French Camp Academy
French Camp Academy
French Camp Academy Pioneer Day Hammer-In
French Camp Academy Assessment
During the Batson hammer in this passed April
we had the pleasure of meeting four young men from French Camp Academy. Larry
Harley and Wes Byrd helped three of these young men make knives. Tim Potier came
over after his demonstration and helped one young man for about three hours.
That evening at dinner at Batson’s cabin Tim related to Larry and me a
conversation he had with the young man he had been helping. Tim had struggled
through this young man hammering out his first knife from a ¾ inch piece of W2
round stock. When the blade had been forged Tim told the young man to take it
home and he and his daddy could finish the blade. At that point the young man
said "Mister, I don’t have a daddy. I don’t even know how my daddy was." Later
the young fellow hunted Tin Down and to thank him for helping him and said "No
body has ever done any thing like that for me".
The next day they were back. One of the guys
brought a railroad spike with him so he could enter the spike knife contest. We
worked with them from 8:15 that morning until 1:00 that afternoon all of them
left with blisters on their hands. Tow of them with bloody hands. Tim, Larry and
I made up our minds that we needed to invest some time with these kids from
French camp Academy. The three of us were convinced that we should have some
kind of ongoing association with French Camp Academy.
We talked to several board members that
Saturday afternoon and gained an understanding that we would go to French Camp
and assess their facility and see how we could help them.
On Friday May11, Larry Harley, Wes Byrd, and
Tim Potier ventured to French Camp , Mississippi, to host a hands on
demonstration of Bladesmithing for the students and staff of French Camp
Academy. We began about eight o’clock Saturday morning at the historical area
blacksmith shop and worked with about 40 students during the day on various
hands on forging activities. We used age and ability appropriate exercises so
each person takes something home that they have worked on. We made nails, hot
dog forks, leaves, and knives with a range of male and female students from age
7 to 18. In addition Larry and I got to evaluate the facilities at the school
for use as a knife shop.
The blacksmith shop in the historical area is
a 20 by 20 log structure with a lean-to on each side of the building. The shop
has basic power minimum lighting and dirt floors. It is a good place to show the
public and students forging techniques but does not lend it self to making a
modern, safe knife shop. The school has a modern steel building formally sued to
teach auto mechanics and welding. The welding shop has vent hoods, good
lighting, 110 volt and 220 volt power, drill presses, a small milling machine,
shears, breaks, large cut off saw, metal band saw, work benches, and various
other tools. At present this area is used only for needed maintenance welding
and is available for use as a knife shop.
The following is a list of the types of
equipment that would be needed to start a shop capable of supporting teaching of
knife making.
Steel 5160
Grinder (2)
Grinder Belts
Layout dye
Carbide scribe
Dial Calipers
Starret 29B
Two propane forges
Kaowool
Satanite
Blowers
Box jaw or "V-lock" tongs
Hammers various sizes
Two anvils
Two anvil stands (height adjustable)
Files, all varieties
Febings brown leather dye
Respirators
Gloves
Sand paper
Aprons
Power Hammer
Parallel filing jig
Nail headers( several in several different
sizes)
Scroll bending jigs
Safety glasses
Vibratory sanders, 1/4 sheet
Larry,
This is a list of all the donations for the
Blacksmithing program. I am writing a thank you to these and sending them a loaf
of bread.
I really think that we have enough aprons,
safety glasses and gloves at this time.
Terry
Thanks,
Terry
Richard B. Thibeau 2 lbs. hammers, tongs,
tape measure, punches.
1896 Carlisle Rd.
Traverse City, MI 49686
231-932-2388 shop 231-590-2052 cell
www.dancingfrogforge.com
Bill North 24 pairs of safety glasses
18 Brookwood Rd.
Ashville NC. 28804
828-252-0641
Dave Amour Satanite, Kowool, gloves, brass,
ear plugs,
2743 S. Veterans Parkway safety glasses, box
fan, tongs, anvil, hammers
Springfield, IL 62704 knife handles and steel
217-862-2060
Scott Kuntz 72 inch sanding belts
Hog Abrasives
1631 Industrial Blvd.
Lake Havasu City AZ. 86403
800-525-1878
Gene & Peg Chapmen 12 Books
P.O. Box 1038
Kingston, WA 98346
360-297-2495
Michael Fitzgerald 8 boxes of sandpaper 100
each, jeweler files
911 Walnut St. regular files and dial
calipers
Waukegan IL, 60085
847-244-1743
Daniel Johnson 1-2 x 72 inch Belt grinder.
Stephen Bader & Company
P.O.Box 297 10 Charles St.
Valley Falls, NY 12185
518-753-4456
Joseph F. Keeslar
391 Radio Road
Almo, Kentucky 42020
270-753-7919
Bert Gaston
5900 Ridgefield Lane
Little Rock, AR 72223
501-868-1793
Tracy Dotson 2 Gas Forges, 6 pairs of leather
gloves
1280 HWYC4A safety glass and 11 packs of ear
plugs
Baker FL, 32531
850-758-8867
Tracydotson@embarqmail.com
The whole family gave these gifts.
Les Voorhies 10 aprons (Blue Jean Type), 2
cases of
14511 Lake Mazaska Trail safety glasses
Faribault, MN 55021
Darren Ellis 2 cut off valves, 2 gas
regulators
Knoxville, TN 37918 2 hoses and 2 dial
gauges.
865-660-5280
http://EllisCustoKnifeworks.com
Kelly Cupples 50 lbs. high end knife steel
750 W. Valley Mall Blvd.
Union Gap, WA 98903
509-575-0323 Work 509-945-9952 Cell
1-800-572-1358
www.oxarc.com
(Industrial Sales Manager)
Charles D Prokopp 9 pair safety glasses, 12
pair gloves
1508 N. Van Buren Ave. 7 leather aprons
Tucson AZ 85712
Larry Harley Post Vise
348 Deerfield Dr.
Bristol TN 37620
423-878-5368 Shop 423-571-0638 Cell