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Welcome to BlacksmitHER Radio, spotlighting male and female blacksmiths around the world.

 

We’re committed to providing a host of resources to male and female blacksmiths of all ability levels through podcast interviews spotlighting your fellow blacksmiths. The podcast interviews are designed to help improve your metal working skills while providing an opportunity to connect with others who share your passion of blacksmithing!  

Mar 21, 2015

A few blacksmiths in the western part of the US have been forming a tight knit group to push the boundaries and raise the bar of each other’s techniques.  WE had a quick on the spot interview with them inside a cute little coffee shop called Mamma Llama's Coffee shop.

 

Who is in the collaborative group?

 

Mike Limb

 

Brett Moten

 

Ian Brooks

 

Mark Aspery

 

John Graham

 

John Beran

 

Monica Coyne

 

Dennis Dusek

 

How did this come about? 

 

There have been several separate encounters contributing to the growth of this group.

 

In 2009 Claudio Bottero was one of the demonstrators at the CBA Spring Conference in Petaluma and his demonstration was so unique that it raised the bar of blacksmithing techniques and the connection to the metal for the people in attendance. At the time this group of smiths didn’t know each other, but they were all moved to “up their game”.

 

Following the Spring CBA conference was the Western States Blacksmithing Conference where they have “Blacksmith Wars”.  This is where the group started to form. 

 

In 2011 John McClellen (a blacksmith from Loomis, CA) had a very large gate project that he needed expert help with so he recruited Mark Aspery, Brett Moten, Dennis Dusek and John Beran.  They completed 500 1 inch square pass-through’s in 1 in bar, all in 2 weeks!  This is definitely cemented the group.

 

What are they doing?

 

They are collaborating on a bench project where each of the forged pieces will be made individually in their own shops.  It started with a design that was shared over the internet at first and then prints were mailed to each blacksmith’s home.  They plan on completing the bench at the CBA Spring conference/ Western States Conference in Hollister, CA. and then donating it to the Jake Jackson Museum in Weaverville called

 

Why are they doing it?

 

This highly skilled, tight knit crew of blacksmiths really enjoy working with each other and they all like to push the boundaries of their blacksmithing skills.

 

What will you do with the finished piece?

 

The bench will be donated to the Jake Jackson Museum in Weaverville, where the Weaverville Hammer-in is hosted annually.