BAWA Membership

Almost forgot to post about this. After I finally managed to track down some contact information for the Blacksmiths Association of Western Australia (BAWA) I dropped Brian Kenan an email and wasn’t really expect to hear anything back cause the previous two mail addresses for members I had found on line were no longer used. I guess I’m expecting a bit too much for an old craft like this in relation to the latest tech happening (mind you the net has been around for a fair while and in broad for at least the last 10 years or so. Anyway, I found the info and had a nice reply from Brian the next evening when I came home from work.

It all sounded very positive and almost too good to be true. He invited me to come down that Sunday and so I did. What can I say .. sometimes “too good to be true” actually plays out positively. Full workshop, 6-7 forges, 6-7 Anvils, Powerhammer and a full workshop with MIG welder, Chop saw, Belt sander, Grinder. Alongside that an substantial amount for smithing tools and documents accessible to all members.

I rocked up there at just before 8am with Brian the only person there so far. I had very good chat with about BAWA and smithing in general. I think it’s fair to say that we were definately speaking the same language and he understood were I was coming from in my drive to pickup and (eventually) master this fantastic craft. Slowly one by one more members started showing up and I was introduced and we all had a chat during “smoke-o” break.

After that one of their members, Bladesmith Jack O’Brien, was so kind and took me over to the double burner forge to to run me through the basics. First making me square up a 1.5cm x 1.5cm (i gotta get used to the imperial measurements yet) piece of mild steel, then had me taper it to point, then work it to a round point. Basic yes, hard, no .. did feel quite natural, fun .. immense.

Next I had to fold a piece of the same stock over onto itself (about 10cm long), then added some Borax to the area to be forge welded and brought the piece back up to welding heat. I’m glad to report the first section was welded successfully at my first go.
I continued to weld the remaining length, and then had to call it a day unfortunately.

Shame I can’t be there today, as the showgrounds (where the BAWA shop is) is off limits due to a Caravan and Camping show. Well, there’s always next week.

I’m a member now and am very much looking forward to learn from all the talented people in the group in the future.

So if you’re keen to check BAWA out, just drop Brian Kenan (President) an email: bkeenan [at] tpg [dot] com [dot] au

BAWA meets every Sunday (unless the showgrounds are in use otherwise) at their workshop at the

Claremont Showgrounds in Perth, Western Australia.
The guys are there from around 8m – 3pm.

Just check with Brian before you come down to avoid standing in front of closed showgrounds or a shut shop.

- Ben

~ by Ben on March 16, 2008.