CBA Events

Upcoming events

    • April 13, 2023
    • April 15, 2023
    • VISTA FORGE Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, Vista, CA
    Register

    The 2023 Spring Conference will host a great series of guest demonstrators, hands-on education activities, and fun contests and games for all skill levels, not to mention great food! The 2024 conference committee will host an epic family-style barbecue as well! Plan your trip now and check back often for updates and registration.

    • Hands-on Education
    • Special Bladesmithing Area
    • Youth Education Area
    • Contests & Games
    • Gallery
    • Banquet and Auction
    • Vendors and Tailgating
    • On-site Meals
    • On-site Camping

    DATE:  April 13-15, 2023 

    LOCATION: 

    VISTA FORGE
    Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum
    Vista, CA


    TABLE OF CONTENTS:

    Conference Fees
    Schedule And Site Map

    Getting There And Lodging
    Demonstrators
    Education / Hands On
    Competitions / Contest

    ONLINE REGISTRATION: Register here online. Online registration is open till April 11th, after that you can pay at the door.

    MAIL-IN REGISTRATION: Registration Form v4.pdf 

    CONTACT & CO-CHAIRS: 

    Dave Carroll - event chairman
    Chris Branuelas - publicity and planning

    Inquiries about the 2023 Conference:  cbaspringconference23@gmail.com
    Inquiries about the Railroad Spike Challenge: 
    RRSpikeChallenge@gmail.com

    SCHEDULE:  Details to be provided soon. 

    SITE MAP: TBD

    CONFERENCE FEES: 

    Conference Fees Per-Person  On/Before
    March 19 
    After
    March 19 
     Full Conference (Thursday - Saturday)      $225     $250
     Single Day      $120     $140

    *Non-participating family or friends may attend other open museum areas for $10 daily admission

    NO RISK REFUND POLICY - A full refund of conference and meal fees shall be provided if a member cancels at any time prior to the conference starting date. 

    Meals  On/Before
    March 19
     
    After 
    March 19
     All Meals (Thursday Breakfast to Saturday Banquet and Auction), VEGETARIAN option available      $120   $140
     Saturday Banquet and Auction Only, VEGETARIAN option available       $30    $30

    There will be a Family-Style Barbecue and Potluck, hosted by Dennis Dusek's team of BBQ stars on Friday night! This event has quickly become a tradition the whole family will enjoy. Everyone is welcome and there is no cost. Feel free to bring a ready-to-serve dish, drink, or dessert to share!

    GETTING THERE:  

    The conference will be held at the Vista Forge, located on the 55-acre Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum in Vista, California in northern San Diego County. The site has ample room for multiple blacksmithing events and education areas as well as on-site food and camping. Admission includes access to the museum's other areas as well, including a weavers and textile barn and cottage, a clock museum, a working sawmill, grain mill, antique steam and gas engines of all sizes, a clock museum, model railroad exhibit, and a working small track railroad. It is also an easy driving distance to a number of popular attractions like Disneyland, Legoland, Knotts Berry Farms, Sea World, and the San Diego Zoo and Safari Parks. There are many food options off-site and North San Diego is well known for its many breweries and wineries. 

    By Air, the San Diego International Airport and John Wayne Orange County Airports are the closest.

    LODGING OPTIONS:

    HOTELS: There are many hotels and motels within a short driving distance of the Conference site. One we recommend is Courtyard by Marriott located at 3501 Seagate Way, Oceanside, CA. Call Marriott Reservations at (800) 321-2211 or (760) 966-1000 on or before Monday, March 13, 2023, to make room reservations. To get a reduced rate, identify yourself as part of the “California Blacksmith Association” staying at the Courtyard San Diego Oceanside. Link to discounted reservation.

    CAMPING: There are plenty of low-cost dry tent and RV camping spots on-site: 

    - Dry RV/Tent camping site $15 per night - available in the registration link.


    DEMONSTRATORS

    GUEST DEMONSTRATORS

    Jake James

    Jake will be working with select CBA smiths to forge a large-scale sculpture to hold a lantern! See his plan sketch below!


    Flavio Ortiz
     
    Flavio will demonstrate how to forge a human face, including how to give expression to the face.

    Leah Aripotch

    Leah will be demonstrating her unique style of blacksmithing and metal fabrication to create a flower monster!
    Ellen Durkan

     
    Ellen will demonstrate her unique fashions in wearable art.

    Jay Burnham-Kidwell

    Jay will demonstrate how to forge sterling silver.

    David Roeder

    David will be demonstrating how to make a san-mai Blade from start to finish.

    Zeevik Gottlieb


    Human Forms - Zeevik will demonstrate his techniques for forging human forms.

    HANDS-ON EDUCATION

    There are many education opportunities planned for the 2023 Conference! You will also be able to try your hand at these demonstrations at the open forges with the instructors available for coaching.

    Mark Aspery

     

    • Chain links - learn the age-old art of forging chain from Mark and practice for the evening's chain making contest!
    • the Level 1 Gate Latch - learn to forge weld the Level 1 gate latch project
    • Wizard Head and Bottle Opener - Mark will teach the wizard head figure and make it into a bottle opener featured in his book.
    • Rush Light - Forge a rustic rush lamp


     

    Victoria Ritter

    • The Basket-Handle Fire Poker - Victoria will teach forge welded basket handle and fire poker.

    Evan Pintzuk

    • Mokume Gane - Evan will demonstrate forging a roll of U.S. quarters into a copper and nickel plate in the Mokume Gane style.

    David Gottfredson

     

    • St. Clement's Candelabra - David will forge a two-candle hanging candelabra originally designed by Beth Holmberg.

    Chris Branuelas

     

    • Fire Steels - Chris will demonstrate fire steels of various types from neolithic to modern and then demonstrate using various methods of fire starting. Fire steel kits will be available for purchase to practice at open forge as well.
    Guy Carpino

     
    • Bottle Opener - Guy will demonstrate a simple but ornate bottle opener that makes great gifts.
    Bob Menard

     

    • Blacksmith Puzzles - Bob will demo forging a classic pub puzzle.
    Eve L. Oswald

     

    • Youth Project: Horseshoe Lizard - Learn to forge a horseshoe into a lizard shape.

    Miguel delosRios


    • Iron Age Knife - Youth Project - Miguel will demonstrate forging a basic blacksmith knife.
    LECTURES

    Jerry Coe 

    Jerry has operated a blacksmith shop in Berkeley, California for 40 years. His clients come from all across the USA, the Caribbean and Europe. Jerry will conduct lectures on the Business of Blacksmithing.







    Erica HooperLee

    Erica is a beginner blacksmith and recent member of the CBA. In 2021, after 20 years, she retired from her marketing and PR agency, StrategicLee Inc., where she helped clients around the world articulate their products and values to global audiences. She has worked with companies big and small, embassies, NGOs, and other nonprofit organizations. She will teach a class on writing compelling stories.

    Chronicling the Flame

    Whether it's a tutorial or a tale, writing articles about blacksmithing can be a challenge. How do you engage an audience and at the same time write with such detail that the reader can imagine the heat of the forge along with the next steps on the horn? In this class, I will teach you some easy tips and tricks for writing clear and compelling articles that engage and excite your readers, as well as teach them to become better blacksmiths.


    COMPETITIONS

    In addition to plenty of forges available for open forging and practicing demo projects, two evening competitions, led by none other than Mark Aspery and Kelly Carle, will be held at the conference! Start practicing your skills now to compete and win!

    Thursday Evening April 13 at 7 pm
    Forge Welding Competitions

    • Beginner: Chain Making
    • Intermediate: the Gate Latch
    • Advanced: the Basket Handled Poker

    Friday Evening April 14 at 7 pm
    Bottle Opener Forging Competitions

    • Beginner and Advanced Level Bottle Openers

    The 35-Blow Contest

    How far can you lengthen a 1/2" mild steel bar in one heat and 35 blows? Kelly Carle will host this contest each afternoon following lunch. You can use your own hammer and our anvil. Daily prizes to the winners in adult and youth categories!


    • April 13, 2023
    • April 15, 2023
    • Vista, CA
    Register

    The California Blacksmith Association (CBA) will host a special gallery of blacksmiths’ work that conforms to the “Railroad Spike Challenge” at the 2023 CBA Spring Conference in Vista, California!

    Similar to the popular 150 mm Challenge originated by the Hereford College of Arts, this challenge allows blacksmiths to use a single common American railroad spike (see dimensions and requirements below) to create an object of their choosing and imagination from a shared material.  The challenge is open to all blacksmiths worldwide with categories for professional, amateur, and youth.

    Questions and inquiries: RRSpikeChallenge@gmail.com

    What can you craft from a common railroad spike? Something functional? Artistic? Inspiring? This is your chance to exercise your creativity and have your work exhibited at the 2023 CBA Spring Conference.

    How to take part:

    • Legally obtain a common American railroad spike (see description below)
    • Forge it into whatever your imagination allows. You may only use a single spike and cannot add any other materials.
    • Register your entry below. You may submit more than one entry to the challenge. The deadline for submissions is April 13, 2023.
    • Ship or bring your creation to the 2023 CBA Spring Conference by Thursday, April 13, 2023

    All entries that are deemed to conform to the challenge rules will be displayed during the 2023 CBA Spring Conference with your name and city.

    Register your entry before April 13, 2023 here: Registration will open soon

    What is a “common” American railroad Spike? These and similar spikes have been in use in America since approximately 1830. They were made of various low-mid carbon steel and used to secure railroad tracks to their base. They are widely available and inexpensive to legally obtain. The below diagram illustrates the most common sizes and shape.



    Railroad Spike Challenge 2023 Rules:

    1.      Material requirements: Your piece must be made entirely from a single, new or used, common American steel railroad spike. A common spike is generally 5/8”– 9/16” square, made of low to medium carbon steel, approximately 6-1/8 inches long. It must weigh no more than 47 grams (17 ounces). You may not add any additional materials, metals, colored coatings, or paint. You may treat your entry to reduce rust and corrosion while retaining the look and feel of the steel material. You must use all the metal from the original spike in your entry. You may optionally provide a small base of wood, metal, or another suitable material for display purposes. The base will not be considered in judging your work. You may use any processes or tools available to you in the manufacture of your piece. By submitting an entry, you attest that your submission was crafted from a single, legally-obtained, common American railroad spike as described above.
    2.      Number of entries: You may submit more than one entry into the challenge.
    3.      Identification: Each entry will be accompanied with a card that includes your name and city.
    4.      Submission deadline: The deadline for registration is April 13, 2023. Submissions must be delivered or received by April 13, 2023, at:

    Railroad Spike Challenge 2023
    c/o The Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum
    2040 N Santa Fe Ave, Vista, California 92083

    5.      Ownership: You may opt to permanently donate your entry to the CBA or retain ownership. ALL entries will be displayed by the CBA for use in the Spring Conference between April 13 to 15, 2023.

    -Donated entries will be retained by the CBA for a minimum of 1 year and may be displayed at subsequent events for a minimum of one year.
    -If you elect to retain ownership of your entry, you must make arrangements to pick up or ship your entry after April 15, 2023, at your own cost.

    6.      Agreement for use: By submitting an entry, you agree to your entry’s image or video being used by the CBA for advertising or display purposes. A selected number of entries may be more frequently displayed or advertised by the CBA in magazines, articles, publications, or videos at their discretion.
    7.      Material legally obtained: By submitting an entry, you attest that you acquired the original railroad spike legally and did not remove it from any federal land or railroad property.
    8.      Judging: All entries will be judged to confirm they comply with the rules. Entries deemed not to comply will not be displayed.

    -No prizes will be awarded and there will be no winners chosen.
    -There will be three event categories for display:
    -Professional Blacksmith
    -Amateur Blacksmith
    -Youth Blacksmith (17 years and younger)
    • July 15, 2023
    • 9:00 AM
    • Vista Forge 2040 N Santa Fe Ave, Vista, CA 92083
    • 15
    Register

    INSTRUCTOR TRAINING SOUTH 

    DATE: Saturday, July 15th ,2023. Time - 9.00 am 

    COST: Free to CBA Instructors

    LOCATION:

    Vista Forge Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum 2040 N Santa Fe Ave.Vista, California 92083

    CONTACT/RSVP: 

    Email education@calsmith.org to let us know you plan to attend.

    DESCRIPTION: 

    This is a hands-on workshop for all instructors with Dave Carroll. Non-instructors are welcome to attend but there will be a fee payable to CBA of $35.

    Dave Carroll will demonstrate a decorative forge-welded basket twist within a basket twist technique.

       



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Past events

March 23, 2023 LEVEL 1 GATE LATCH - CBA EVENT
March 16, 2023 INSTRUCTOR TRAINING NORTH AT WEAVERVILLE - CBA Event
March 09, 2023 Level II Grille Tutorials: Session 5 - CBA EVENT
February 16, 2023 Level II Grille Tutorials: Session 4 - CBA EVENT
February 04, 2023 INSTRUCTOR TRAINING SOUTH - CBA Event
February 02, 2023 LET'S TALK DESIGN WITH JOHN BARRON – 2 sessions - CBA EVENT
January 28, 2023 WINTERBASH - CBA EVENT
January 26, 2023 LET'S TALK DESIGN WITH JAKE JAMES - CBA EVENT
January 19, 2023 Level II Grille Tutorials: Session 3 - CBA EVENT
December 15, 2022 Level II Grille Tutorials: Session 2 - CBA EVENT
November 17, 2022 Level II Grille Tutorials: Session 1 - CBA EVENT
September 30, 2022 OCTOBERFEST 2022 - CBA Event
August 19, 2022 2022 ROARING CAMP HAMMER-IN - CBA Event
August 19, 2022 ROARING CAMP HAMMER-IN 2022 CAMPSITE SIGNUP - For Full Event Registrants ONLY-CBA Event
June 04, 2022 INSTRUCTOR TRAINING SOUTH - CBA Event
April 22, 2022 WROUGHT IRON - BBQ FORK WORKSHOP - SPRING CONFERENCE 2022 - CBA Event
April 21, 2022 SPRING CONFERENCE 2022 - CBA Event
April 21, 2022 CAMPING AND OVERNIGHT PARKING FOR SPRING CONFERENCE 2022 - CBA Event
April 21, 2022 ACANTHUS LEAF WORKSHOP - SPRING CONFERENCE 2022 - CBA Event
April 07, 2022 BEAR HEAD TOOLING - CBA EVENT Individual Session ONLY
April 06, 2022 BEAR HEAD - CBA EVENT INDIVIDUAL SESSION ONLY
March 24, 2022 LET'S TALK DESIGN PRESENTS LIVE FORGING WITH DARRYL NELSON - CBA EVENT individual session
March 05, 2022 CBA WINTER BASH 2022 - CBA EVENT
March 03, 2022 LEVEL III GRILLE TUTORIALS - SESSION 5 ONLY - CBA EVENT
February 17, 2022 BEAR HEAD TOOLING - CBA EVENT Individual Session ONLY
February 03, 2022 LEVEL III GRILLE TUTORIALS - SESSION 4 ONLY - CBA EVENT
January 20, 2022 BEAR HEAD - CBA EVENT INDIVIDUAL SESSION ONLY
January 20, 2022 BEAR HEAD SERIES - CBA EVENT All 3 Sessions
January 09, 2022 Level II ZOOM COACHING SESSIONS - CBA EVENT
January 06, 2022 LEVEL III GRILLE TUTORIALS - SESSION 3 ONLY - CBA EVENT
December 02, 2021 LEVEL III GRILLE TUTORIALS - SESSION 2 ONLY - CBA EVENT
November 18, 2021 Patrick Beck, Tongs for Special Uses - CBA event
November 11, 2021 Ian Brooks, Flypress Basket Weave- CBA event
November 04, 2021 LEVEL III GRILLE TUTORIALS - All 5 SESSIONS - CBA EVENT
November 04, 2021 LEVEL III GRILLE TUTORIALS - SESSION 1 ONLY - CBA EVENT
October 01, 2021 OCTOBERFEST 2021 CANCELLED - CBA EVENT
September 16, 2021 CBA Level II skills: Upsets and Joints - CBA event
August 20, 2021 ROARING CAMP HAMMER-IN 2021- CBA Event
August 20, 2021 ROARING CAMP CAMPSITE SIGNUP - For Full Event Registrants ONLY-CBA Event
July 15, 2021 LEVEL II SKILLS: COLLARING - CBA EVENT
June 17, 2021 LEVEL II SKILLS: C- and S-Scrolls - CBA EVENT
May 20, 2021 Level II Skills: SCROLLING WRENCH AND TONGS - CBA EVENT
May 13, 2021 FORGE A VIKING PADLOCK - CBA EVENT
April 16, 2021 EVENT CANCELLED - SPRING CONFERENCE 2021 - CBA Event
April 15, 2021 LEVEL II SKILLS: SCROLLS! - CBA EVENT
February 18, 2021 LEVEL II SKILLS: SCROLLS! - CBA EVENT
February 02, 2021 2ND SESSION - CHASING AND REPOUSSE WITH DOUGLAS PRYOR - CBA EVENT
January 28, 2021 CHASING AND REPOUSSE WITH DOUGLAS PRYOR - CBA EVENT
December 17, 2020 FORGING THE GENERAL-PURPOSE LEAFING HAMMER - CBA EVENT
December 03, 2020 LEVEL III GRILLE TUTORIALS - CBA EVENT
November 19, 2020 MAKE YOUR OWN HAND TOOLS - CBA EVENT
November 12, 2020 INTRODUCTION TO KITCHEN UTENSILS - CBA EVENT
October 29, 2020 OKTOBERFEST (ZOOM) HAPPY HOUR - CBA Event
October 15, 2020 TONG-MAKING - OPEN AND BOX JAW TONGS WITH WELDED REINS (Experienced novice/Intermediate) - CBA Event
October 08, 2020 MAKE YOUR OWN HAND TOOLS - CBA EVENT
October 02, 2020 OCTOBERFEST 2020 - CANCELLED - Watch for the Oktoberfest / Halloween zoom hangout on October 29
September 17, 2020 THE BASKET-TWIST HANDLED POKER - an exercise in forge welding - CBA EVENT
September 03, 2020 TONG-MAKING - OPEN AND BOX JAW TONGS WITH WELDED REINS (Intermediate Level) - CBA Event
August 27, 2020 LET'S TALK DESIGN - Session 4 - CBA EVENT
August 20, 2020 LET'S TALK DESIGN - Session 3 - CBA EVENT
August 15, 2020 ROARING CAMP (ZOOM) HAPPY HOUR - CBA Event
August 14, 2020 ROARING CAMP HAMMER-IN 2020- CANCELLED- CBA Event
August 13, 2020 LET'S TALK DESIGN - Session 2 - CBA EVENT
August 06, 2020 LET'S TALK DESIGN - Register for all 4 sessions - CBA EVENT
August 06, 2020 LET'S TALK DESIGN - Session 1 - CBA EVENT
July 30, 2020 THE BASKET-TWIST HANDLED POKER Session 2 - CBA EVENT
July 20, 2020 THE BASKET-TWIST HANDLED POKER Session 1 - CBA EVENT
April 30, 2020 SPRING CONFERENCE 2020 - purchase additional meal plans - CBA Event- CANCELLED
April 30, 2020 SPRING CONFERENCE 2020 - CBA Event - CANCELLED
March 19, 2020 INSTRUCTOR TRAINING NORTH - CBA Event - CANCELLED
February 29, 2020 INSTRUCTOR TRAINING SOUTH - CBA Event
February 22, 2020 FORGE WELDING - CBA Event
January 18, 2020 FERNDALE CONFERENCE PREP WORKSHOP - CBA Event
October 04, 2019 OCTOBERFEST 2019 - CBA Event
September 27, 2019 WAYNE'S WORLD 2019 - CBA Event
August 16, 2019 ROARING CAMP HAMMER-IN - CBA Event
July 26, 2019 2019 HARD ROCK HAMMER-IN - CBA Event
April 25, 2019 SPRING CONFERENCE 2019 - CBA Event
March 30, 2019 INSTRUCTOR TRAINING - ORANGE COUNTY - CBA Event
March 14, 2019 WEAVERVILLE INSTRUCTOR TRAINING - CBA Event
January 26, 2019 TOOLING UP THE CBA FORGES - CBA Event
October 05, 2018 OCTOBERFEST 2018 - CBA Event
September 29, 2018 WAYNE'S WORLD 2018 - CBA Event
August 17, 2018 ROARING CAMP HAMMER-IN - CBA Event
June 01, 2018 2018 HARD ROCK HAMMER-IN
April 12, 2018 SPRING CONFERENCE 2018 - CBA Event
March 10, 2018 GAS AND COKE FORGE WORKSHOP - CBA Event
February 10, 2018 HAND AXE WORKSHOP - CBA Event
January 20, 2018 TOOL-MAKING WORKSHOP - CBA Event
November 12, 2017 KITCHEN UTENSIL CLASS - CBA Event
October 29, 2017 BITS N PIECES- CBA Event
September 29, 2017 OCTOBERFEST 2017 - CBA Event
August 18, 2017 ROARING CAMP HAMMER-IN - CBA Event
May 27, 2017 CHRISTOPH FRIEDRICH WORKSHOP
May 19, 2017 HARD ROCK HAMMER-IN
April 27, 2017 SPRING CONFERENCE 2017 - CBA Event
March 16, 2017 WEAVERVILLE INSTRUCTOR TRAINING - CBA Event
January 21, 2017 CBA BOARD MEETING - CBA Event
January 21, 2017 TONG-MAKING WORKSHOP - CBA Event
December 03, 2016 KITCHEN UTENSIL CLASS, FRANSIS LEIDINGER - CBA Event
October 29, 2016 LOW-RELIEF CHASING, FRANCIS LEIDINGER - CBA Event
September 30, 2016 OCTOBERFEST 2016 - CBA Event
September 24, 2016 WAYNE'S WORLD - CBA Event
August 19, 2016 HAMMER-IN AT ROARING CAMP RAILROADS - CBA Event
April 28, 2016 SPRING CONFERENCE 2016 - CBA Event
January 30, 2016 CBA FORGE BUILDING WORKSHOP
December 05, 2015 KITCHEN UTENSIL/BBQ TOOLS WORKSHOP
October 24, 2015 CALIFORNIA BLACKSMITH ASSOCIATION INSTRUCTOR TRAINING - CBA Event
October 02, 2015 OCTOBERFEST - CBA Event
September 25, 2015 WAYNE'S WORLD - CBA Event
September 25, 2015 Instructor Training at Wayne's World
August 07, 2015 Roberto Giordani Workshop
May 22, 2015 Frederic Crist Workshop
April 23, 2015 SPRING CONFERENCE - CBA Event
March 19, 2015 Instructor Training - Weaverville
January 17, 2015 REBUILD AN ANVIL - CBA Event

Appropriate eye protection is required and must be worn during all California Blacksmith Association sponsored workshops and demonstrations, be it as a demonstrator, helper, instructor, observer or participant. By registering or attending such events, you agree that you understand these requirements, that you will bring your personal eye protection to all such events , and that you will wear the eye protection as required.


The California Blacksmith Association bylaws prohibit harassment-in keeping with state and federal laws-at any CBA sponsored meetings, activities or events. That includes but is not limited to harassment based on race, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation or gender.

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