robert hanford Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 I have been thinking about this for some time. I am an amateur . I also have a rich professional life in my chosen vocation, And also an intricate family life. Yet I have a passion for my current hobby. For all the amateurs out there-how do you balance your passion for smithing with all the demands you experience on a daily basis? It seems like I want to have it all- I am lucky enough to have a wife that makes it possible, Yet it does get tricky at times. Just interested in how others manage. If you have the time, please reply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whirly Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 G'day Robert. I guess if 'smithing is a hobby, it just has to fit in with the rest of life. For the professionals it's their work and livleyhood, so a different story. Speaking for myself, I do get frustrated when I can't keep a project rolling because life, work/family/whatever gets in the way. Just means I do a lot of thinking of the steps/designs/changes/etc of a piece or project when the brain is not otherwise engaged with the work/family/whatever...do a lot of thinking and designing when I'm driving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iron woodrow Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 dont design and drive, it is dangerous! worse than drink driving :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harley Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 I just smith. I the rest of my life find time to fit in somewhere between hammer blows. Smithing lets me express my creativity, is great stress relief, allows for the best alone time I can get, makes my mind work things out more than my "regular job" , and just all in all makes me feel good. When something does that for me I let everything else find it's own place in my life's schedule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Here's a little metaphorical statement which my farrier mentor shared with me, when I first started horseshoeing. "Don't take your horses to bed with you!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksnagel Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 What are the true priorities in your life? I am a hobby blacksmith yet I spend most of my spare time at the forge. It brings in income that helps out and I can easily justify it. My wife is ill and likes to just hear me outside in the smithy at the anvil. My kids are all grown and have moved on. But, when the wife calls for me, I leave what I am doing when safe to do so and go to her. If I need to put out the fire, so be it. I can always continue at a later time. The forge has never kissed me goodnight. My children take priority over the forge. (They will most likely pick out my nursing home). If a friends donkey gets stuck in a ditch, I leave the forge and help him get his donkey out of the ditch. What things in your life do you plan on doing or having for the rest of your life. Friends and family will (should) last you way past your ability to forge. Like Mr Frank alluded to in the above reply, You are not married to your forge. It can be all consuming. Keep your priorities in line with your families priorities and things should run smoothly. Mark <>< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Seelye Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 One thing I do is keep my shop orderly. That way, when I do get time, I am ready to roll. Most tools are out on pegs and hooks, that way I don't have to get them out each time (lockable shop, really saves time). I pick up supplies on my way home, may not use them for a day or two, but, when I'm ready, so is the job. I just made a cutting table/grinding area, this keeps my shop cleaner and I spend less time cleaning. Time has value, Kids need dads, wife needs husband, house, lawn, car, job... Sometimes my wife shops... I forge at the same time. Frank sums it up! Great quote, applies to a lot of things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmccustomknives Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Smithing fits nicely between what I've got to do, what my wife say's I've got to do and everything else. I used to hot rod, that was getting expensive and I hated getting greasy. I sold the car and got a boat; that was just a hole in the water I pored money and time into. Smithing allows me to express my artistic side, keeps me home and almost pays for itself. The last part helps the wife be a little more understanding. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel.85 Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 I have 3 days off each week from my regular job, the smithing gig has been going pretty good and I got it ok'd to have 4 days off starting in january. So it will be part time there and part time blacksmithing. I think the guy that runs stumptown forge used to be a lawyer, he quit to be a blacksmith. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whirly Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 I just re-read what I wrote and it didn't come out quite right. When I mentioned family, I wasn't resenting time with them as opposed to forge time. Family is always first, it's just that a visit to see the kids involves about 8oo Km (500 Miles), 8-9 hours driving and however many days we spend there. Iron Woody, designing and driving isn't really dangerous, it's only when it gets to the marker-pen-on-windscreen stage that it gets a bit hairy.... :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry H Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 I think if you make nice stuff she likes, you may get more shop time. Fancy kitchen items, a rose, some kind of delicate curly thingy with a tea light candle in it, stuff like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimsShip Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 I have to drag out the forge, anvil and tools, and usually by the time i get the fire going, I have to stop. I have more unfinished projects nagging at me than i care to admit, and it seems my list of things i see and want to try keeps growing by the week. My family and work must come first though, and as i've become more involved in this new addiction, i'm starting to think there will never be enough time to do all the work i'd like to, so I just try and make what litle time I squeeze out count, and enjoy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pug}{maN Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 I had to put chairs out the shop just so the wife kids my mom and dad and everyone else could sit out there and watch me ! They love it just as much as I do. Sometimes I'll get home from work and they will ask if im going out to the shop! Lucky man I guess... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Trez Cole Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 I keep a small anvil set up with a bunch of copper wire. My boys are 4 the other day my son picked up a hammer and did not put it down for 2 hours flattened a lot of wire, when he is a little bigger I will introduce him to fire. in days gone by the forge was the center of the village. Having a good wife helps and making sure everyone else has what they need first then they will help get you the time you need Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 Make a list of things in order of their importance. 1) Put yourself first. Without you the rest of the list does not exist. You must be there to support the rest of the list. 2) Family comes second. 3) -----> This space is left open <------ 4) This is where your priorities start, for instance, how you make money etc. Gotta have the cash to live. 5) This is where you list the ways you enjoy life. #3 is always left open so that any emergency can be moved up to that slot. The rest of the list does not have to be moved about and returns to normal as soon as the emergency is over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockstar.esq Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 Nature abhors a vacuum. I find that un-allocated time gets commandeered by life. Jeff Seelye has a great point about making the workspace cooperate with limited time. Part of the reason I got into blacksmithing is that I could set up in the back yard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ten Hammers Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 There will be many things that contribute to the space and time thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironman50 Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 Attention to passion keeps my life in order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Gaddis Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 So today I return from hepatic arterial stent insertion for 8.9 cm aneurism. I am allowed to lift about 10 pounds and am thinking on what part of smithing I will be challenging myself with. If anyone has ideas I am up to the new way of thinking. The next hammer build project would be very small compared to the ones I have helped strike on this year. So...please bring in some ideas. Carry on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert hanford Posted November 15, 2012 Author Share Posted November 15, 2012 Excellent and varied thoughts! Thanks everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted November 15, 2012 Share Posted November 15, 2012 So today I return from hepatic arterial stent insertion for 8.9 cm aneurism. I am allowed to lift about 10 pounds and am thinking on what part of smithing I will be challenging myself with. If anyone has ideas I am up to the new way of thinking. The next hammer build project would be very small compared to the ones I have helped strike on this year. So...please bring in some ideas. Carry on It is difficult to know what to say because of the medical jargon and lack of a prognosis. My sister had a stent inserted at age 57 about 5 years ago, and she is doing well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted November 15, 2012 Share Posted November 15, 2012 So today I return from hepatic arterial stent insertion for 8.9 cm aneurism. I am allowed to lift about 10 pounds and am thinking on what part of smithing I will be challenging myself with. If anyone has ideas I am up to the new way of thinking. The next hammer build project would be very small compared to the ones I have helped strike on this year. So...please bring in some ideas. Carry on Hi David, Hope everything is Tickety Boo and stays so, You could consider a bit of leafwork or repousse using copper or steel, Repousee panels ar quite good therapy and absorbing when you are doing them. not many tools needed and those that are are normally light and easily made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Gaddis Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 well it is not my ticker...but is connected to it. I need all sorts of ideas. Not any experience with repousse..yet. And not too much experience with copper...yet. I am considering all sorts of thing now but keep coming back with the denial because of the lifting twisting pulling or pushing that is required. But I am thinking pretty seriously about some copper leaves imprinted via rubber backplate as some people do. And then there is that thing that macbruce makes...the ZipMax. Does anyone have any idea how that may affect me? when someone was as active as I have been and now this aneurism thing....man I am searching. Its been two days now since the operation! Carry on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 Copperwork is ideal, just anneal the piece mark out then just gentle tapping with light hammer and small punches/gravers/chasers which can easily be made from 1/4" or 3/8" bar It's very absorbing and therapeutic, consider making bowls, plates, picture/mirror frames, wall plaques and loads more stuff Here is a picture of a simple experiment using copper with carpet as a backing to indent/raise into. The idea was then to incorporate it into a house name with Wren Cottage embossed around the circumference, this was the pilot run. The image was taken and expanded from an old Engish Farthing, (1/4 of one old penny or 1/960th of a pound sterling, Don't you just miss the old coinage? ) Here is another simple one made many years ago, with a laminated photo of a pet glued in the centre Possibilities are endless, effort required more mental (concentration) than physical. Here are details of an excellent book showing the technique Moving Metal The art of chasing and repoussé Adolph Steines Hardcover, translated for Blue moon Press www.bluemoonpress.org Copyright ©2001 ISBN 0-9707664-9-1 Whatever you decide to do take care, and enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert hanford Posted November 18, 2012 Author Share Posted November 18, 2012 Wow, David, you are really outdoing me in your desire for a balancing act. I am glad that you still have your passion. I wish you the absolute best in dealing with your ealth problems and have confidence that you will continue to find enjoyment and satisfaction in moving metal. Sincerely, Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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