[TheForge] Pricing question...

Mon Feb 3 22:35:01 2003

At 05:51 PM 2/3/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>Just got asked by a lady to make her some Pennannular  Pins for resale, and
>thought I'd ask you about pricing them and finishing them. For those of you
>who haven't a clue as to what I'm talking about ;-), they're a
>jewelry/clothing item, used commonly in the SCA for pinning cloaks together.
>
>She wants them between 1-2" diameter. What these are, is a piece of small
>diameter stock, maybe 6" long, flattened and scrolled at both ends, and
>brought into a 3/4 semi-cirle. A piece of hard wire is wrapped aroung the
>round stock in the circle section, and brought to a sharp point at the other
>end.
>
>I'm guesstimating maybe 10-15 minutes per pin (after the first one ;-), and
>was planning on treating them with beeswax for a finish, but I thought I'd
>ask you guys what I should price them at, and if you have any other
>suggestions for a finish.
>
>Phlip

I've made these for years, from Iron, and from Brazing rod. Usually prices 
$20 to $50, depending on the size and decoration. Forged square, incised , 
filed and twisted costs more ;)  Makes for a fun demo as well,  working 
with the brass. A small charcoal brazier will supply enough heat to anneal 
the work hardened brass for further work.  After watching it done by hand 
with limited tooling, nobody complains at the price even though most are 
turned out with mostly power tools or forging dies at home.

Michael D. Horgan , [email protected]
http://members.aol.com/lughaid/
posting from
  A BRAZEN FORGERY
Blacksmithing and Metalwork
Claremont, Ca.