Gary, yes, that is quite different than the one Brian and I are seeing: http://www.ford.com/trucks/transitconnect/ Edit to add: Ford lists the payload capacity on the Transit Connect as 1600 pounds.?? Regards
Draft shoer- one thing I (and a couple others have been doing) is forging other things and selling them. I've been getting 10-15 bucks a pop for hearts from used horseshoes. They sell like hotcakes on ebay and facebook. I'm sure you've seen the things that Mr. Scruggs is making for Christmas presents. Also, RJ little is making some nice little knives from horseshoes and there are lots of things that can be made from worn out rasps. It's sure better money than taking everything to the recycling yard. Just don't forget the cost of shipping if you sell over the internet. Hope that helps David
Hey David thats not a bad idea. I saw a rattlesnake a guy had forged from an old rasp once. P.S. what part of Georgia are you in?
Man, reading these posts you make me feel like I'm taking my customer base location for granted. The furthest I travel right now is an hour and a half. I do 3 sets of front shoes and a trim there. The only reason I go that far is because it's a friend. Now you guys got me thinking I shouldn't be whining about that. Most of my work is within an hour. Most 15-40 min away. If I forget to schedule an appointment weeks ahead of time it get really hard to fit people in. So Im lucky in those respects. My dad and wifes horses not so lucky I guess. No time lately. I used to drive 3 hours and do about 6-8 head full sets. Sleep over and come home the next day. That was a rough day for me. The client could no longer afford to do that many at one time so she gets them done 2 or 3 at a time by a local guy but calls me constantly to complain about him.. lol. I've been thinking about calling her and telling her I'd do 3 at a time just so I could go visit my grandmother down the road. It's on cape cod so maybe a half day of work and the rest relaxation would be nice.
yes, I very lucky to have a base line within a 20 miles radius; but will be traveling out more next year; since I have given much thought to leave the racing behind and pursue more forging of shoeing and hot shoeing!
Thats pretty cool. I hope you do well with it. I could never be a track shoer. I can just imagine what you have to deal with at times. I just plan to raise my prices 400% and spend more time at home I'll be sure to let everyone know how that works for me.
You'll enjoy it more Linda IMO. I'm a much happier chappy now that racing is only about 15% of my book. Josh, Most horses are fine and you can line them up, rip through them and be at the pub by lunchtime, but the three problems I find: 1/ slow/non payers 2/ You can't pass on the feral yang yangs as you lose the whole stable. 3/ They don't understand that you have a schedule and other commitments.
also, I am much happier now; and I get to use the forge. it's amazing that no one cares if you are a true blacksmith.
Why should they care? Afterall, most of us are farriers/horseshoers, not blacksmiths in the true sense of the word. Conversely, there are blacksmiths who are not horseshoers/farriers......
I was speaking more of the people than the horses. I've shod for plenty of track trainers but not at the track. I've only met one I liked to deal with and he was still a pain... Still owes me money as a matter of fact. I know there are a lot of great owners and trainers out there. I just wasn't lucky enough to work for any. Not to mention that they all tried to beat me up on prices. Worse than anyone I've worked for!
I've had Blacksmiths tell me that "They only shoo flies, not horses". There's an industrial blacksmith shop in town here, built around 1900, with all the original equipment in place that run off a shaft from the rafters, and a 700 pound anvil. The guy builds custom truck springs. He says, with pride, that a horse has never been in the shop. The Farrier shop was across the street, that's now an auto electric shop.
A farrier and a blacksmith are to different trades as far as i know blacksmith was a 7 year app and a farrier a four i could be wrong
I think to be an Artist Blacksmith you just need to put a video of yourself with a lousy homemade forge and a small beat up anvil hitting a piece of rebar. You'll want to talk about ancient craft and wear a shirt with puffy sleeves.
Have you seen the Velveeta cheese commercial with the fake blacksmith holding a frying pan (cast iron frying pan, not forged) advertising fake cheese. The idea is that "cheesy skillets" are prepared the traditional way on a stove top instead of in a microwave . . . my emphasis on "cheesy" as in cheap, processed, cheese like substance.
Question to the floor do you come accross many Farriers that are very good in both aries of the job. under the horse and behind the anvil.
I agree with George. I was a fabricator-welder for 18 years before I started this and the hot metal part came fairly easy as did all of the hand tool work. When I attained my forge and anvil I started doing the artistic stuff on the side and it helped me get through a couple of slow winters the first few years. I'd sell stuff at Christmas Fairs and such. An interesting thing I found was that after a couple of days making the leaves on plant hangers, handles on BBQ sets, and fancy pot hooks, the heels on a horse shoe would do just what I told them to. Likewise, after a busy summer of shoeing the artsy stuff came along easier.
