classes are filled for this year.

              Dec.

                            Open Forge

              Jan 

The GoM Forum is published monthly by the Guild of Metalsmiths, St. Paul, MN.

 It is intended as a community bulletin board, a place for all members to express their opinions, concerns, debate policy, propose projects & workshops. In short, to help us run our organization.

Your comments can be mailed to The GoM Forum, c/o Gene Olson, 8600 NE O'Dean Ave. Elk River, MN 55330-7167, Faxed to 763-441-5846, or emailed to:

forum@metalsmith.org

Metalsmith Article Deadline:

Those of you working on those informative articles for our quarterly magazine. The copy deadline for the issue 1 of 2003 is February 1.

Send them to:

MARCIA MCEACHRON

2526 CALIFORNIA AVE NE

MINNEAPOLIS MN 55418

Phone: 612-706-0198

Fax number: 612-781-8435

Email: metalsmith@metalsmith.org

Please!

Guild Educational Grants

There is grant money available for Guild members to study intermediate and advanced metalworking techniques.

The Guild educational grant program is designed to bring new skills into the metalworking community. Participants are given money to pay for a portion of their expenses and are expected to learn some new or poorly understood skill and to share what they have learned with other members and the public through an article in our quarterly magazine and by leading a workshop on the topic (or other educational service approved by the board)

Application forms can be gotten from the President or Treasurer at a regular meeting or by sending a self addressed stamped envelope to

The Guild of Metalsmiths

PO Box 11423

St. Paul, MN 55111

The November Board Meeting:

In absence of minutes at this time

here is an unofficial report

The Minutes from the previous meeting were not available as they hadn’t been transcribed yet. We did an oral review of the notes and await Dave Mariettes formal version.

Committee Reports:

Financial: $5600 in the grantfund and $18600 in operating capital. The coal has to be paid for yet. Nowthen purchased the rest to the tools that we use out there, so that money was also in there.

Education: Classes are progressing The issue of doing something to recognize those teaching classes was brought up. Gene Olson offered to make name tags.

Classes for a folding knife and beyond the basics are being organized for January.

Program: The February meeting will be at the 3M Abrasives Division offices and research facility on the main campus just north of I94 and east of Downtown St. Paul. A map and directions will be in the January forum.

Planning for the Fall conference is progressing with tentative confirmation on a couple of the demonstrators.

Publicity: Gene had made progess on finding replacements for some of his duties. Georgia Meyer has volunteered to take over the Forum in several months probably in February.

Gordon Barr has offered to take over the Database.

Old Business:

25^th Anniversary We approved expenses for the 25^th anniversary banquet.

Sales to Nowthen: It was noted that the Guild had sold all property that was in the Nowthen smithing shed to The Nowthen Threshing Show.

Coal, had been held up because the trucker had not been getting loads in the direction of the Coal distributer. He has made other arrangements and the coal should be here by the 15^th.

We no longer get it from the mine as we had been, because apparently Sky Coal in Iowa had purchaced the “franchise” to sell that mine’s coal in Minnesota and Iowa. Fetrel called Sky Coal to order a truck load and was told that we would have to buy it by the bag because the coal yard didn’t make enough on bulk coal. Dave pointed out that if we didn’t order from him he would make nothing at all but that failed to get through his head.

We bought bulk coal from a distributer in Ohio, same vein, same coal, different mine.( sometimes the same mine) and it is still cheaper than dealing with Sky Coal.

Maybe next time we can buy from Iowa after they finish savoring the profits made on 100% of nothing.

Elections, outgoing officers were encouraged to find their replacements.

Induction Heating Seminar at Olin’s.

Definition of Guild sponsored events is tabled till the new board convenes in Jan.

New Business:

Grants. John Yust, a grant for tools for a repousse workshop to be held, was approved.

Mike Blue’s Hammerin was adopted as a guild activity.

We had some real nice things at show and tell. Tom Latané brought several samples along from his demonstrations at the Science Museum., Sue Wood showed us some gears she was making for a clock and all the special tools she had made to make them. Brent Wold and some armor and swords. There were candle holders, and many other things which I don’t have photos of and unfortunately missed their presentation so I can’t give credit.

Thanks to All who brought things to share.

Next meeting: Dec 1 CSPS hall

Next board meeting Jan 8, 2003 at Myrons.

December Banquet & Meeting:

Committee Reports were pretty much in line with the ones summarized in Nov.

Mike Blue’s Hammerin is filled.

A thank you to these people for stepping up to take on the operation of our organization.

New officers:

President - Dave Mariette

Vice President - Dick Carlson

Treasurer - Mike Frattalone

Board of directors:

New -John Adams

Herb Fick

Lynn Ford

Brent Wold

Jim Moenck - 1 yr

Old -Bob Johnson

Myron Hanson

Thanks to:

Dave Feterl our outgoing President

and to outgoing Board Members:

Donald Halverson

Bill Hanson

Al Olson

Gene Olson

Bryan Steckman

Thanks also to:

several volunteers who will be taking over some of Gene’s duties next year.

Georgia Meyer - Forum Editor

Gordon Barr - Database/mailing list

Tom Barnett - WebMaster

and also to Jim Moenck mentioned above for filling out Gene’s board term.

 Directory Updates:

 We left space . Get out your pen.

A Hearty Welcome to our

            New Members:

Wyatt Bienfang

Jeff Boorom

Dave Cammack

Gene Diekmann

Alan Hanson

James Haugen

Dan MacDonald

Roland Sigurdson

Bill Stawikoski

Lost in the Shuffle:

Dan Martel

An audit by Mike and I discovered that Dan joined last April but didn’t get entered into the mailing list. OOOOPS! Sorry, Dan! We hope you forgive us.

Welcome to the Guild.

Address Changes:

******

Letters:

To have your letter printed here, Address it Dear Forum: and mail it to The GoM Forum, c/o Gene Olson, 8600 NE O’Dean Ave. Elk River, MN 55330-7167 ; email it to: forum@metalsmith.org or FAX to 763-441-5846

******

Want Ads:

Any notice MUST be in my hands by the end of the month.

******

For Sale - 4 hammer sets

of

 Repousse Hammers

It was great seeing you all at the banquet. Could you let it be known in the forum that I'm making sets of repousse hammers like John Yust ordered for his class. I got a fair number of requests yesterday, so I thought maybe I should get some information out. I'll sell the full set of four hammers at a introductory rate of $100 a set until January 1st, then it will go up to $120 a set. Plus Shipping and handling of course. ($15) If anyone orders them in December they get the low rate, even if I can't get the hammers to them for a month or two. I hope you all have a great Christmas!

Nathan Robertson

Jackpine Forge
52765 Robertson Rd
Max, MN 56659-9702
Home phone: 218-659-4590

Gene notes:

That is $100 plus $15 for carefully packing and shipping these treasures total of $115 through the end of Dec and then 120 plus after that or $135.

These are Hammers made to Wendel Broussard’s spec. for the upcoming payback workshop that John Yust will be giving. As usual they display Nathan’s fine craftsmanship.

Wendel’s specifies these 1045 alloy hammers with a fairly soft surface so he can tune them with a file. I like mine just a little harder and tune them with a 3M scrubbee type abrasive disk. Be sure to tell Nathan how hard you want them.

                                Gene

******

Free Stuff

John Hankes is moving and has iron and other stock which he needs to get rid of. If you need steel or casting iron give John a call.

He is in Lakeland, MN. That is just south of I94 on what used to be MN 95. On the west side of the road, in a house and small store front. Last exit before the St.Croix bridge.

Hankes, Jon J

1950 Quasar Ave S

Lakeland, MN 55043-9501

Home phone: 651-436-7601

Want Ads are free to members

(and if the some nonmember is selling tools and equipment that may benefit members and the smithing community by keeping good tools in circulation, we will print those free too (anvils, forges, etc.)) Ads, (and letters) are published on a space available basis. This notice needs to ride on one stamp, so if there are too many pages some editing may be done or the ad may be pushed into the next issue.

 Display advertising rate is the same as for Metalsmith. Half sheet, 4 insertions, for $50.

(Thats full page here, half page in Metalsmith)

 Open Saturday, December 14, 2002 Forge with

Instructor available to help

Here’s another opportunity for any member to get in some forging time in a nice heated shop with 8 forges. These “Open Forge” days are designed to give members who don’t yet have a shop a place in which to practice or to make things.

We will have at least one “instructor type” available to help with any questions you may have and to assist in helping you develop your blacksmithing skills. For those who are actively involved with The Blacksmithing Study Guide, this could be a great opportunity to make some progress and to get clarification on any of its contents.

Tear form off here

Fill out other side

 and send it along with your check for $15

 (made out to Guild of Metalsmiths)

 to

 Pete Stanaitis

2476 10th Ave

Baldwin, WI, 54002

ASAP!

715-698-2895

Details:

              Place: Minnesota School of Horseshoeing

              Date: Saturday, December 14, 2002

              Time: 8:30 AM - 4 PM                    Cost: $15.00

              What to bring: Bring your own tools, stock and your projects ideas. Workstations       and coal will be furnished.

              Maximum class size: 8

Person to contact to answer any questions about these workshops:

  Pete Stanaitis,

              715-698-2895

Tear form off here and

 send it along with your check for $15 (made out to Guild of Metalsmiths)

  to Pete Stanaitis, 2476 10th Ave, Baldwin, WI, 54002, ASAP!

Registration Form for the December 14, 2002 Open Forging Workshop

Name of Participant: _____________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________

            _______________________________________

Phone (____) _______________

The "Beyond the Basics"

 two day workshop

will be held

 Saturday 1-11-03,

 and

Sunday 1-12-03,

from 9AM -4PM each day.

This will be held at the Minnesota School of Horseshoeing.

       Instructors will be Dick Carlson and Myron Hanson and Bob Johnson.

Tear off here

Beyond the Basics

Fill out the other side

and Mail Registration and payment ($40)

(check made out to the Guild of Metalsmiths)

  to:

Robert Johnson

1302 Osceola Ave.

St. Paul, Mn 55105

Beyond the basics Workshop

 We will make some tools and a multi-part project, using traditional joinery, as we did last year.

       Cost will be $40, payable to the Guild,

 Participants should bring safety items including eye protection, and bucket of tools.

If you have any questions, contact:

Robert Johnson

1302 Osceola Ave.

St. Paul, Mn 55105

Phone: 651-699-3919

email: johnson@macalester.edu

This is an intermediate level workshop.

 Bring your lunch with you, or eat at one of the local establishments.

Tear off here

Registrations and payment to be sent to Robert Johnson, 1302 Osceola Ave.

       St. Paul, Mn 55105 - Cost $40 (Check made out to Guild of Metalsmiths)

Registration Form for the January 11^th and 12^th Beyond the Basics Workshop.

Name of Participant: _____________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________

            _______________________________________

Phone (____) _______________

 Making an Antique Style Folding Knife

Date: January 25th & 26^th

Time

 Saturday 900 - 400

  Sunday 900 - 300

Location: Minnesota School of Horseshoeing

Teachers: John Adams & Jim Moenck

Class Description: Participants will make a folding knife in a circa 1800 style, with a forged blade and a deer antler handle.

Tear off here

To reserve a spot in this workshop fill out the other side

and send your check

for $30.00 (made out to the Guild of Metalsmiths)

 to:

Jim Moenck

661 Dorland Road S.

Maplewood, MN 55119

Making an Antique Style Folding Knife

Class size: Minimum of 4, maximum of 8

What to bring: Participants must bring their own eye and ear protection. Also a couple of your favorite hammers, a 2 lb for the heavy work, and a lighter one

for the fine work. Cross pein or straight pein hammers work well. Also bring your favorite bucket of tools tongs, wire brush, measuring devices and files

- flat, half round and round, all in various sizes.

Cotton clothing is preferred and suitable footware (leather boots).

Materials: all materials will be furnished. You may want to purchase the booklet titled "Antler and Iron II, Building a Mountain Man Folding Knife" by Gene Chapman. You can buy this at Centaur Forge for about $12.00. It is not necessary, but will be helpful to review this prior to class.

Lunch: Bring your lunch with you, or eat at one of the local establishments.

For more information contact:

Jim Moenck

661 Dorland Road S.

Maplewood, MN 55119

or e-mail me at jrmoenck@yahoo.com

daytime phone is 651-439-3138, ext 210

home phone is 651-735-4461.

Tear off here

Send your check for $30.00 (made out to the Guild of Metalsmiths) to:

Jim Moenck, 661 Dorland Road S., Maplewood, MN 55119

Registration Form for the January 25^th and 26^th Folding Knife Workshop.

Name of Participant:

 _____________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________

            _______________________________________

Phone (____) _______________