[TheForge] The mind 1st to go

[Jason Nass]

Jerry, I ain't in the Pac NW anymore... I left there for Ohio (home) after
the divorce. But the insane prices for stuff out there was exactly why I
left my buddy all of my tools. I could replace them here in Ohio for 1/10
what he'd have to shell out. Again, I have no issues at all with fair prices
and paying them for stuff. As I said, I guess I just keep running into the
schmucks like the one who was selling a pair or Tom Tongs for $125 because
they "were antique blacksmithing tools". I saw a lot of good prices out at
SOFA's Quad-State Roundup this year, with only a handful of guys asking some
ridiculous prices ($50 for a chipped to hell flatter with a broken and
welded eye).

I am grateful that you are willing to take some of the youngsters in and
show them the basics, I try to do the same myself, though I am nowhere near
a master smith, I am a fairly accomplished "journeyman" LOL. I have a fairly
substantial body of knowledge and skill in a few areas, but have a long way
to go in others, particularly design and ornamental work. I was originally
taught bladesmithing and Damascus steel, but have taken more interest in the
ornamental/hardware end of things in more recent years. Thanks to one of the
guys in our club, and my mom's garagesale habit, I have a nice little pile
of springs, jackhammer bits, old chisels, crowbars and the like and have
been helping one of my highschool buddies who I recently became re-aquainted
with make some of the basics. 

So, I have most of the basics, and have a line on the handful I am yet
missing. I'd love to lay my hands on a post vise, but my machinist vise
works in a pinch. My hammers are mostly cheap Harbor Freight crosspeens, but
I am saving up for some nice Hofi style hammers. I plan to build one of Clay
Spencer's tire hammers in the next year or so. 

Jason Nass - MacTalis Ironworks
me at wargoth.com


-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jerry Frost
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010 4:36 PM
To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: [TheForge] The mind 1st to go

Tools are a comodity as is a person's time. My first "real" anvil cost me
almost $10.00/lb and my third $3.00/lb. and I was pretty darned happy to
find either. If you think the Pac NW is a hard place to find smithing tools
you aught to try Alaska. Even so a person occasionally runs into a real deal
even here. When I was on the hunt in a serious way I used to spend about 3/4
of my vacation time hitting every lead I could find in the lower 48. I
could've gotten a minimum wage job and bought all new tools with a smaller
investment. I had a huge smile pasted on my old mug last summer when I found
a 50lb. Little Giant locally for only $4,000!

All I'm saying is new guys are in the same boat as anyone wanting to break
into a craft, no matter what it is. Want to paint landscapes? Any idea what
a Bob Ross, "Joy of Painting" minimum tool list costs? You're doing good to
find what you'll need for under $40000 not counting lessons of course. I've
taught a number of young folk the basics and continue to show anyone who
wants to visit whatever I can. The ONLY free tool any of them have left my
place with is those they made as part of learning the craft. Richard took a
cold chisel, a wood gouge, a straight wood chisel, a punch and a drift, all
part of his tool steel identifying and heat treating instruction. Lindsey on
the other hand took a really nice sheath knife with her with was her tool
steel and heat treating lessons. I didn't take a penny from them or anyone
I've taught though some have helped with chores or chipped in for propane.

I feel honored and priveledged to have had the opportunity to show these
youngsters the basics of the craft. Richard is a nuke in the Navy right now
but hunted till he found an affordable deal on a pretty darned nice smithing
kit, that was bout a 4 year hunt. Lindsey on the other hand found a living
history site with a blacksmith shop and after talking to the "master" smith,
showing her work, landed a job as THE master smith herself, the person she
replaced retired with bad shoulders.

Of all the things I showed these two I think maybe the best thing was the
spirit of doing it yourself. If it's important enough you'll find a way. I
can't tell you how it makes me feel when I get a pic or E-mail from a former
student. On the other hand I talk to LOTS of people of all ages who want to
do IT in the traditional way, believe someone should offer apprenticeships,
sell tools and equipment for 19th. cent. prices but pay 21st. cent. prices
for their first efforts. Even though experience has taught me what to expect
I still offer my time, shop and tools but not ONE has bothered to show up in
the last 15 years. Not ONE.

I'm not trying to prolong the thread in particular and didn't miss the
original joke. I think most of us here have made the same joke more than
once, I did maybe yesterday or the day before. Frankly, it was the whole
"fair price" argument that almost got me going. No, even as windy as this
post is it's nothing compared to when I get going. <grin>

So, don't sweat it Jason, Pete isn't any more likely to take out a contract
on you for disagreeing with him than he is to leave you anything in his
will. Hmmmmm. Actually, Pete's, (more likely Phe if it'll get it out of the
yard) a lot more likely to leave you something (probably unmentionable) in
his will for a good disagreement than put out a hit on ya.

Anywho, anything worth doing will cost one way or another. Best to you all.
Jer 

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