Crazy Ivan Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Saying that I just got myself a "real job" to supplement my blacksmithing and odd job "paying" gigs (I think it might be the other way around)? :ph34r: Hahaha oh well, all good things must come to an end. On the plus side, I will now be able to guarantee rent payments in a timely manner to my landlord AND get some fancy new tools that forging and welding couldn't pay for! Now I will be welding stainless steel vacuum chambers all day and forging all night....this might not be that bad :D . Plus it will be nice to have health insurance again! -Crazy Ivan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 That is the route most of us take. I smith for fun, not to make a living. Easier that way. Health benes are a plus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Ivan Posted February 11, 2014 Author Share Posted February 11, 2014 I think for me it was more about working for myself on mainly my own schedule. It kept things pretty loose for me to have the option of taking a day off whenever, sleeping in if I needed too etc. I'll make it work with the daily grind though. With the prospect of a steady check, my mind is racing about what I'm gonna get for the shop first :D -Crazy Ivan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 This type of profession is a good second income but few folks can make it work as a sole means of support. Obviously, some can and do but it's tough. I certainly would not self-denigrate if I were you - better to take a regular paying job than starve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 It's the health insurance that really makes a difference. Most self employed folks are 1 health issue away from bankruptcy. I originally could have taken early retirement this year and had though of doing smithing as a living; but then became diabetic and so now have to maintain health insurance forever. (not to mention that my originally employer augered into the ground and all the top management got golden parachutes and us grunts got kicked out the door---guess who made the decisions that augered us in?) So buy all the *nice* *toys* and "play" as much as you can! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petere76 Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Ivan, I know a few professional smiths but most have other jobs or other sources of income. The cost of setting up and running the shop is not cheap. Also the costs of insurance on the shop, vehicles and health care for yourself and any employees pushes it into the range of outrageous. I have a regular job that supplies all the bennies, 401, pension, profit sharing and health insurance. The ancillary benefits that come with professional employment really amount to a sizable sum. In my business we hire marine engineers and the average cost for family plan health care runs about $32.0 per man day. The rest of the benefit package pushes the per day man cost close to $100.0 These numbers would kill a small business because you can't charge enough per shop hour to cover the cost of benefits. One good approach is to build and stock your shop while working and then gradually transition to running the shop part time. You will always need real income and benefits. If you have a family you need medical and if you plan on retiring you will need a pension. Chose your direction wisely because you can't get back your earning years when you are older. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Shoot, I'd love to have a regular paycheck! Making a living as a smith is almost impossible, and a lot of it depends on where you live, not how good a smith you are. Jump for joy that you now have benefits and a steady income that will allow you the opportunity to advance your smithing skills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Ivan Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share Posted February 12, 2014 Don't get me wrong, I am extremely grateful that I found a job that I can tolerate (the margins get narrower every day). For quite a while I was able to pay rent, cost of material/consumables, and have some money on the side solely by blacksmithing and I loved it. I sort of knew it was inevitable that I would hit a rough patch and have work slow or halt and not be able to stay off the streets but part of me wanted to see how far it could go. So this time, I packed a parachute and set myself up for a job before I ended up back out on my rump. It can get to me though, trying to chase my dream and having it not work the way I wanted. Either way though, I roll with the punches and work with what I have. I'm sure I just gotta save up a bit more and work a bit harder for it and eventually I will be in that position that I can make it happen. People tell me I'm a dreamer, but I call it ambition. :) -Crazy Ivan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikecopXXX Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 It's the health insurance that really makes a difference. Most self employed folks are 1 health issue away from bankruptcy. I originally could have taken early retirement this year and had though of doing smithing as a living; but then became diabetic and so now have to maintain health insurance forever. (not to mention that my originally employer augered into the ground and all the top management got golden parachutes and us grunts got kicked out the door---guess who made the decisions that augered us in?) So buy all the *nice* *toys* and "play" as much as you can! Agreed on all points. It would be nice to be canadian in that case. national health care, eh? Thomas would you happen to be an ex- military pilot? That "augered-in" phrase was used by my dad, 27 yr USAF pilot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Nope; not ex-military---or I might have better health insurance options...; but my ex-company had been flying high before it's stock ended up at 1/10 it's peak. Funny you should mention other countries---my typical advice for people wanting to make a living knifemaking is to move to a country with socialized medicine or to marry someone with very good spousal benefits...(I've known a number of makers that have had a health issue hammer them financially) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notownkid Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 No comment I've seen here is more true. I ran the family business for nearly 30 yrs. Corp. America walked in one morning and stepped on us like a bunch of Ants, put us out of business in 30 days. Left employees and employers out in the cold, literally. Managed to salvage enough to pay off two kids college loans. Had to go to work out of state, wife decided to go her way which was fine. Almost went back into business for myself but didn't. Within 3 yrs had to have 3 operations in 10 months any one of which would have bankrupted me but had Insurance with then new job. Hated going to work every day but had to have the insurance, worked until the day after my Medicare started. Getting everything in line to be retired at home soon, if the time doesn't run out. Very little comes out as we hoped & dreamed but make the best of what we get given. go for it Ivan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianinsa Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Great news on the job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianinsa Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Remember you don't have to, be but you can choose to be a struggling blacksmith, some seem to do ok for themselves, even in countries where quality healthcare makes your look ludicrously affordable.For example the monthly medical aid premium(competitively priced) for the wife and I and two dependents costs approximately 500 hours worth of minimum wage. Sadly in our state Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Ivan Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share Posted February 12, 2014 Tomorrow morning will be my first day working at this place. Luckily for me it is only a ten minute bike ride away (unluckily, we are getting a snow and rain storm tomorrow haha). The more I think about it, this might work out really well. Plus I will likely get access to their scrap which is mainly 304 and 316 SS and some type of high carbon alloy steel (I don't recall exactly what it is but I remember them saying 60 points of carbon). Any common uses for these grades of steel (22GA-1/4" PL and various rounds and square bar) in blacksmithing? Blades and axes? -Crazy Ivan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggwelder Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 yeah, we get "free" medical, but it`s only basic. just to keep you existing in some cases. anything extra, like specific surgeries, some drugs, and anything beyond basic dental care(except for children under 12), you had better have a really good employer plan. I fortunately do, being in the service, and that extends into retirement, which is awesome. just have to list my worst / most dangerous things i do that don`t apply to my job (metalworking, metal casting and black powder)and it pretty much covers all. they don`t like surprises. i agree, basic is better than a kick in the face with a frozen mukluk, but our government just released the new annual budget, and as i understand it, retirees now have to pay 50% of the premiums as opposed to 25%. and a self employed person here may also contribute to unemployment insurance for themselves if they so chose, even if they are the owner/operator as well as get a decent employer medical plan if they have a few employees, not all that sure of how that works, but if you are profitable, it`s affordable. but we get so much snow here ……catching most of that snow and rain Crazy ivan was talking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob S Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 yeah, we get "free" medical, but it`s only basic. just to keep you existing in some cases. I'm good with continued existence....... :mellow: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggwelder Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 yes, i guess if you put it that way. i am trying to put myself in your shoes where you have to pay for the basics. i do not envy you that. i`m glad we have here what we have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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