A DIVERSE and welcoming Community!

NEB has been a family of smiths since 1978, established for and dedicated to the teaching and promotion of blacksmithing in its many forms. Run entirely by volunteers, including many professional smiths, we number over 500 members internationally, and we are proud of what we bring to the community and the greater public. We are motivated by a shared passion for moving metal, and welcome all to our organization.

A teaching center!

Our teaching center is a resource unlike anything anywhere else in the country. Open two Saturdays a month (excepting winter), any member can come and forge all day for a small material fee. We have many forges, much tooling, and all the steel and coal you could ask for. The center is staffed by professional blacksmiths who are excited to answer questions and teach the skills of forging.

A GREAT NEWSLETTER

We publish quarterly editions filled with stories and photos of recent and upcoming events. Also included are tips and projects from blacksmiths in New England and from around the world.

BI-ANNUAL MEETS

These are 3-day conferences held all around New England. The usual format is to begin casually mid-day Friday with lots of opportunities to network, as well as to get hammer time in our “green coal” tent. The green coal area is staffed with experienced smiths and is open the entire weekend. Friday evening is dedicated to a slide show and talk from the featured demonstrator, as well as a pot-luck dinner. Saturday is a day of demonstration from the featured demonstrator. There is equipment for sale in the tailgating area. Featured areas include a gallery where members can showcase their work to their peers, as well as a raffle of member donated items called “Iron in the Hat.” On Saturday evening, there is a catered dinner, business meeting, iron in the hat, and the casting raffle. These evening events are not to be missed! Sunday rounds out the weekend with a pancake breakfast and continued demos.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

NEB collects and publishes regional events and opportunities, in addition to our greatest member benefit; twice-monthly open forges at our teaching center in Brentwood, NH - except the winter months of December, January, & February.

NETWORKING

NEB hosts a listserv that is very active and responsive. This is a place to ask questions and get solid answers. Looking for a specific piece of equipment, advice on forging bronze, or trying to figure out a finish for a recently completed project? Just click the listserv button in the website header to get started!

SCHOLARSHIPS

Another benefit for members is our offer for a reimbursable educational scholarship up to $500.00 to attend in-person blacksmithing classes.

LOCAL CONTACTS

Your State Representatives, listed in the newsletter and on the contacts page of the web site, are a great source of local information.

TAILGATE SALES

At meets you have the opportunity to purchase tools from vendors and other blacksmiths to set up your shop the way you’d like.

CASTINGS

NEB offers Cast Iron swage blocks, firepots, and anvil cones for sale – members get these items at cost. For non-members, each item is an additional $30.

The Swage Block – member price is $200.

The Cone – member price is $70.

The Fire Pot & the Clinker Breaker – member price $235.

The Tuyere is fabricated, not cast. The price for members is $95.

If you’re attending an open forge, meet or hammer in at Morrell Metalsmiths, the Brentwood Teaching Center, or Ball and Chain Forge in Portland Maine, arrangements can be made to pick up at these locations. Bob Menard does ship out of his location in Maine. Contact him for more info:

Bob Menard
56 Warren Ave. Suite 106
Portland, ME 04103-1174
or e-mail at: ballandchainforge@yahoo.com