Directions to Persimmon Forge

Usually, I welcome visitors to the studio to take the tour or discuss work. It is best to call and make sure I'm not away running errands or working somewhere else. Most of the coal forge hot work occurs between 2 and 4 in the afternoon. That time is noisy and busy and doesn't accommodate conversation well. Still, that is the best time to see how forging is done. Other quieter times are better for just looking around or discussing a project. Currently, I often work weekends and I can open up in the evening if an appointment is made.

From 335 Turnpike Toll Booth, Exit 127:

Proceed toward Kansas City and Industrial road. Exit at 128, Industrial (stoplight). Turn left, north, and continue past the commercial area to 24th street (stop sign). Turn right, east, and continue to Prairie Street (stop sign). Turn left and go one block then turn right onto Coronado. In one block turn left onto Monterey and proceed north and east about four blocks to the second street on the left which is Hacienda Court.

From West Highway 50

Go east on Highway 50 to the roundabout and take the second exit toward Kansas City and Industrial road. Exit at 128, Industrial (stoplight). Turn left, north, and continue past the commercial area to 24th street (stop sign). Turn right, east, and continue to Prairie Street (stop sign). Turn left and go one block and turn right onto Coronado. In one block turn left onto Monterey. Wind north and east about four blocks to the second street on the left which is Hacienda Court.

From I-35 Merchant Street, Exit 130:

Go south on Merchant and right onto 18th Street. Go west to the stop sign at Rural St. Continue west about 10 blocks to the dead end at Maplewood Cemetery. Turn right, north, onto Lincoln St. and go about 3/4th mile through an underpass at I-35. One block beyond it turn left onto Coronado. Take the first right onto Rio Vista which proceeds north and west about five blocks. Turn right at your second opportunity which is Hacienda Court.

Our home is situated on Hacienda Court and the studio is a separate structure closer to the cul de sac on Derecho Court to the east.

http://www.persimmonforge.com/

How Persimmon Forge Got It's Name

As long as I can remember I have loved what we used to call “natural history.” And long ago, in my early high school days I was quite interested in native trees and helped my grandfather, Gus, tend his little tree farm. I thought I knew just about everything about our trees and I did know more about trees and nature in general than a lot of other people. I spent most of my time outdoors wandering, poking and observing.

Betty moved to our neighborhood in late grade school years and we grew up and played sports with a group of kids in “the field” which was the wild remnant of a small farmstead adjoining the MKT tracks. There were a number of outbuildings, fenced areas where livestock once lived, a small creek and what was left of an orchard. It was an wonderful place and there was enough level pasture for a good baseball and football and shinny field. Several trees were ideal for climbing and we devolved our talent for throwing pears with a long pointed stick. The passing trains made great targets.

Betty’s older brother, Bob, was a ham radio operator and somewhat of an electronic genius. I was fascinated by his gadgets and knowledge and spent a lot of time watching him work and make things, and I got to know the parents, Red and Virginia.

Several years later Betty and I began dating and sometimes we would drive out in the country to visit some of her relatives. Red’s parents lived on a small farm south of Flat Creek up on a bluff overlooking the covered bridge and the red brick buildings of the water intake plant. Red had worked there since he got out of school.

Grandmother and Grandfather Heuerman were elderly and still retained a lot of their German heritage. Louis still did a little plowing with a team of horses. There was an old coal mine on the property and on the edge of he bluff there was sandstone with wave patterns on the face testifying to it’s long ago sea floor residence. It was a fun place to wander in the fall.

On a rise up above the home was a small grove of trees with fruit. The leaves were all down. “These are persimmons”, Betty said, and she knew all about eating them at the right time when they were sweet and avoiding the unripe ones which are astringent and quite inedible. I was impressed with all she knew about this interesting new, for me, nature thing.

As time passed I learned a lot more about persimmons and continue to be fascinated with their biology and their folklore and enjoy eating the fruit every fall and enjoying its beauty. Likewise the bond with Betty grew and we were later married and raised a family and much later in retirement I started my forging business and chose the persimmon fruit as the logo because it is associated with so many fond memories.

For one who has much of an imagination, they may have been reminded of the Garden of Eden story here. Perhaps a fellow should be wary of eating a fruit offered by a girl but for me things worked out pretty well.

This image was taken by my older son, Keith, a few years ago. The studio is visible beyond the persimmons.

http://www.persimmonforge.com/

The Store Window Gallery

A year or so ago friends made window space available to me at 311 Broadway in nearby Cottonwood Falls, Kansas. I displayed a variety of small ironwork pieces and was really surpassed at the number of responses from prospective customers both in the desire to purchase a displayed item and to commission other custom work.

While Cottonwood Falls is a small rural town in Chase County it has an interesting history and several popular tourist attractions which draws a steady stream of visitors from all across the US and abroad. You can check it out at this and other web sites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottonwood_Falls,_Kansas

The gallery is over 20 miles from my studio so I can’t actually be there but it offers people a chance to see some of my work and signs in the window advise them how to contact me by phone or Email and how to find the website.

The header image of the entry was taken by Cheryl Unruh and posted on her website:
http://www.flyoverpeople.net/news/2010/05/16/persimmon-store/

While on that subject I’ll put in a plug for her new book. Check:
http://www.southwindartgallery.com/estore/pid-646-Flyover_People_Book_by_Cheryl_Unruh.html

It is always a struggle for artists in midwest small towns to get marketing exposure. I was lucky to be given the window space.

Looking ahead, I’m working on some articles about using the hydraulic forging press. I built one this summer when it was too hot to get much forging done. It is proving to be more useful than I imagined. I’m still learning more about it’s applications every day so when I feel I have enough experience you’ll hear about it.

Welcome to Persimmon Forge

2009 will be my tenth year of work at Persimmon Forge. My blacksmithing hobby was initiated several years earlier and when I started getting requests for commission ironwork I committed to building a dedicated workspace.

I consider my work as artisan blacksmithing and my workspace is my metal art studio. There may be an important distinction between and art studio and a shop as the latter may be appropriately considered for light industrial zoning restriction.

Over the past couple of years the organization of the studio and the methods of my work have become mostly settled issues and a comfortable routine has been established. Now I feel I can look back and see a lot of mistakes and blind alleys that wasted time and energy. Establishing a successful business was a lot harder than I had imagined and in the event that it may benefit others I am making an addition to my web site which will publish some of my experience.

The section is titled “FAB - For Artisan Blacksmiths.” I will post short articles, as time permits, beginning with a tour of my workspace layout and how individual workstations are organized. A businesslike approach from the beginning will be my method of presentation as few can afford just an expensive hobby.

After the establishing a business series will come articles on using the major tools; hammer and anvil, coal and gas forges, oxyacetylene torch, power hammers, tumbler, flypress, plasma cutter, benders, dies, etc.

After those I will post a series of short shop tips and later on a series on the design and layout process.

This information is offered simply as a report of my experience not as recommendations. The information may be useful to beginners and those with intermediate skills that may be trying to start an art blacksmithing business. There are many other artisans with more years of experience and more formal training who may be able to recommend a better way.

I make no claim to originality. Some years ago I heard Francis Whitaker say, “If you think you have thought up something new in blacksmithing, you probably haven’t. There is nothing new under the sun.”

The one recommendation I will make is, whatever you’re doing, think safety first.

Wear Safety Glasses! Wear Hearing Protection!

http://www.persimmonforge.com/