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I Forge Iron

jwilson645

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Posts posted by jwilson645

  1. 6 minutes ago, Savage11 said:

    Jwilson645, good on you for keeping your word. That's a rare trait these days. Your a man of honor and integrity. Those qualities will serve you well in business and in life.

    Thank you. I had never worked with 3/4" material before so the added heating & beating time combine with making all of bends match up, it just took way longer. I am used to making things and then selling so guesstimating is something that I must work on. I figured I was more likely to have a return customer if I stood by my quote instead of trying to squeeze him for more money.  

  2. 1 hour ago, ThomasPowers said:

    On the other side:  I am not a commercial smith; I run my shop at a dead loss off of my allowance and if I sell something it is a "windfall".  

    This is actually just a side gig for me and I work a fulltime job in accounting. However, like blacksmithing, there are specialized areas and neither taxes nor job costing are mine. LOL

    Once I retire in 10 more years, I want to be a fulltime blacksmith so I am setting the ground work now. 

  3. 4 hours ago, lyuv said:

    I asume the problem is COMITING you and the client to the deal. Perhaps there are ways around that comitment. Like:

    1. If the grate may fit other clients, you can make it first (or several), and then price it. Let the client decide if he wants it.

    2. Make part of it, so you get better estimation of the work ahead. Then price it and see if the client agrees. Worst case - you lost some work. Perhaps it's reusable.

    Being a standard size fire place, I decided to go ahead and build it then we will discuss pricing once I know how much time I put in it. If he doesn't take it, I'm ok with that. I am pretty sure it will sell to someone else and if it doesn't, it was a good practice and I can repurpose it or chop it up to make other things. 

     

    22 minutes ago, ThomasPowers said:

    One thing about custom work is that the price needs to include all your overhead for the time as well; so shop rent/mortgage payment, insurance, here in the US retirement, yup everything that it costs you to be doing what it is you do.  A major mistake is people factor in their material costs and time and forget about the roof, electricity, finishing, delivery, etc. costs.

    You make a good point, Thomas. I got my material costs and added 25% to that and then estimated my hours based on my hourly rate. I never considered the electricity, finishing, mortgage.  I'm still new to selling so I appreciate the input.

  4. I have recently had requests for commissioned work and it scares me to death. I have been blacksmithing for 5 or 6 yrs but only really serious since March 2019. It's what I want but the pricing part of it turns my stomach because I feel like there are other smiths that can make things much better than me and so I don't know how to price my labor. I don't want to put it too low and take away from other smiths but I also don't want to put it too high and lose out on a sale.  

     

    How do you quote a price for something when you have never made it and don't know how long it will take you to make it? My current delimma is that i was asked to quote a build on a fire place grate with specific dimensions/stock size and scroll work. I took a wild guess and on the time and am crossing my fingers. 

  5. On 11/24/2019 at 3:08 AM, Frosty said:

    I really like the gnomes, J. They're simple but very expressive I'll bet they'd sell like hotcakes. Sure make great Christmas decorations.

    Thanks Frosty. I appreciate it. Those were the first 2 I made. There is a 3rd one that has a much better face, IMO. 

  6. On 11/1/2018 at 3:32 PM, moneylessrec said:

    Thanks! If you know of any anvils east of ya, let me know! Hayden is only a couple hours from home.

    I started out with a chunk of railroad track but any slab of steel, stone or whatever will work to get you started. Take your time and don't buy the first one you see. I had my mind set on not paying more than $2-3.00 a pound for one. After looking at a bunch of junky ones for a year or so, I bought a 180lb Fisher at the Alabama Forge Council conference at Tannehill for $325 3yrs ago. That's $1.80(ish) a pound if you're keeping track.  There are alot of people out there selling them for $5, $6.00 per lb and more in "antique stores", Craigslist, etc. I feel like you're better off buying from someone that has actually used one than from Joe off the street that has seen them used on Forged in Fire. 

    .02

  7. Good to see you back here, Mike. You have my number, anytime you want to chat I'm here. I've been through the depression, therapists, exercise and diets also. I can say that eating right, exercise and weeding out the negative & drama seeking people in my life has made a world of difference. 

  8. Mike,

    Reading this makes me wish it hadn't been so long since we talked. Life has just gotten busier for me with the move and job and I don't stay in touch with people like I should. You ARE a great guy and I'm really glad to know you. Even though I haven't been through the same sort of xxxx you have, I struggle also. I've been on anti-depressants for more than 10 years and, yes, I too have sought counselling. It is tough to open up, especially someone you don't know but it DOES help. If you still have my number, call or text me any time.  

  9. You should come out to a Vulcan Forge meeting at Tannehill some time. We meed the 2nd Sunday of each month. I think there is a Facebook page that probably has all the dates/info but I don't do FB anymore so I'm not positive what they have on there. 

  10. On 6/17/2017 at 6:34 PM, BamaIron said:

    I am in central Alabama, just south of Birmingham.

    Welcome. I'm just north of Birmingham.

     

    For reference, I bought my 180lb Fisher at the AFC conference at Tannehill in 2015 for $325.  

  11. 3 hours ago, Michael Cochran said:

    I might can help you out with some tips. Text me this evening and I'll see what I have in stock. 

    Thanks Mike. I have some Lincoln brand tips for my welder somewhere. Don't know if they're the same as Tweco or not. Haven't yet found them since the move. :rolleyes:

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