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Wroughtnharv · 12-08-2017, 07:55 PM

i'm glad y'all like the poinsettia. It's getting a lot of attention, consensus seems to be that it is the only one on this side of town.

This afternoon I figured out how to make the gold lights work and installed them. They make a difference.

Wroughtnharv · 12-08-2017, 08:07 PM

Some people don't have to hunt for a challenge. For them a challenge just happens at the weirdest times and for the dumbest reasons.

Yesterday when we first installed the poinsettia a pair of humming birds showed up very interested. it was the first humming birds we had seen here so an hour or so later while shopping at Tractor Supply we picked up a humming bird feeder for our new friends.

One of the things we inherited with the place is one of those imitation wrought iron yard hanger things for whatevers. Cuz had installed her fairy lights, cutest little things, one on each arm. As you can see there was no room for the new humming bird feeder.

That was yesterday evening. This morning i grabbed a piece of the 1/4" bar stock I used to make the frame for the poinsettia. A bend here, tweak there, and a couple of other bends, problem solved.

Wroughtnharv · 12-08-2017, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sam-3

You could make some to sell for extra income. Perhaps you can pick up some lights on the reduced after christmas.

That is not something you make and sell I'm afraid. Labor and materials would put that one in the thousand dollar range, add reasonable profit and you're looking at $1,500.00

However, I'm looking at some products I can blacksmith up and sell. The down side of that here in Yuma is anything that becomes popular would be copied quickly and mass marketed by the swap meet vendors. And of course a piece mass produced using cold bend methods wouldn't have the finish and quality of hot work. But them most of the people interested in stuff like this aren't into the quality as much as the price, nature of the beast.

We'll see how it shakes out. I could use the money.

guardrail53 · 12-08-2017, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wroughtnharv

That is not something you make and sell I'm afraid. Labor and materials would put that one in the thousand dollar range, add reasonable profit and you're looking at $1,500.00

However, I'm looking at some products I can blacksmith up and sell. The down side of that here in Yuma is anything that becomes popular would be copied quickly and mass marketed by the swap meet vendors. And of course a piece mass produced using cold bend methods wouldn't have the finish and quality of hot work. But them most of the people interested in stuff like this aren't into the quality as much as the price, nature of the beast.

We'll see how it shakes out. I could use the money.

Plus, Harvey, being so close to the border, the things could and would be copied and made across the border, very cheaply! It would be very hard to do it cheaper than the Mexican's! Just say'n!
There is a lot of iron worked stuff for sale in Algodones! Rail!

ronjhall · 12-09-2017, 02:46 AM

Poinsettia with all the colors working is fantastic.

Wroughtnharv · 12-09-2017, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guardrail53

Plus, Harvey, being so close to the border, the things could and would be copied and made across the border, very cheaply! It would be very hard to do it cheaper than the Mexican's! Just say'n!
There is a lot of iron worked stuff for sale in Algodones! Rail!

And, huge and, according to the blacksmithing instructor at the local jr college, he buys his steel in Mexico for about half the price.

One of the things I respect is the ability of the Mexican craftsman to copy something. A blacksmith world renown who is now in prison had an hispanic worker that was the best. His work was so good that I could identify it just by the appearance, embarrassed some buds doing some work for an antique shop when I challenged the scroll quality as being his. They admitted it was.

A young man worked for me that had the personality that was happiest doing something over and over again. I could create one of something and then hand it over to him. By the fifth or sixth one he was turning them out and they were better than I could ever do. We were the perfect team, I can't do two of anything the same and that's all he wanted to do, make the same thing over and over again and getting better each time. I'm sure there is a shop somewhere profiting off of his skills.

I saw the same thing in Haiti. In the market place in Port Au Prince I found a blacksmith turning out tools made with used rebar. His cold chisels had the blade surface of those made with machines, not a hammer mark to be seen. He was amazing.

I can't compete with the craftsmen in Mexico when it comes to price and skills. But there might be a niche here where some of my ideas will find a small market that is willing to pay for things not popular enough to demand mass production.

Gordon Dewald · 12-09-2017, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wroughtnharv

i'm glad y'all like the poinsettia. It's getting a lot of attention, consensus seems to be that it is the only one on this side of town.

This afternoon I figured out how to make the gold lights work and installed them. They make a difference.

Very Pretty.

Franka548 · 12-09-2017, 07:25 PM

You do have amazing skills Harvey. The Poinsettia looks wonderful.
Frank

Wroughtnharv · 12-12-2017, 07:47 PM

It was decided that we needed a Christmas tree. As you know a Christmas tree can be drawn out using fish hooks turned inside out and upside down, at least that's how I do it.

And you can't have a Christmas tree without presents.

So today we got after fish hooking and then box making. It's welded up so what's left is cleaning and painting, then light installation.

The materials for the new building is on order. It should be delivered within the next week. It was a ton of calls and comparing apples, oranges, even a watermelon or two. As of right now we're ahead by a third on the price of materials here on the ground at the property.

We're planning on one more Christmas ornament. As you know they always come in threes.........

Hit_the_Rhod · 12-13-2017, 06:44 AM

The third one will come in a few months. I can't WAIT to see the EASTER BUNNY!

From one metal worker to another, check out the avatar . . .

Wroughtnharv · 12-13-2017, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hit_the_Rhod

The third one will come in a few months. I can't WAIT to see the EASTER BUNNY!

From one metal worker to another, check out the avatar . . .

That’s gorgeous. And the story of making it has to be fascinating.

okmunky · 12-13-2017, 06:36 PM

Harvey,

Are you gonna put bows and ribbon on the packages under the tree? I'm anxious to see it finished and lit. Keep this up and in a few years yours will be one of those "you gotta drive by some night in December" places.

Franka548 · 12-13-2017, 07:20 PM

Harvey,
Tree looks great. Nice job as usual.
Frank

Hit_the_Rhod · 12-14-2017, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hit_the_Rhod

The third one will come in a few months. I can't WAIT to see the EASTER BUNNY!

From one metal worker to another, check out the avatar . . .

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wroughtnharv

That’s gorgeous. And the story of making it has to be fascinating.

I've followed this thread from the beginning, just lurking. I really appreciate the work you do, and that you were able to "polish the edges" of a really nice coach, making it your own through custom touches! Sometimes a little less required "polishing" would be nice, but then that wouldn't be our lives, would it?

Thanks for the kind words on the Pelican. Attached are a few other pieces DW and I have done.

We use the coach to go to art shows, and from weekend to weekend, between art shows, heck, we're on vacation!