Video

This format works for me, I learned some good stuff, thanks 👍

I like this setup

I used your old video to get started making them, though I did go against your advice and make my spoons out of 14ga LOL. Not my smartest moment for sure as those were hell to get to shape but I always wanted to make quality even if it wasn't easy.

Love your videos no matter the format

good to see you back! Let’s see a video on the RR axes.

I'm digging it! Can't wait to see more.

Nicely done, and well explained why you did it that way, explaining the economy needed for a budget piece!

I liked the video its a pretty clear explanation like this. i liked the old ones to its a little bit more personal. For me its important to hear from you once in a while. I know we are just people you dont know, but I personally like the way you express your thoughts. And share your experience and wisdom with us. But if you like the feedback I would prefer if you show up in the screen personally to tell the story's about Jay or yourself. Even if its a short while. It feels more connected. Maybe you can mix it up a little bit more. Thank you for all your work. And all the videos and information and education you gave me for a lot of years. Normally I never leave a comment, but it has been so long that I got to see another video from you, that I felt a necessity to leave one now. But I understand your time is more valuable to do other labor than just put up the camera and take lots of hours to edit and make a video. For our entertainment. So if this is more effecient I would love this more than no videos at all.

I Do you like the new format

Thank you for this tip! I have struggled bending the tines EVENLY for years and bending them at the same time solves that problem. I need to make several of these forks for a upcoming medieval faire this fall. I agree with you, it is quite difficult firing up the forge in 100 degree heat no matter if you are in Georgia or the Texas Panhandle and ya'll have at least three times the humidity we have. I like the idea of the "Book" of measurements to make noncustom projects. Thank you Sir, I look forward to the next post!

I'm a new viewer to your page and appreciate your work! I've got a bucket of railroad spikes I've been making bbq tools out of. The bandsaw split was my AHA moment today! Thanks for sharing!!

Hey Trenton, Personally I like the older style better. With that said it's not a big dealio to me. I will still watch and like your videos. just need to wear the hat in them. hahaha

I enjoyed this - the old style videos were fun but this is probably a better learning resource as you have the time to explain things more clearly and you aren't having to speak over the noise of the forge.

Glad to see you back posting videos! “Death of a profit margin” - classic. I have made several using copper for the ladle a d steel for the handle. Wife loves it and asked me to make a couple for Christmas presents. I used a deep dishing stump and cannon ball to work the copper cold….much faster that working hot steel!

Whatever format works! Both are enjoyable

I'm impressed you took the time to address our comments like this!

This format is fine. I know it takes a long time to produce quality videos.

Gotta love those historical pics of you!

Right on!🤙🤙

Great seeing more content Trent 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Good to see ya back at it old friend

Hey bud how's the 2nd book coming along?

23:53 that one is voiced over by their wife. Also, you know, there’s the whole surgery thing 🤷‍♂️

Being a successful artist is a business, not just expressing your feelings, which may not sell. Glad you are back at it.

You can post it everywhere for free with the anchor app

Leslie Tharp in Gainesville is doing some great things. David Ponsler in Jacksonville does beautiful bronze work.

Look what the cat dragged in.

Being normal is vastly overrated

I'm going to start the StealCast now.

It goes back to what has been said 1000 times, if you want to make a small fortune as a blacksmith start with a large fortune.

Number One - find your market Number Two - use jedi mind tricks Number Three - shake the parasites Mind tricks : my base was males . Problem get them to slow down and look at my goods . Got this ad of a very beautiful young lady in the mail , I'm talking "Greek Goddess" . Framed the image , hung it on the wall in a slow traffic area . Most men made a bee-line to the goddess and wanted to know who she was . Tuff times to go into business these days , have back up plan . Good luck to all ! 👍

Covers quite a lot of the traps for young and old alike. I came up through the university system with a BA in Visual Arts so I was well versed with a lot of the practical side of drawing, painting, sculpture, colour theory, composition, ceramics, fibre arts, cinematic processes and all kinds of historical facts along with a big chunk of essay writing. Can you make money with that? Absolutely! But only about 1 in 100 will, the rest of us that sucked well I went into engineering, networking, management, technical writer and yep, have a business degree tucked away in there too because its necessary. Not only do you need to have a diverse and well rounded business, if you don't know how to pay people, do your taxes and figure out a budget you are going to be headed to a comet sized financial crater that will make you extinct. Its vicious out there kids and sometimes just downright unfair in a lot of ways but that's just how life is, you make it more in your favour with smarter, long term goals and hedging your bets by making sure if something goes to pot, then something else will pick up the slack. I make really nice kitchen knives, its more or less my stock and trade But its not enough just to do that because I don't have that secondary or even a third or fourth tertiary income, its very easy to cover your costs, its highly improbable in a first world country that you will cover your hourly rate- its not that you can't try but I don't see the cost of a locally manufactured, hand made good being able to even remotely cover basic wages enough to be absorbed by the cost of the item. Add to that, inflation and its not getting cheaper to eat, fuel will go up, electricity goes up, gas for the forge and all that- always going up, never going down. So be very clear in that time, material and final costing of your product

Thank you I came up with similar thoughts. Nice to hear somebody actually say them.

Wise words,,,thank goodness I get that monthly check! Making $2 an hour doesn't pay bills.

Al Gore approves of #steelcast

i talked to a local blacksmith near me and he told me the only blades he makes money on he grinds and cuts from files and never touches his forge tell he tempers them

I'm 73, I smith for fun. I like making stuff. I give stuff away because I've made tubs of stuff. However, It costs money to buy metal to make stuff. If I sell stuff at cost just to afford more metal, I'm undercutting those that do it for a business. Suggestions??

Time is money and is often an overlooked subset of those all important numbers. Production numbers are easy, x/h of s-hooks etc. How much time it takes you to get leads for items and travel times... those are the killers. Please share more of your experiences with time management.

I used to know a few artists (they had full time real jobs). While they had the $600 stuff at the art show, mostly they sold the $20 stuff. BTW most artists I know are a bit bitter because they can’t support themselves solely by their art.

Very well done, I see so many people think they can be a successful blacksmith and make a fortune 2 weeks after they first pick up a hammer! Are you releasing this as a podcast? If you have already it isnt showing up in searches. I am the opposite, i was quire successful in business, blacksmithing was always going to be a hobby only, people act surprised when i say i dont make things for sale. They are even more surprised when i say, if you like it it is yours. (Wife gets upset if the piles in the corner get to big!)

Lets see some black smithing Trent we miss it

I know a very good machinist. He is running his own machine shop business. Yet, as you say - he has retired years ago, got his retirement check once a month and so on. He makes money, and he is a pro, very very skilled, but as you say - that's a "extra" cash for the kids and grandkids. If he is sick and the shop is closed - it doesn't matter. If he wants to visit friends and family abroad - no problemo. So, needless to say, you know you are right... :)

To be honest. I don't know if he really snorts borax or not. That looks legit. I'm convinced that was real.

Very small monthly check

I can say my observations from the blacksmithing club that I've been hanging around for 10-15 years now is that the majority of the fellas in the club are retired there's one guy I know is a sugar baby and anybody else is either a young person whose parents supported them doing this and now they're they've got a legacy of success or they're tradesman and they make a ton of money and have a ton of time but I don't know many people who are in the club who are independently successful as blacksmiths

Eyyy! Glad to see ya posting again. Definitely enjoyed the straight talk / no-nonsense advice and experience about business / youtube / etc. Gotta pay attention to the numbers!

My experience as an artist blacksmith forces me to agree with everything you said.

I don't understand - It sounded like Mr Tye and it was, tangentially, about blacksmithing but he said that it would tight and concise and there wouldn't be digressions. Who is this man?

Love hearing from you again!