Jim-Iowa Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Professionally I am a Customer Service and Sales Rep for a national Distributor(work primarily with grocery & drug chains on the eatern seaboard from NC to Vermont). In my free time I'm a "jack of all trades and master of none". A little mechanic work, Carpentry, woodworking, Currently building muzzleloading rifle. Spend as much time as possible out doors. Blacksmithing is something I have been drawn to as part of the above pursuits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralphy Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 Well I have many hobbies, custom and metal, with blacksmithing in my heart. As for income I work for many companies as a Millwright, the pays good, the location changes, and I can scrounge metal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Murch Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 well, let's see. first of all, ya gotta understand i'm 18 years old, and a senior in high school. i work part time at a machine shop, and until recently i worked part time at a steak house as well. i've had steady blacksmithing business the entire 3 years i've been doing it, but i don't think i've come out very far ahead as far as money goes. it's still early. uhh, let's see. about the years ahead. they can go a few directions. i wanna work for myself eventually, do my own thing, but before that can happen i'll either go to tech school for machine tool technology, or find a professional blacksmith to work with. I gotta little collection of some nice pics of my better work, and will soon be calling people to talk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hammer Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 Early career... Commercial sign painter. Then 6+ years in the Air Force in the late 60's - early 70's. In the service, I was trained as a weather forecaster, but ended up programming computers. 32 years working for computer companies. Operating system support, project leader, project manager, teacher, IT architect. Retired in 2004. I've already earned my living. Now I'm living it. Giving one half of it to grandchildren. The other half to learning to become a blacksmith. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith Jim Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 Husband, Father, Software Engineer. I wish I had at least 48 hours a day to work with... Father Time and I were never on good terms ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintjohnbarleycorn Posted February 16, 2008 Share Posted February 16, 2008 I've been an electrician for most of my life, as my father was. I also have worked in masonry, a paper, appliance store. The last 18 years I have also been responsible for HVAC, and environmental air controls for them. As the politics were bad I have left the 18 year employment and am starting up my own business again. I fooled with Blacksmithing about 20 years ago when I needed tools to make some stringed instruments, and other woodworking projects. I have also been teaching at night elec/hvac, which i still do and I don't now how the income thing is going to work out right now. Probably a combination of all the things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithpip Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 I am a Farmer in England Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintjohnbarleycorn Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 I am a Farmer in England do you watch south park over there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quenchcrack Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 Director of Applications Engineering (Metallurgical Engineer) for a steel plate and pipe company. Been associated with the Oil Industry since 1974. Worked for companies that made oilfield drilling tools, and now I am in charge of technical support for the second largest supplier of oil country tubular goods in North America. Our plate division is the largest supplier of plate in North America. Hanging on for another few years and I will bail out and hope there is a parachute on my back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dale Russell Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Now , Traction battery tech / Jack of all trades ( master of none ) / Apprentice mechanical engineer ( at 46 , who says youse is too old ta learn a new trade ? ) ( Forlklift hire industry ) Before that .. Qualified sewing machine mechanic , Semi driver ( read road train's in the outback of OZ )(World's Longest Roadtrain ), Smallgoods maker ( & smallgoods factory maintenance person ) , Multi drop delivery driver , Warehouse manager , Welder for a fire systems instulation company ,Steel fixer in high rise construction , Fruit & Veg manager in stupidmarkets , Forklift operator ( various companys ) As you can see it took me awhile ta find the job i like , now if only i can find the rite company ta go with the job ... Hobbist Blacksmith , with future plans of makin' this my fulltime job ( please send " beer " ta the strugglin' artist ... ) Dale Russell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Leppo Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 Mechanical / product designer / drafter Our firm makes display walls and consoles for the utility sector, and control panels for the transit sector. I blacksmith as a hobby only, and (sadly) rarely these days as my wife and I raise our 6mo old son, and fix up our house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dablacksmith Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 full time broke ... I mean blacksmith been doin it for 25 years worked other jobs ta keep food on the table but this is my obsession...and ime getting to the point it might actually pay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ergoman Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 worked in dad's welding shop, farmer with grand dad, machinist, slum lord, student, industrial engineer, student, ergonomist, lawn care operator, student, occupational therapist, bought my 40 acres, student, higher paid ergonimist, farmer, workers comp troubleshooter, bum living on savings, cognitive therapist for brain injured, business sellout, blacksmith trainee, bum, blacksmith trainee and farmer, student. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredlyFX Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 I currently make my living working with disabled students at a community college where I train them in the use of adaptive technology. I also am an alternate media specialist, which means I convert textbooks to electronic files, large print, or braille. Beofre that I spent years doing all sorts of things, handyman, equipment mechanic, building mantenance and sales. I do blacksmithing and woodworking as a hobby, and hope to someday make a living as an artist blacksmith when I retire in about 12 to 15 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skunkriv Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Municipal water treatment plant. Get water from 20 wells, 19 are 55' deep or so and one is 2200'. Basically babysit and repair a large number of pumps, chemical feeders, and process equipment. Do some simple lab tests. If the machines are happy I am happy and don't work too hard. Two shifts I work 5 days a week, one shift four, and one shift three. Weird hours but lots of free time. Part-time blacksmith for 20+ years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cal-k Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 i'm 16 just saturday work at a warehouse, so i got tons of time during holidays for knifemaking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rfb343 Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 In no particulair order, a disciple/paramedic/handyman/farmer/father/husband/french and indian war reenactor/carpenter/reluctant dieselwrench/cut rate gunsmith.... one keeps us in house and home, one has been paid for well before my time, and the rest balance out somewhere to keep our nostrils out of the water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Well, I used to work a real job as a software engineer but it damaged my hands. So now I listen to people talk about how depressed they are for income. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Richards Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Custom Knifemaker, Retired Chief USN. House Husband to my wonderful wife who is a registered nurse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tompdw Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 I am a full time doughnut eating, coffee drinking public servant who wears a blue monkey suit. I'll let you guys figure it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pipeliner32 Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Pipeline mechanic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Most of the time I am a Union Electrician, which also means a lot of spare time between assignments from the union hall, so when I am waiting for work there, I am a bladesmith/blacksmith. I also teach medical classes for the American Red Cross, as an EMT-B; and I teach Jujitsu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jymm Hoffman Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 1981 through 1988 full time self employed blacksmith 1988 through 1990 full time Interpretive Programs Manager at Old Fort Niagara, part time self employed blacksmith 1990 to present full time self employed blacksmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 tompdw, I'd be honored to buy you a cup of java and doughnut anytime. Just give me a ring when you are in my area and I'll give ya directions to the place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firebug Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Started in the ornamental iron business at the age of 12, in my grandparents shop. I made 50 cents an hour, it was the best thing to happen to me. I learned how to do iron work which is paying real good today. After that I joined the Montgomery Fire Department at age 19. I am going to retire in about a month. I am currently a Fire Investigator which required me to attend the Montgomery Police Academy since it is a law enforcement position. I can't imagine having done anything else for a living. Fighting fire is a BLAST. I now own my own business which is on my property in the country. I do both cut and weld iron work and blacksmithing, thanks to Hofi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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