Schedule of Events

Peoples Natural Gas Park

90 Johns St, Johnstown, PA 15901

8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Registration/Check-In Tent Open

8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Indoor Vendors (in the Community Foundation Oil House) & Outdoor Vendors open for sales

9 a.m. – Noon Demonstration Areas

• Randy McDaniel: “Hydraulic Forging Press for the Blacksmith” will cover Randy’s background and journey to the forging press, press construction, choosing your press, safety, and forging with a press.
• Derek Melton: Induction Forge Basics including machine setup, maintenance, troubleshooting, coil choices, how he came to use induction full-time in his shop, and a Q&A session.
• Artem Marshek: Artem will be forging a piece of sculpture throughout the conference, so check back each day to see the progress.

9 a.m. – Noon Education Area

• Mark Aspery: Tools and Heat Treating
• Becky Schimpff & Mark Sperry: Level II Grille demo includes how to create a transfer drawing, doing measurements and a bit of blacksmith math, thinking through the order of operations, and how to forge square corners and tenons. 

9 a.m – Noon and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Beginner’s Tent with Doug Hayes and Sam Hayes

Noon – 1 p.m. ABANA Membership Meeting at the Stage under the Pavilion

2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Demonstrations

• Steve Rollert: Over the course of 3 days, Steve will cover Dry Forge Welding of Pattern Welded Damascus Steel, Blade Forging, and Basic Heat Treating
• Jennifer Petrila: Colonial style “welded” hinge bodies, wrap and strap: An In-Depth Look

2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Education Area

• Philip Waters: Punching and Drifting with Mark Aspery.
• Ron Nichols: Elements of the Level III Grille

5 p.m. – 6 p.m. Curriculum Assessments – Bring your projects, grilles and questions!

Central Park

Main Street (between Franklin & Gazebo Park); for GPS, use 507 Main St., Johnstown, PA 15901

7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Lizzie’s Wagon will be serving breakfast items, steak sandwiches, chicken strips, and fresh-cut fries.

8 a.m. – Noon & 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Forging Competition (Demos or open forging will occur when teams are not competing.)

8 a.m. – Noon & 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Ring Project Assembly

9 a.m. – Noon & 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Kid’s Activity Tent & Clay Forging

Additional Activities

Carefully review the location of each activity!

1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Finger Weaving craft class (pre-register here)

Location: CraftWork Studios, 134 Gazebo Park, Suite B, Johnstown, PA (Above The Write Cup coffee shop)

Gallery of Ironwork

Made in Johnstown Makerspace at 507 Main Street, Johnstown, PA 15901

2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Drop off your pieces for the gallery display.

Peoples Natural Gas Park

90 Johns St, Johnstown, PA 15901

8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Registration/Check-In Tent Open

8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Indoor Vendors (in the Community Foundation Oilhouse) & Outdoor Vendors open for sales

9 a.m. – Noon Demonstrations

• Randy McDaniel: “The Versatility of the Hydraulic Forging Press” – The key to versatility (TOOLING!), tooling for forging pipe, and creating your own tooling for texture dies and impression dies.
• Derek Melton: Using all induction heat, Derek will demonstrate the National Curriculum Level I gate latch. 
• Artem Marshak: Work continues on a sculpture by Artem. The finished piece will be in the auction on Saturday night, so start saving up!

9 a.m. – Noon Education Area

• Mark Aspery: Forge Welding Basics, Flux Spoon, Chain Link
• Bob Menard: Forging a Pony Shoe Puzzle
• Becky Schimpff & Mark Sperry: Level II Grille elements – Delve into the world of scrolls as Becky & Mark show how to forge the required scroll finials and how to figure out how to scroll to dimension.

9 a.m – Noon and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Beginner’s Tent with Doug Hayes and Sam Hayes

2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Broommaking Class with Alan Curboy in the Community Foundation Oilhouse (Register for the class here)

2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Demonstrations

• Steve Rollert: Over the course of 3 days, Steve will cover Dry Forge Welding of Pattern Welded Damascus Steel, Blade Forging, and Basic Heat Treating
• Jennifer Petrila: Colonial style “welded” hinge bodies, wrap and strap: An In-Depth Look

2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Education Area

• Mark Aspery: Level I Gate Latch
• Ron Nichols: Elements of the Level III Grille

4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Affiliates Meeting in the Train Station at 47 Walnut Street. Meet Rusty Osborne, ABANA Affiliate Chairperson, to discuss your affiliate, ask questions, and address concerns.

5 p.m. – 6 p.m. Curriculum Assessments – Bring your projects, grilles and questions!

Central Park

Main Street (between Franklin & Gazebo Park); for GPS, use 507 Main St., Johnstown, PA 15901

7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Lizzie’s Wagon will serve breakfast items, steak sandwiches, chicken strips, and fresh-cut fries.

8 a.m. – Noon & 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Forging Competition (Demos or open forging will occur when teams are not competing.)

8 a.m. – Noon & 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Ring Project Assembly

9 a.m. – Noon & 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Kid’s Activity Tent & Clay Forging

Noon – 5 p.m. Brass Foundry Demo with Bob Pickens. Bob will cast a minature anvil which will go to the Art Auction on Saturday night. Brass pour will likely occur around 2 p.m.-ish.

6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Live music from Silver Screen, voted Johnstown’s Favorite Band for 2023. This is part of First Friday hosted by the Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership.

Gallery of Ironwork

Made in Johnstown Makerspace at 507 Main Street, Johnstown, PA 15901

8 a.m. – Noon Drop off your pieces for the gallery display.

1 p.m. – 9 p.m. Gallery of Ironwork open

7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Reception at the Gallery

Additional Activities

Carefully review the location of each activity!

1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Japanese Knot Bag craft class (register here)

Location: Craftwork Studios, 134 Gazebo Park, Suite B, Johnstown, PA (Above The Write Cup coffee shop)

2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Jerry Coe “Business of Blacksmithing” lecture

Location: The State Theater of Johnstown, 336 Main Street, Johnstown PA

6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Gabriel Craig lecture on Early 20th Century Ironwork of Detroit & “Lost” Samuel Yellin Works

Location: The State Theater of Johnstown, 336 Main Street, Johnstown PA

Peoples Natural Gas Park

90 Johns St, Johnstown, PA 15901

8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Registration/Check-In Tent Open

8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Indoor Vendors (in the Community Foundation Oilhouse) & Outdoor Vendors open for sales

9 a.m. – Noon Broommaking Class with Alan Curboy in the Community Foundation Oilhouse (Register here!)

9 a.m. – Noon Demonstrations

• Randy McDaniel: “The Versatility of the Hydraulic Forging Press” – The key to versatility (TOOLING!), tooling for forging pipe, and creating your own tooling for texture dies and impression dies.
• Derek Melton: Derek will forge and finish a small bench hammer using induction heat.
• Artem Marshak: See the final stages of Artem’s sculpture build.

9 a.m. – Noon Education Area

• Mark Aspery: Basket-handled Poker Part 1
• Becky Schimpff & Mark Sperry: Level II Grille elements: Items covered will include collars and associated tooling, grille requirements and the option to design your own, tips and tricks on getting everything to fit, troubleshooting, and options for finishes. 

9 a.m – Noon and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Beginner’s Tent with Doug Hayes and Sam Hayes

1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Iron-in-the-Hat Drawing

2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Demonstrations

• Steve Rollert: Over the course of 3 days, Steve will cover Dry Forge Welding of Pattern Welded Damascus Steel, Blade Forging, and Basic Heat Treating
• Jennifer Petrila: Colonial style “welded” hinge bodies, wrap and strap: An In-Depth Look

2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Education Area

• Mark Aspery: Basket-Handled Poker Part 2
• Ron Nichols: Elements of the Level III Grille

5 p.m. – 6 p.m. Curriculum Assessments – Bring your projects, grilles and questions!

Central Park

Main Street (between Franklin & Gazebo Park); for GPS, use 507 Main St., Johnstown, PA 15901

7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Lizzie’s Wagon will be serving breakfast items, steak sandwiches, chicken strips, and fresh-cut fries.

8 a.m. – Noon Forging Competition

8 a.m. – Noon & 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Ring Project Assembly & Display

9 a.m. – Noon & 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Kid’s Activity Tent & Clay Forging

1 p.m. Appearance by “Chopper”, the Johnstown Tomahawk Ice Hockey Team Mascot

1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Judging of Forging Competition Pieces

5 p.m. – 6 p.m. Awards Ceremony for the Forging Competition at the Gazebo

Gallery of Ironwork

Made in Johnstown Makerspace at 507 Main Street, Johnstown, PA 15901

9 a.m. – Noon Gallery of Ironwork open

Noon – 3 p.m. Pick up gallery pieces. Items left after 3 p.m. will be donated to the Art Auction.

Additional Activities

Carefully review the location of each activity!

8 a.m. – 11 a.m. Power Hammer Demonstration: Tong Making with Patrick Quinn

2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Power Hammer Demonstration: Tong Making with Patrick Quinn

Location: Center for Metal Arts, 106 Iron St

1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Reversible Shoulder Bag craft class (Register here)

3 p.m. – 5 p.m. Paint ‘n Sip craft class (Register here)

Location: Craftwork Studios, 134 Gazebo Park, Suite B, Johnstown, PA (Above The Write Cup coffee shop)

7 p.m. Big Tool Raffle Drawing followed by the Art Auction

Location: The State Theater of Johnstown, 336 Main Street, Johnstown, PA