jj2k

My best sellers are steak turners, dinner bells, and split crosses. But I always sell one or two nice pieces when I go.

If I am making something that comes in direct contact with food, I use a cooking oil. Usually on tripods and lantern hanger and such I will polish and use straight used motor oil. This makes it easier for the end user to re-apply the finish as needed. On interior items I will use the wax/oil finish or clear polyurathane paint. I find myself more and more trying to stay away from any paint at all but it still has it's place.

Nice rose. Excellent for a first attempt. Keep at it buddy.

Glenn, For me that is almost hard to answer. I get a lot from the net. But I also have an extensive book and video library. I have 3 magazine subscriptions. I always pick up something at another blacksmiths shop. And then there are the too few and far between local group conferences. I've never gotten to go to an ABANA or other major conference except for the three Ironfest events they had. This is one reason Iforgeiron is sooo important to me. The forum, blueprints and galleries are invaluable resources. With great smiths like Bill Epps and Jr and all the others we have imparting their information to those of us less experienced and learned, this can only continue to be a win-win situation for all of us. So I guess my best answer to the poll would be (H) - all of the above (grin)

Looks like you guys had fun. One of these days I'll get to run up that way myself.

Richard, Nice find! I really like the big cog!

Jr and John, Thanks for the input. John, you are not rambling. Hearing your experience lets me know I am not alone in all this. It appears that I am going to have to do a little bit of everything to make this fly. But fly it will. The first 2 quarters of this year have been real good. It's been the past month to 6 weeks that has put the ding in my pocket. We've had 3 bad shows in a row and that has all been due to weather except one show that just died for everyone anyway. I'll find that happy medium soon. ( I better ) (grin) thanks

Richard and Nick, thanks for your input. You gave me some food for thought. Frostfly, It was your post on Considering Retail that made me post this thread. I was reading the responses and thinking I might find some direction through some folks here who have been at this way longer than I have. I did some reports in quickbooks this afternoon and looked at what sells and how I can improve my stock offerings. I'm not just idly sitting by. I WILL find my answers to this problem one way or the other! Anyhow, thanks so much can't wait to see what everyone else thinks or has working for them.

Ok guys. I am really banging my head against the wall here. This weekend we did a craft show in Jacksboro texas. The show started off well. But then rain hit and the crowds melted. It takes so much just to go do a show. I am doing a show every other weekend these days. If it isn't a city festival it's a trade days or something similar. I have tried rodeos, re-enactments, you name it. I feel like I am chasing my tail here. Usually, we do pretty good, but here lately the weather has played a large roll in turnout which translates into no $$$. You get up at 5 am travel for 1 to 2 hours, set up your booth, sit all day, forge some demos maybe, pack up, tear down, load up, head home, and unload. Makes for a very long day my friends. So here is my question(s). I am considering trying a craft mall. Have any of you ever tried one or are any of you doing one? How is it or did it work for you? I like the idea of my stuff being out there 24/7 if you will. I like the idea of not having to fool with the sales tax. I have considered doing wholesale work for gift galleries and such. Have any of you tried this? If so, how did that work for you? I am currently smithing on "off" weekends at a dude ranch near here. They give me a small building with a small shop area out back. They do pretty good and have had several nice size groups come through on the weekends I am there. Again, sometimes I do well and sometime we be suckin air. The buildiing is free to me for my beiing a "part of thier show" This is my fulltime pursuit. Blacksmithing is all I do. I am searching for direction here. Maybe this is going to take some of all of the above. But what I am sure of is there are a lot really smart people on this site so I need input and perspective. Thanks

Simmonds, The spriings for my hammer came off an old Plymouth at a junk yard I believe. The price was right - free.

Simmonds, I think what Don Means about the hammer being "ok but not great", is a pretty fair assessment of this hammer. My hammer is a 25 pounder. And like Dons it is ok but not great. However it is a bunch better than nothing which is what I had before I built it. Mine was cheap to build and only took one weekend to construct. But it did sit there and didn't get used very much for about the first 3 months. I didn't know how to use a power hammer. There is a learning curve involved here. Take your time and think about things a lot before jumping in to heavily. Talk to some folks who have and use power hammers. Get some opinions and instruction. No sense in re-inventing the wheel, right? I use my little hammer for for texturing mainly. I have made a lot of homemade dies for doing random impression work. I use a quick change die set up on all my hammers. These hammers will move metal ok. But not like a 50 lb Little Giant. My 50LG made a big difference in my shop. But my "Rusty" Hammer has made me a lot of money also. Each hammer has their place just like a coal forge and a propane forge each have their place. Build your hammer, play with it, and enjoy it. They are fun to build and fun to work with.

If you have access to a 1/2 hp 1750 rpm motor, I think you should go for that. That's what I run on mine and it does fine. What you'll save in bearings and stuff for a jackshaft would offset the cost of a new 1/2 hp motor. harbor freight offers an inexspensive one to get you sytarted if you are strapped for cash. Junk yard hammers are great and they have thier place but don't scrimp on the power train. In the long run you will be happier with it.

I built one of these hammers about 6 or 7 years ago. Your motor should do fine but you will have to step down the rpms. I see a jack shaft in your future. e-mail me if I can help at jmetals@hotmail.com

I have a base shop rate of $30.00 an hour. That is my cost to run my shop an hour. Then I figure the price of the stock used and any parts or hardware purchased. I keep track of every minute I am on that job and every cent I spend on it. I mark up the piece 40% from cost by dividing my cost by .6. If I am wholesaling the piece I mark it up 20% by taking my cost and dividing by .8. If folks tell me I am too high, I just figure that they are not my customer. I never argue with them. That never pays. Sometimes they ask why I price the way I do. A lot of times when they realize I am not just pulling a number out of the air, they'll buy it. But I figure I am in line cause I don't get a lot of complaints. Sometimes I'll hear I am too cheap....and I always offer to mark it up. Haven't had any takers on that one tho. ;)

Nice anvil. I know it'll provide you with many hours of creativity. Good luck