Up swing to high fuel costs.

[Dave M]

I have been getting a bunch of requests to make old school heavy pipe T style clothes lines for backyards. Keeping fingers crossed that the requests for wagon wheel repairs will also pick up with raising fuel costs. Like my grandfather always said " If life gives you lemons then make whiskey sours."

[hammerkid]

My mom has been on to me about making some "spiced" up T post for cloths line . With scrolls and so on . I guess I`ll start making the scrolls, You inspired me Dave LOL

[ThomasPowers]

Doubt you will get an upswing in horse transport accessories. Cost of owing a horse is going up too! Since we don't have pasture out here---if you don't irrigate it it's rock and sand---there are a lot of horses being sold or given away in every Craigslist as folks can't afford them.

Can you sell them an S hook to hang the bag of clothespins on the line with?

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by ThomasPowers

Cost of owing a horse is going up too!

A typo I know but oh so appropriate.

Frosty

[GOATMAN]

We put up an "Amish" style clothes line - with the pullies, etc. I made pullies from a kid's bike wheels, and forged the mounting clevises.

[jayco]

DaveM, those back yard clothes lines are pretty common around here. With the high cost of electricity, I suspect they will get more use.

I've been wondering, myself, as to just where the high cost of energy is leading us as far as lifestyle is concerned.

I'm terrible at prediictions........a couple years ago, when the price of heating oil/gas went up significantly, I predicted more folks would be using wood or coal for heat........and that they might want more fireplace tools than usual.
Well, it didn't happen,.......at least not yet, but who's to say how it will be this winter?

If folks can't travel as much and have to stay at home more, will they want more nice hand-forged items around their homes/ farms? Things that represent real solid value in a rapidly changing economy, perhaps.

With recent food scares and high prices at the grocer's, more folks around here are growing gardens.........there may be a need for good quality gardening tools.

I was shocked to realize that a new good quality pitch fork from the farm store now costs $60 !

Every thing is changing!

[triw]

Originally Posted by GOATMAN

We put up an "Amish" style clothes line - with the pullies, etc. I made pullies from a kid's bike wheels, and forged the mounting clevises.

Goatman I am not sure what an "Amish" clothes line is would you post a pic for me please. Thank you William

[fat pete]

goatman....gotta love them amish clothes lines....some of em get pretty long and high..

triw....i guess you havent been thru PA dutch country....yoo shoot come here sum time an wisit......lol...as they say

[GOATMAN]

Triw

They Have The Same Sort Of Thing In Cities, So People Who Live On Upper Floors Can Reach Out Their Windows Or Fire Escapes, And String Laundry Accross The Ally; A Continuous Loop Stretched Between Two Pullies.

[Makoz]

It's certainly affecting things here, now petrol (gasoline) has hit $1.50/litre or roughly $6/US gallon. People are travelling less, so its already affecting tourist numbers. I've been working part time for a caravan (sorry, trailer!) manufacturer, and he's laid me off along with another part timer, because orders have ceased. No more "grey nomads" cashing in their super to go travelling around the country.
As for clotheslines...you mean people who rely on tumble driers? In suburbia here, and out of town where there's room, I guess most of us use a Hills hoist, a rotary device like a big umbrella with wire; or maybe one of the extending lines for smaller yards. Not much chance of making those on a forge!
I have been thinking about a move to horses, but those decals on the odd horse float declaring "Poverty means owning a horse" have scared me off! The next one is planting a grove of oil-producing trees for bio-diesel, like Pongamia, but its a 3yr wait untill you run your vehicle!!

Anyway, you bring up a good point, what will this increase mean (besides higher prices for almost everything) in the way of opportunities?

Cheers,
Makoz