[TheForge] question for part-timers & hobbyists

[Ralph Sproul]

       Justin,  I for one am a jack of all trades...... Welding,
Blacksmithing, Rigging, Hydraulics, Millright, Mechanic, and Machinist.   I
used to be a building contractor.....but life's too short for that nonsense.
There are only so many plywood/stud boxes and structural steel buildings one
can put up and keep inspired about going to work........guess it was a phase
I had to go thru (it took 84 buildings and additions to get it out of my
system though).

Ralph


----- Original Message -----
From: "Justin Fisher" <justinf@pixelations.com>
To: <theforge@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2003 1:28 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] question for part-timers & hobbyists


>
> >What are your personal goals for blacksmithing?
>
> To continue learning for the rest of my life - it is a journey, not a
> destination.
>
> >Are you more interested in technical skills, design skills, or equally
> >devoted to both?
>
> At this stage I'm still more interested in improving my technical
> skills.  I want to learn how to make what I intend to do actually happen,
> then I'll focus on design.
>
> >Do you like to do projects or make up your own, or both?
>
> Both - I enjoy doing my own designs, but I find that projects (especially
> projects designed to teach a skill) keep me moving forward.
>
> >How much time per week, or month do you set aside for your blacksmithing?
>
> Not nearly as much as I'd like!   In the winter I spend more time on
> jewelry and taking classes, spring/summer/fall I try to set aside a
weekend
> day each week.  I also get sidetracked by woodworking sometimes.
>
> >How much time do you set aside for studying blacksmithing in other ways,
> >through book research or your own sketching?
>
> Probably at least a half hour a day reading "The Forge" postings!  Also,
> surfing the net for design ideas takes some time but I tend to lose track.
>
> >Do you set yourself certain goals in the shop?- for example, maybe in
June,
> >you are going to work strictly on collars, or in August, you are going to
> >work on perfecting scroll designs.
>
> I did set myself the goal of making a dragon head, and made a dozen tries
> before I got one that I liked enough to give someone as a Christmas
> present.  But mostly, no, I don't work that way.
>
> >If you don't like to work with a goal system- then how do you decide what
to
> >work on ?
>
> First, what I need around the house - brackets, pot rack, fireplace tools,
> etc.  Then what I want to give as gifts.
>
> >What motivates you?
>
> The thought that I won't do much blacksmithing when I'm dead.
>
> >Do you have anything else to add that I didn't think about asking?
>
> Seems like blacksmiths are always improving and extending their skills,
and
> I'm like that too.  Silversmithing, casting, woodworking, woodturning, I
> work in those so far.  I'm currently adding glass (fused and slumped) to
> the mix and looking for a place to put a kiln.  Sometimes I wonder if I'd
> be better off focusing on one thing, other times I think about buying a
> bigger house!
>
> It'd be interesting to know how many of us are mainly into
> blacksmithing,and how many are jack-of-all-trades types.
>
>
>
> --Justin
> Celtic art & artifact: www.electriccelt.com
>
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