Yeah, the times I've been unemployed as a network engineer, I've always found work doing blacksmithing; while this seems to be talking about larger scale work than I prefer, there's always a demand for people who can make iron and steel bend to their will. Several professional blacksmiths I know specialize in industrial work, as when making one-off parts or replacement pieces it can be more economical to forge out than machine from a block of steel.
I've made fencing and railing parts, angle brackets, fixed various pieces of machinery for the local steam club and some farmers with ancient tractors, and of course there's the knifemaking.
Sadly, sitting at a keyboard 8+ hours a day doesn't build up the hammer-muscles, so I can no longer single-jack a 15 lb sledge, but I still enjoy taking a block or rod of steel and turning it into something nice and pointy. I look forward to someday, when I retire from the day job, doing this full time.
Except for a very few highly skilled masters of the craft, almost nobody makes handmade knives full-time as a sole source of income -- it is very time-intensive. Still, if you want something unique and customized, you're going to have to pay a living wage -- which here in the US is quite high, at least to a guy who's been in management for several years. Once the mortgage is paid off, well, we'll see -- still need to fill out the retirement fund.
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timeasmymeasure
nice article
Date: 2007-01-26 05:11 pm (UTC)I've made fencing and railing parts, angle brackets, fixed various pieces of machinery for the local steam club and some farmers with ancient tractors, and of course there's the knifemaking.
Sadly, sitting at a keyboard 8+ hours a day doesn't build up the hammer-muscles, so I can no longer single-jack a 15 lb sledge, but I still enjoy taking a block or rod of steel and turning it into something nice and pointy. I look forward to someday, when I retire from the day job, doing this full time.
Except for a very few highly skilled masters of the craft, almost nobody makes handmade knives full-time as a sole source of income -- it is very time-intensive. Still, if you want something unique and customized, you're going to have to pay a living wage -- which here in the US is quite high, at least to a guy who's been in management for several years. Once the mortgage is paid off, well, we'll see -- still need to fill out the retirement fund.
Thanks again for the article pointer.
--doug