Dave M Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 I have been getting a bunch of requests to make old school heavy pipe T style clothes lines for backyards. Keeping fingers crossed that the requests for wagon wheel repairs will also pick up with raising fuel costs. Like my grandfather always said " If life gives you lemons then make whiskey sours." :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerkid Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 My mom has been on to me about making some "spiced" up T post for cloths line . With scrolls and so on . I guess I`ll start making the scrolls, You inspired me Dave LOL;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 Doubt you will get an upswing in horse transport accessories. Cost of owing a horse is going up too! Since we don't have pasture out here---if you don't irrigate it it's rock and sand---there are a lot of horses being sold or given away in every Craigslist as folks can't afford them. Can you sell them an S hook to hang the bag of clothespins on the line with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 Cost of owing a horse is going up too! A typo I know but oh so appropriate. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Leppo Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 We put up an "Amish" style clothes line - with the pullies, etc. I made pullies from a kid's bike wheels, and forged the mounting clevises. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayco Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 DaveM, those back yard clothes lines are pretty common around here. With the high cost of electricity, I suspect they will get more use. I've been wondering, myself, as to just where the high cost of energy is leading us as far as lifestyle is concerned. I'm terrible at prediictions........a couple years ago, when the price of heating oil/gas went up significantly, I predicted more folks would be using wood or coal for heat........and that they might want more fireplace tools than usual. Well, it didn't happen,.......at least not yet, but who's to say how it will be this winter? If folks can't travel as much and have to stay at home more, will they want more nice hand-forged items around their homes/ farms? Things that represent real solid value in a rapidly changing economy, perhaps. With recent food scares and high prices at the grocer's, more folks around here are growing gardens.........there may be a need for good quality gardening tools. I was shocked to realize that a new good quality pitch fork from the farm store now costs $60 ! Every thing is changing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triw Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 We put up an "Amish" style clothes line - with the pullies, etc. I made pullies from a kid's bike wheels, and forged the mounting clevises. Goatman I am not sure what an "Amish" clothes line is would you post a pic for me please. Thank you William Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fat pete Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 (edited) goatman....gotta love them amish clothes lines....some of em get pretty long and high.. triw....i guess you havent been thru PA dutch country....yoo shoot come here sum time an wisit......lol...as they say Edited July 3, 2008 by fat pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Leppo Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 Triw They Have The Same Sort Of Thing In Cities, So People Who Live On Upper Floors Can Reach Out Their Windows Or Fire Escapes, And String Laundry Accross The Ally; A Continuous Loop Stretched Between Two Pullies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoz Posted July 3, 2008 Share Posted July 3, 2008 It's certainly affecting things here, now petrol (gasoline) has hit $1.50/litre or roughly $6/US gallon. People are travelling less, so its already affecting tourist numbers. I've been working part time for a caravan (sorry, trailer!) manufacturer, and he's laid me off along with another part timer, because orders have ceased. No more "grey nomads" cashing in their super to go travelling around the country. As for clotheslines...you mean people who rely on tumble driers? In suburbia here, and out of town where there's room, I guess most of us use a Hills hoist, a rotary device like a big umbrella with wire; or maybe one of the extending lines for smaller yards. Not much chance of making those on a forge! I have been thinking about a move to horses, but those decals on the odd horse float declaring "Poverty means owning a horse" have scared me off! The next one is planting a grove of oil-producing trees for bio-diesel, like Pongamia, but its a 3yr wait untill you run your vehicle!! Anyway, you bring up a good point, what will this increase mean (besides higher prices for almost everything) in the way of opportunities? Cheers, Makoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 Try planting "amaranth" if it's allowed down under. It's a grain that's not only edible but produces a lot of high quality oil per acre. It grows FAST, requires little cultivation or water and is exceptionally hardy. Using corn for fuel is pretty dumb, unless your constituents grow corn that is. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayco Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 This is the kind of clothesline that is typical around here. Just two 'T's made from 1&1/2 in. pipe. I didn't make these, but rather , I found them in a scrap pile.......free for the hauling. By the way, a lot of us decorate the back yard with cows..:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayco Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 As far as horses making a comeback as source of transportation, I think the U.S. is ill equipped to make that change any time soon. Not enough folks who know how to handle a riding horse or a team and wagon........no place to hitch 'em when you get to town........no livery stables like once existed here. But here's a thought........I remember my dad (he was in England during the 'Blitz' during WW2.) telling of how EVERYONE rode bycicles over there. Of course it was wartime and there were fuel shortages , I'm sure, but he said riding a bike was the preferred way to get around. If one were near a college town or some other bike friendly place, it would be a good time to establish a 'bike shop. I think a lot more folks will be using them.........just a thought. James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 (edited) Horses are way more expensive than GasoMobiles even at double or triple todays fuel prices. They're also heavy polluters. During the days of horse drawn transport, towns and cities had to keep permanent manure collectors on staff 24/7. NY City employed thousands and disposed of many tons of horse manure a day. All of it hand collected from the streets, stables and such cleaned and hauled their own or paid for city pickup. Can you imagine trying to feed hundreds of thousands maybe millions of horses, just for NYC say. How many semi loads of hay and grain would it take daily? Trainloads dedicated solely to horse feed I'm sure. Same to dispose of the manure. Compost on the level of hundreds or thousands of tons? Yeah, right. How about water? Know how much water a horse drinks a day? Believe it or not when the internal combustion engine became popular it was more expensive to own, feed and maintain than today and it was FAR more economical and ecologically friendly than horse power. It's a fun fantasy though. (Me and Banjo cir. 67-69) Frosty Edited July 4, 2008 by Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
civilwarblacksmith Posted July 4, 2008 Share Posted July 4, 2008 I don't think I could find a fat enough bike seat to be comfortable these days to turn to using them. They all want to fit ya like a thong. Looks painful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayco Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Civilwarblacksmith, that's kinda what I was thinking. My grandson wants me to ride HIS bike, and the seat just kills me. So what about making a COMFORTABLE seat........a real cargo rack.......Maybe add shocks! Bikes today are designed for kids and racing........why not make 'em for the adult population as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferrous Beuler Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 A typo I know but oh so appropriate. Frosty Are you sure that was a typo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viggen Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Around here, we are seeing a noticeable increase in the number of folks who use a bike if they live within a few miles of work - even with the heat. And a lot more motorcycles are being drug out and used during the week, not just on one weekend a month for the Harley joy ride. Like jayco mentions, there is an unfamiliarity with bikes and how to ride by a lot of folks plus the manufacturers will address a market only if they see opportunity. There are very good bikes around but they are not cheap and they are not kids toys, and can not be bought at W-mart, or K-mart, or a discount store. A real and useful bike costs real money and there are a lot of choices today as opposed to decades past. As for opportunity for a Blacksmithing as it relates to the oil costs, I don't know. But something that may happen is a swing toward charcoal or coal by folks who use propane. Anybody know sources of inexpensive charcoal? - neighbors in cities might not like us making our own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welder19 Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I think if I lived in area with public transportation then that is what I would turn to, however for a lot of us that just isn't an option, nor is riding a bike, even if it weren't for my back, I have a 15 mi ride one way to work, maybe 15-20 yrs ago but not today. I do however drive the wife's car more now insted of my truck. welder19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnr Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 The only horse drawn work I get here is from the local Amish who have a shortage of smiths in this area. The horsey set has several farriers that deal with hooves, something I won't deal with. Finnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Are you sure that was a typo? Good point. No, I'm not sure at all now. :confused: Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnW Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Watching the impact of high fuel costs on our economy, could be interesting, that is, if I didn't live here, but, I would think, that if you actually do have any money, the cost of tools, such as anvils, would be falling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solvarr Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Not sure I am understanding you. transportation and energy costs are increasing steel and scrap steel prices are increasing The dollar is slowly being devalued Why would anvils decrease in price? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt87 Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Many people who own anvils have them as garden ornaments; quaint flowerpot stands etc.Very few 'normal' people know about scrapyards. If you're a little strapped for cash due to fuel costs etc., that nice man covered in coal dust and with burn-holes in his shirt offering a few hundred cash-in-hand for your flowerpot stand will be mighty tempting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayco Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 I know of a guy who had to relocate to a new job. He sold his nice house to one of my cousins.He had an iron pot, an old wagon wheel, and a little farrier's anvil on the porch. Part of 'the rustic look'.........He placed no particular value on these things...........and just left them! There's no moral here, but my cousin has a free anvil! Funny things happen when money gets tight. An old man I once knew(speaking of the 1930's depression) said... "Stuff was cheap!.........But nobody had any money!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.