hillbilly bling

I totally understand where all of you are coming from. I don't know where you want to go,but i see $$$ signs in all. Not everyone thinks and does things the way i do. Don't want you to. Be yourslf,, but ask yourself why? Why are you a Blacksmith? To make alot of money and maybe get rich? That's fine if you do think that way.My Blacksmithing skills are very young. Just getting started. I have no problem staying busy. There's a reason for that and it's simple. Sell your product cheap! I am not a Blacksmith to get rich. I am a Blacksmith for the love of the trade. If some thing takes me 2 hours to make and i have 8 dollars in materials, I have no problem selling it for 15 dollars. Thats 7 dollars i didn't have 2 hours ago. $3.50 an hour is sad. But it's not about the money for me. The smiles i put on peoples faces and the thanks i get in return are pricless. Also that person will tell another and so on. Some have even paid more than my asking price. BONUS! Jim Coke knows what i drive, "Don't laugh at my truck Jim" I live a simple life and don't live beyond my income. If i can provide someone with what they want or need and get a lil money and a smile or a good hand shake,then i have been successful as a Blacksmith in my book!!!

Hello everyone. I don't post much at all, I just read and learn. To much your opinion is better than the other. I just stay out of it and take what i learn to the anvil. But when your right your right. Just be nice about it, you don't have to put the other person down or degrade them. I spent 4 hrs. in Jim Cokes shop today (Thanks a million Jim) and by the end of this summer i'll have a treadle in my little one man shop. We didn't spend much time on the treadle but what he showed me was worth a treadles wheight gold. I can see where a treadle just makes things simpler and easier.

I made my table out of 1/4 " and i still put 1/4"x2" strap on edge underneath for anti bowing. My side draft hood is to heavy but made of 1/8th" sheet steal. No problems yet. My fire pot is also made of 1/4" plate steal with no signs of burning through.