blackleafforge Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 What does everyone else have as a work vehicle? Im looking to buy something as my kit will no longer fit in my VW polo.... A car derived van is cheap and economical but i was worried about overloading it and getting bogged down when in fields / work sites etc. A bigger truck, something like a toyota hilux, would be more expensive, less economical as i drive a lot but could carry a heavier load, pull a trailer and get everywhere. thanks I'm in the uk by the way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 For the last 25 years I've gotten away with a small four cylinder imported pickup---piled high when needed---of course we don't get rain like you do. My last one was a 6 cyl version and I have loved the extra power! (1989 Nissan) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSW Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 I work out of a midsize custom utility body with a retractable roof for my contracting work. Plenty of space for tools and so on in the side boxes while leaving the bed space free for larger items or material. Only thing I don't have on the truck yet is a long materials rack for full lengths of steel.. I know a couple of farriers that work out of similar vans or small box trucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 I started out with a 1985 3/4ton suburban diesel (about 20mpg) but my latest rig is a bit bigger. 01 Isuzu NPR 4500, (1 1/2 ton) $6000 + 2500 for repairs and modifications (bed and boxes). Isuzu clames its a 500,000 mile chasie so at 290k I'm happy. 23 mpg (diesel) isn't bad. The NPR also comes as a 3500 (1 ton) and newer models have bigger power plants as well as a slabs 4 doors (more $) and older ones have smaller power plants. Often old stream sweepers can be picked up cheep (sands the sweeper unit) but the parts for an I frame rebuild of the engine is $1000-1500. Yes it is a premium block like an over the road truck. She isn't sexy but I have a 7' 3" by 12' bed, originally it had an 8' by 14' box. Either way it's a lot of work space. I shoe out of (off of?) her and still have a 10' bed with my equipment. I mounted the box on an old fith wheel frame. So not only do I have a large truck bed, I still have a mobile work shop if I so choose. Fat chance, Linda took it over for her fabric and notions storage. Do you have any idea how much fabric and sewing stuff a seamstress and historical costume maker can collect? Like everything in blacksmithing, learn to think out side the box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakesshop Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 I feel the pain of Charles, my wife is also a historical costumer. Always needing more storage for fabric and costumes. Back to the subject at hand, I have a '98 Dodge diesel 4X4 (live in snow country) pickup with a camper shell. 190k miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 My wife is a spinster, "SpinOff" once had a quesdtionaire where one line was "How much fiber do you have on hand?---A a peck, B a bushel and a peck, C a million billion tons?" I kept looking for D.....(She's off picking cotton this morning...) I've always had a high fiber diet, mainly wool though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 I feel your pain, Thommas. 11 wool sheep and Linda still buys wool. Truth is, despite becoming a fair spinning wheel mechanic it's relaxing to watch her spin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 The odd (and sometimes *very* *odd*) metal job for her spinning has usually not been a problem. Cudgelling my brain for my high school german years later to try to explain niggling details to improve a person's plying at a craft fair in Germany hurt! Funny that my german teacher never covered words like twist ratios, balanced yarns, counting as you treadle, etc. Forced was I to apply an internal painkiller the German's are justly famous for, oft described as "Dunkle Doppelbock" I have been able to duck the requests to build hatchels for hackling flax by finding antique ones in good condition at cheap prices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 I know I'm in trouble when Linda prefaces any conversation with "your a blacksmith right?" I must admit she keeps me pushing the envolope of my skills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 I thought I had finally gottern rid of doing spinning hooks by foisting them off on my apprentice---paid job!----then he graduated and moved away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Don't remind me, I just replaced the hooks on an old flax wheel for her (new leather barrings,pins in half the spokes and a brass bushing). Now I'm looking at an old Irish wheel. Looks like all it needs is to replace a pin for one spoke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 My wife has a friend with a museum piece walking wheel that needs a new real wrought iron spindle---the old one has worn down several inches in length. This may go higher in the queue as they were astounded to see how my wife was spinning on it at a museum demo recently and it may get a lot more use coming up. She's been teaching spinning for over 40 years now and is getting known for her "strange spinning problem" solving. I think the weirdest thing she has spun is artic fox under coat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Thommas, any woman that will put up with likes of you and I, is deffinantly worth keeping happy. Might want to go a head and move her friends wheel to the top of the honey do list. Might not want to let Linda know your wife teaches spinning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianinsa Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Wow, who'd have thought it? More than one "set" of smith/spinner and one a teacher pair to boot. :wub: Would either of you care to post something on spinning? Not that others might wish of follow in your footsteps as it were but as an interesting indulgence. A while back someone posted a thread on broom-making and I have no interest in making broom-making yet I found it fascinating. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Lol, I watch Linda weave, I help her keep the equipment running or manufacture a tool for her. I do a bit of weaving but as of yet that's it. I suspect Thommas and his better half are a better bet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8, 4WD. Towing weight 5800#. My smithing gear is in the trailor. So far the most I have pulled has been 4500# of coal for 75 miles at highway speeds with no troubles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 There are a number of "Steel Wool" couples out there; I know 4 or 5 sets personally including one where the wife is the smith and her husband spins... My wife specializes in the very fine and even spinning characteristic of earlier times---lumpy, slubby yarns are very much a modern thing and actually have their bassis in the same Arts & Crafts movement that gave us hammer dinged smithing projects.. However she teaches very hands on---in fact when I go to Quad-State she usually goes to the Yellow Springs "Wool Gathering" and often gets roped into teaching her rather well known plying class if she has let slip to the spinning guilds out there that she will be in the neighborhood... When I was looking for a wife; I wanted one with a passion for a craft; so she would understand mine. But I wanted for a different craft so there was never tool contention. We've lasted 29 years so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Thommas, hats off to your wife. Linda spins lace weight yarn, of an "exeptable quality". If your wife is only twice as skilled and half as dedicated I'm impressed. That said I have no doubt Linda would be at least as exited to sit beside your wife and spin as I would be to share a fire with you. Now if one could only find the time and money for such endevers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 One thing JoAnn has done is to spin with a chest mount magnifier so she can see the yarn being created---from across the room I can't see it! As to dedicated; she spins in church, she spun while in labour, she's spun at Quad-State.... We used to get down near Altus as my Mother was born near Humphrey's gin. and we still transit OK on the way to the kids/grandkids in NW AR as well as a passle of kinfolk around Fort Smith and Van Buren. Perhaps some Quad-State? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakesshop Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 My wife also spins (also named Joanne), she really likes to use one of her inkle looms at Ren Faires. I used to make chainmaile, but got sick of it after nearly 20 years. At Faires where I don't smith at I make scale maile to occupy my time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 I'll have to start saving my shekels. If you find your self transiting Ok and come up from the south west corner, hang a left at Chickasha and we'll feed ya and put you up for the night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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