Hi,  My name is Tim.  I guess I first tried blacksmithing around 2001 when I worked at a living history farm in NJ.  There was a coal forge setup on the farm, as well as another forge on an adjoining property not open to the public.  I helped the demoing smith a few times and goofed around with making S hooks and stuff.  Afterwards I didn't really touch blacksmithing again until we bought our farm here in NY and I'd been forging on and off as a hobby.  My neighbor loaned me a Peter Wright which I am still using, and I bought a post vise off CL.  I've been slowly making my own tooling pretty much since then, and mostly forged hardware, hooks, hinges, etc.  I've not messed with bladesmithing much, although I'd like to make an axe someday.

My main occupation is as a vegetable grower.  We sell most of our produce at farmers markets and some wholesale to restaurants.  It isn't a way to get rich but we do OK.  

When Covid hit, my wife suggested I try selling some of my forged stuff online, so we tried doing an Etsy shop for a while.  That was pretty much a bust, there are lots of smiths well established on Etsy that sold pretty much the same stuff I was trying to, and it seemed like you had to get really good at SEO to make an Etsy blacksmith business work well.

But I had all this forged inventory I'd made for the online thing, so once Covid cooled off and we could go to farmers markets again, I started selling ironwork alongside the vegetables.  It was kind of a hassle to start as that farmers market has a lot of complex rules for artisan businesses vs agricultural businesses, but ultimately we have been able to have a decent side income at market.  It is a college town and there are lots of tourists that come through the market, otherwise I don't think ironwork (or other artisan stuff) would be viable.  I do sell some stuff to local folks, but most of the ironwork sells to visitors.  

It feels weird because I am definitely an amateur smith, and sometimes customers want to commission really elaborate stuff that I DO NOT have the capability to do. So I feel a lot of 'imposter syndrome' sometimes.  

I have attended a handful of meetings of the Southern Tier region of the NYSDB, but it is difficult for me to get to them as I do farmer's market on Saturdays when the meetings are held.  I would like to get to some this winter if I can.  I did learn quite a bit at the meetings I attended.

I've been a very frequent visitor to this forum looking for information, so I thought I should finally create an account.  There is a new vendor at the farmers market who is a bladesmith selling amazing coooking knives, (and a much better smith than I am) and he's been great to talk to. 

I realized I should communicate more and learn more.  

I'd like to professionalize my forge setup a bit.  Its kind of a dog's breakfast and I would be ashamed to have a real smith look at it.  I need better lighting and more electrical outlets on my bench so I'm not constantly switching what is plugged in when I need to use the bench grinder vs the drill press vs the angle grinder.  

I am in the process of switching the Peter Wright out with a Vevor anvil I purchased.  I like the PW but it doesn't belong to me, and it has some "old anvil" problems that I don't really feel I have a right to do anything about since it is a "free loaner".  The horn has tons of chisel cuts and cutoff wheel cuts that really chew up the surface of anything I forge on it, and the edges have a lot of chips so I have to hunt around for the good radiused areas.  I don't know how good the Vevor will be, I'm still setting up a stand for it.  I plan to move the PW out to my old hobby forge in the shed.  I used coal at that time, I switched to a homebuilt propane setup when I started forging for sale.  I couldn't fit a flue for coal into the little garage where I have electricity.

In terms of what I'd like to learn.  I'd like to be more efficient.  I'd like to find some more projects that I can make easily for sale.  I'd like to really get forge welding down, and make some more complex items.  I've done a few suffolk latches and various size hinges, but not enough to really be GOOD at them.  I'm interested in being safer, and taking care of my joints.  I don't think I'll be able to spring for a power hammer, although I'd love one.  

One thing I'd really like would be a shear for cutting small diameter stock like 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, and 1/8 flat of various widths.  I end up cutting batches of everything and in my mind a shear would be more efficient.  But I'm not that familiar with what is available.

Hi Tim, and welcome.

There's blacksmiths of all levels around here, don't worry. There's something to be learned for everyone.

Your hangups around experience, learning and imposter syndrome are 100% recognizable. It's great that you are already getting your work out there -- that's a big step. And you sound like you recognize your limits. Make friends with the local blacksmiths and send the other work their way. It takes more than a lifetime to master the craft in all its depth and breadth, no shame in having limits to your skill. 

For me, taking courses at the local association was a game changer in terms of skills, efficiency, technique and confidence. But more importantly, and something you never see mentioned in the brochures: you make friends. That really helps to build the feeling that you belong. Just keep showing up and joining in, and with time you'll be part of the community.

And if you're nice and somewhat safe and competent, you will probably be able to spend time in other people's workshops when you have specific tooling needs (power hammers, for example). That's also a great chance to figure out which investments, if any, are right for you. 

Best,
pragtich

Welcome aboard Tim, glad you delurked. Nice introduction, lots of info and things we can help you with. I'll need to think about them a bit and will reply to them one or two at a time. 

A short suggestion is to concentrate on simple basic projects to improve your skills. wall and S hooks are good beginner projects but maybe experiment with a couple different finials. Wall hooks all seem to be a straight length of round stock with 1 punched hanger hole a simple finial and hook on the other end.

Take it one step at a time, like so many newcomers to any craft you are trying to do too many things at once. Making a craft pay for itself is a long term goal, not for yet. At best you might defray consumables costs. 

Custom that recognizes hand forged is among folks with disposable income.

90% of the folk you meet on a day to day basis talk about their great grandfather who made (whatever it is you're selling) for $2. but it was made the OLD WAY!!! I used to ask if they still had any of his gear and if they'd been to pompous I'd offer them. . . . "$15 WHOLE DOLLARS!! for it.

IN all seriousness don't play games with folks, word WILL get out and kill business. Just don't take them too seriously, most don't know any more about the craft than they do about piloting a jet fighter from watching movies.

Mastering this or any craft is a little knowledge and a LOT of practice, the more you DO the better you'll get and the more valuable your time will become. You'll either be able to make a thing fast enough to be profitable or make it well enough to be. Selling on consignment or in specialty shops is low profit margin. Some guys do well with a booth at fairs but you have to have enough inventory on hand and load and haul what doesn't sell home. 

Blacksmithing in this time is not cheap, especially if you wish to make money at it.

I'm not trying to discourage you but you're looking at a long time goal, not a now goal.

Frosty The Lucky.

Good morning and welcome,

First of all, what kind of vegetables?

I feel you on the imposter syndrome. I've had to tell more than a few I couldn't make something because it took a better smith than me, or because they wouldn't want to pay what it would cost. A few I told, I'll try it, but if neither of us is happy...that sometimes worked, sometimes not. I had problems with etsy too, although I did really well at a few beer fests (people will more readily buy cool bottle openers when drunk).

As to the anvils, congratulations on the new one, for the peter wright - I generally advise against grinding on an anvil but it sounds like you've been using it for at least a few years - perhaps you could dress the edges and horn cautiously? The horn is soft anyways, so it's hard to mess up, although believe me, it can be done. If you're careful about not being overly aggressive and removing much hardface, you might get a more useful radius on at least some of the edges. I did something similar on my broken anvil, especially the irregular back edge where the heel used to be.

Welcome. 

From the looks of those trivets it seems you have welding down pretty good, a bit of refinement maybe but they look alright to me. 

And like Frosty said try some different "twists" on the hook. John Switzer at "Black Bear Forge" youtube did a whole years worth of hooks of the week. Browse through thos for ideas. Do pic searches of hooks and the like from different periods. When i get stuck i will look up pics of something like "Colonial iron work". There is nothing new under the sun and there is nothing wrong with taking inspiration from others. 

There are many different kinds of smiths. Bladesmiths, armorers, farriers, and blacksmiths who make tools, utility items like hinges, hasps, latches, decorative smiths who do a lot of scroll work, twisting, etc. Many sub categories of smiths. If something is out of your wheel house nothing at all wrong with telling someone that. You would not take your car to a body shop to get the transmission replaced would you? 

 

Welcome!

1 hour ago, BillyBones said:

John Switzer at "Black Bear Forge" youtube did a whole years worth of hooks of the week.

Matt Jenkins of Cloverdale Forge in Manitoba did a project of designing and making a new hook every day for a year. The results were printed in his book "Hooked", which is excellent.

I also recommend the book 'Hooked' for inspiration. Or if you don't have the funds for the book, you can browse through their Instagram page but you have to scroll WAY DOWN since he did it in 2016! Or just search hashtag #366hooks

On 11/11/2025 at 10:32 AM, pragtich said:

Hi Tim, and welcome.

There's blacksmiths of all levels around here, don't worry. There's something to be learned for everyone.

Your hangups around experience, learning and imposter syndrome are 100% recognizable. It's great that you are already getting your work out there -- that's a big step. And you sound like you recognize your limits. Make friends with the local blacksmiths and send the other work their way. It takes more than a lifetime to master the craft in all its depth and breadth, no shame in having limits to your skill. 

For me, taking courses at the local association was a game changer in terms of skills, efficiency, technique and confidence. But more importantly, and something you never see mentioned in the brochures: you make friends. That really helps to build the feeling that you belong. Just keep showing up and joining in, and with time you'll be part of the community.

And if you're nice and somewhat safe and competent, you will probably be able to spend time in other people's workshops when you have specific tooling needs (power hammers, for example). That's also a great chance to figure out which investments, if any, are right for you. Similarly, much like https://alphanetworks.io/ Fast Payout Casinos prioritize quick and seamless transactions, building connections and learning from others can streamline your journey in blacksmithing. Efficiency and collaboration go a long way in both crafts and industries!

Best,
pragtich

mastery takes time and practice

hello there