The Spring Conference of the Northwest Blacksmith Association — “Just Hit It Harder!” — will be held in a couple of weeks, April 26-28 at the Cowlitz Expo Center in Longview, Washington. Demonstrating will be Berkley Tack, a Master Smith from Rainier, Oregon, and Alec Steele, a new aspiring smith with amazing talents coming from England. Hands-on instruction available for making punches, chisels, a spike knife, rivets and rivet headers, scrolling tongs, and hinges. For more info, see the Northwest Blacksmith Association web site.
August 22-25, don’t miss the Western States Blacksmith Conference at Mt. Hood in Oregon. In addition to demonstrations, hands-on workshops, a members gallery and auction, there will be a Blacksmith Wars World Championship and a Farriers Competition. Make lodging arrangements as soon as possible as it is a busy season at Mt. Hood. For more info, see the Western States Conference website.