BlackBooger

Thanks Charles. SB, Glenn and others in IFI made it abundantly clear how long it Would take to acquire the skills, resources, and client base necessary to make a profit. That dose of reality helped me get past the myths and fantasy to a practical path to a successful career as a fabricator. I agree with your point that the market for hand forged goods shifting to the " New Old Thing " at any time. Fortunately for me I have an amazingly supportive wife and her Austrian cohort to work as my sales babes! Fads come and go but a well dressed, charismatic woman never goes out of style.

I always just ask for 1/4" keystock. It's available pretty much everywhere and forges well

Greetings all. I am writing this post as a thank you to all the artists who share their knowledge and wisdom on this site. I have been a lurker for a while and have found the information here invaluable time and time again. You see, when I first took interest in blacksmithing I was a mere lad of 17. I did some research after a PBS special on the subject, found blueprints for the Ol ' 55 forge and $20 and a couple welding rods later I was making fully functional S hooks and feeling like a genius. I was hooked. I started seeing metal everywhere. I was barely legal driving age and I couldn't drive anywhere without scanning ditches and barns for useful items to fuel my addiction. I dreamed of blacksmithing for a living. I knew nothing about the business so I sought information here. Rather than ask a stupid question I used the search bar and found many other children had the same googly - eyed idea. I took the advice offered and resisted the urge to peruse a useless fine arts degree and got a job doing slave labor at a fab shop. That was eleven years ago. I now have a large set of skills and a nice job. For three years I have sold items I made at festivals and weekend markets and have made a nice side business out of it. So thanks guys.

Hello Gentlemen! I am fairly novice in the blacksmithing craft but I know my way around a smithy. I have built a few forges, I can square a round bar and round a square bar. I can make decent scrolls and I can forge weld rings. I am mostly interested in medieval art and tools. I would like to learn to craft those things to keep it alive. A friend of mine told me about this rescource and I am happy to be a part of this community. I look forward to learning all I can from you guys. Lets hammer some steel!