[TheForge] Re: Demonstration and Pricing

Tue Feb 12 10:45:34 EST 2008

I make shepherds crooks to hang pots onto they aren't a big seller but
regular enough, and the wife hangs things from them as well.  I am well
known to sell a piece of iron out from under her display<G>.

I also make knitting hooks.  1/4" square rod, taper one end to a mild
point, twist the handle end about 3" long and do a S bend on the end so
that they can be hung.  Note that they ALWAYS are sold by the pair.  I
hammer out the points, do the twist, do the whoop-de-do on the end, then
take them to the grinder.  Make certain that the working ends are round
with few bumps.  Enough to look hand made but not enough to be a
problem.  After grinding the point, put back into the fire.  Cool, wire
brush (my grinder has one stone and one brush), brass brush for
highlights, and clear lacquer or equivalent.  I get $12 a pair.  Normal
plastic ones are $6 and up, but these are hand done.  Get a skein of
wool and stick them into the skein.  That way it's obvious what they
are.  Some of my pieces are not obvious to the public and need
explanation, duuuh<G>.  Be ready to sell the skein as well, I have sold
several.  You just need to know how much you paid for them.

I also make orifice hooks.  These are used to pull the string through a
spinning wheel to start the process.  Problem is that some of the modern
ones have seriously small holes.  I make a batch of different sizes out
of 1/4 and 3/16" and keep them in a tray for easy selection.

Make all small things as a batch.  Make a batch of 10 or so, this saves
time.  Then when you run out, make some more.

Take some 1/4" square and twist about 1" of it.  Dress the end with a
scroll.  Flatten about 1 1/2" more.  Cut and blunt point the flattened
end.  Hammer the flattened part over so that it is parallel with the
twist.  Like a paper clip.  Use a piece of metal as a spacer so that it
will fit on your belt. Make several and carry them around on your belt.
When you find a lady with a child, look at her fingers.  If they are
pretty, tell the story of coke cans being not allowed in this time
period, and you have something illegal.  Show them how to use the
flattened blade to pull up the pop top on the can.  Hide the can from
the time police, and give the opener to the lady.  It goes with the
story, is useful, and someone who keeps up their fingernails will
appreciate something to help them start opening a can.

Making things in 1/4 makes a day go quick because you don't get so
tired.  Also people will generally only spend about 5 minutes watching
and then wonder off.  So quick stories or statements are excellent.

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Peter Hirst
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 5:38 PM
To: Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Re: Demonstration and Pricing

Yes, thanks for the heads ups.  I will have my daughter with me, who is
very 
able and not shy.  We are both performers in other lives and very 
audience-savvy, so it should be a good team.   I am planning on having a
tub 
of cold bevvies for friends, family, colleagues and really good
customers. 
I was a firefighter/ EMT in a really former lfe, so very safety
conscious. 
Yes ropes around everything, ( I have some very cool 1" hemp and hand
forged 
rods with eyes) including a buffer zone from the anvil,  and a bucket of

those $4.00 eye protectors for the front row.  Welding masks for the
really 
obnoxious ones.  Fire extinguishers, big ones, mostly for the statement
they 
make.

By the way, anyone know of any sheep related iron stuff?  Shepherd's
crook? 
Sheep bells?  Branding irons?  Spinning or weaving tools?  There are
also 
chickens, goats, donkeys, Scottish Highland cattle involved.  No horses
yet, 
but that could happen too.

;-}

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Grover.Richardson at gtri.gatech.edu>
To: <mspencer at tallships.ca>; <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 3:42 PM
Subject: RE: [TheForge] Re: Demonstration and Pricing

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mike Spencer
> Children and adults are not knowledgeable or don't care.  I actually
> yelled "HOT HOT HOT HOT" with increasing volume as I watched a
> mother and 4 children walk right through my area when the forge was
> running.

If you see someone about to get burned or otherwise hurt, physically
restrain them.  Better that a belligerent moron charge you with
assault than that they sue you for enough to keep them in new His 'n
Hers Lamborghinis for life because little Johnny got a pointy thing up
his nose.

Yes.  I was on the other side of the booth area talking with a customer
and they walked between items closely spaced to keep people out.
Agreed.

This is also another good reason always to have a helper, preferably a
good friend who is reasonably bright.  In addition to selling stuff
while you're hammering, (s)he can be alert to potential risks to the
public that you weren't able to anticipate before the fact.

The wife and I tag team at events.

All the Best

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