Subject: Re: blacksmithing or fabrication

From: [email-masked]
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 1996 20:59:23 -0500

I have been blacksmithing with the intent of operating a profitable, but
part-time, business for the past 15 years.  I take most any kind of paying
job that comes along, from repairing anvils for other 'smiths, to forged
work, to "fabrication".  Some of the simplest jobs that required only cutting
and welding eventually led to a conversation with the customer which then led
to a forged commission.  I think one of the biggest problems facing people
trying to turn out quality work is the education or perception of the public
about blacksmithing.  90% of the people that are shown examples of good work
next to the bad stuff will usually choose the quality piece, especially if an
explanation is presented about its construction.  The trouble is that they
have only seen junk and don't know that it is junk (ignorance is bliss).
 Another problem is that they may have a vision of a blacksmith hammering
shoes on a horse with no connection to ornamental forging.  Although I don't
care for most of the modern iron furniture which is currently in vogue, I
must admit that it is raising the public's consciousness about ironwork which
may ultimately benefit all of us.  A great deal of the forged vs. fabricated
argument is a question of semantics and will finally be determined by whether
one has to put bread on the table.  I hope I haven't rambled too much but in
concluding, I think we should each be faithful to our own visions of what we
believe to be true.  Only this action will insure that the art of
blacksmithing will continue from generation to generation.

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From: Aaron Britton <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 16 Mar 1996 11:34:21 -0800 (PST)

I have been blacksmithing at fairs for 3 years now and I always 
get someone that comes by and asks what I am doing.  After I tell them I 
am blacksmithing they say "Oh you make horse shoes".  When I hear this I 
tell them what a blacksmith does.  From working at these fairs you can 
tell that most of the public is ignorant on what a blacksmith is and what 
he/she does.  Becase of this ignorance you see lots of suposedly forged 
or blacksmithed work in big stores (Target, Wallmart,etc. . .)  Everytime 
I look at this stuff I can tell it is not blacksmithing work.  Just a 
piece of metal bent cold in a machine and then welded.  The work has no 
feel to it.  I believe you blacksmithing is the use of hot metal shaping 
with hammer or other tools and/or the use of blacksmithing knowledge to 
produce items.  You need to know how to blacksmith before you can call 
something blacksmith work.
	With the public becoming knowledgalbe about blacksmithing I think 
you will see less of the shoddy work in big stores and more real 
blacksmithing works being bought.
Aaron Britton
Davis, CA