"Newbiesmith" on the sword forum brought this to mind when he said he also is an IT guy in reply to my post.

I for one am into smithing strictly as a hobby and am the entire computer department of the school district I work for.

What do you do to put food on the table and a roof over your head?

Electrical contractor. Started my apprenticeship in 1969. Started my business in 1990.

Im a computer programmer actually. Lol gusse we all need to get away from computers from time to time.

home inspector. been doing it for 6 years. tech consultant for home inspections for 6 before that. built homes for ten before that.

7th grade Civic and Economics Teacher and High School Tennis coach...during the week.

All other times I consider myself an employee of Yesteryear Forge working in any capacity Mike needs...

But most importantly I make a living by listening to my wonderful wife and letting her do the money thing. The other option is being single and living under a pile of anvils...though the anvils would be nice, Sarah is a much better option for me.


Peyton

Prototype development tech, senior toolmaker. Started my time in 1978. Been building buggies and carriages since 1976 as paying hobby, and beating on hot iron since 1980.
Preston

I worked in manufacturing my whole life in a variety of businesses and am currently the Director of Quality for a large production machine shop (65 employees). However, smithing and machine shop work have always made me a decent side income for the past 25 years.

I'm a software engineer myself.

I am the manager of a Lumber Yard.

When my daughter was little, she used to tell everyone "my daddy cuts logs."

In order of income - phoenixrockgym.com
Owner of rock climbing gym
Blacksmith - desertratforge.com
Rope Access tech - ropeguy.com

I fix choo choos as my 3 year lets it be known.

Farrier, which is a fancy word for horse shoer... I have done the starving artist thing and it doesn't suit me, and that was while I was single... Now with three kids, a wife, a horse, a dog, three cats, a hundred chickens, 30 guinea fowl, and 22 goats, I don't have the luxury of that, or the time... If it were just me I might be able to starve, but since there are so many that I have to feed... My goal is to get back to where I am more blacksmith than farrier, that has been the 10 year goal for about 6 or 7 years now, and I am up to maybe 3% blacksmith by income;-)

now... Blacksmith Apprentice

for 30 years, graphic, environmental & industrial designer, information architect, communications strategist

I Blacksmith. I go to reenactments to demonstrate and sell, have a web page MT Forge , sell from a local antique/consignment shop, have wholesale clients and take some special orders as they come up. I used to be in industrial maintenance for a while (20 yr) repairing and building everything.

Mark

Diesel technician for Caterpillar specializing in marine engines but have done all of them over the years, industrial, commercial, truck and construction engines. I am in more of a supervisor position nowa days due to my back but I still do a fair amount of wrenching.
Hope to be able to make the switch to blacksmithing and casting in the next few years for my main source of income.
welder19

Ok in order thy genarate an income;

-Product designer/developer
-art history teacher
-farrier
-cenceptual artist/decorater
-blacksmith

my goal is to bee a full time farrier/blacksmith (half half) in 5years time)

I leech off parents . .and will continue to do so until I finish college .

I am on my 29th year with the San Antonio Fire Department
I ended a 23 year career as a Locksmith 6 months ago.
(Mostly High Security, Commercial, Masterkeying & Electronic Access Control)
Have a small farm/ranch - Like blacksmithing, just a hobby

Jerry

I'm a student so I don't earn a penny during my normal 'job'... My bills are paid for my my student loan, which for those who don't know is a state-supplied loan which is index-linked as the only interest. It doesn't get paid back until I earn

GPS/GIS Mapping Specialist for a municipal electric utility. I primarily use AutoDesk Map 3D (AutoCAD) and Trimble GPS equipment.

Good job. Pays the bills and good benefits. Co-workers are top-notch.

Sometimes I think I would rather divide all my time between preaching the Gospel and forging iron, but I fear that my wife, kids, and dog would starve (and they all get mean when they're hungry).

You never know.

Don

I'm a retired soldier.

I stay home and collect checks twice a month. In other words, I'm retired. I was an engineer in the manufacture of military ordnance, mostly medium caliber (20MM, 30MM) ammunition.

Steve

I work for a chemical company as a pipe fitter/welder, Qualify welding procedures, and repair/rebuild pressure vessels for the plant. I have been doing some exotic welding at the house for a machinist friend. Mostly Inconel to Stallite, Stainlesses, Hastalloy, Monel, and the like. LORD willing I will retire in about 4 yrs. I will smith full time then, at least that's the plan.

1. Artist Blacksmith
2. Mural Painting, backdrop painting.
3. Web Design/Graphic Design

all of these somehow fit around my primary job as a Mother!

Electronics engineer.