Working creatively with wrought iron could be a means to starting a lucrative home-based business in your area. Projects could include: table and chairs; fire screens; wall-mounted pot-plant holders; brackets; candlesticks; name- signs for business premises and private homes; lanterns; door knockers; gates and gardenware; wind vanes; boot scrapers; toasting forks; magazine racks, and lamps. You could also accept commissions for larger items. Designs may be simple or you could specialize in fancy scroll work.
If you do not have any experience in this craft, contact your local Department of Manpower, which will refer you to a group training centre in your area. Here you will be able to enrol in a comprehensive course spanning about a fortnight which should be enough to start you off on your own at home.
Equipment
Apart from the equipment you will need, you will also have to invest in materials, that is, a good supply of steel. Remember that rusted steel is easier to forge than new steel and you can buy it second hand from steel merchants. You will also need a delivery van or some other means of suitable transport. Alternatively, suppliers can be asked to deliver their goods, and customers to collect their completed articles. You will need:
* a brick hearth or a portable metal one
* a hammer and an anvil
* a portable bickern (used for making holes of various sizes)
* tongs: close-mouth, pick-up and rivet
* cold chisels
* hot chisels
* punches and drifts
* vice-clamps
* draw-files
* round-nosed pliers
* a regular and a rotary wire brush
* tap-wrenches
* a work table
* large sheet and metal square
* straight edge and rule
* dividers
* a welder of your choice fine emery cloth
* a supply of Berlin black paint
* Mixture of ‘Bright Dip’ to remove scale from the iron. To make, mix together 4,5 litres water, 500 ml sulphuric acid, 250 ml nitric acid and 60 g granulated zinc.
Work space
Due to the high intensity of the heat produced by the hearth and the potential fire hazard, it is advisable to set up the workshop away from the house if possible. It should be large enough to accommodate your tools and equipment, and it should also be well lit and well ventilated. In the main forge area the tools you require should be easily within reach. Because you do not need a lot of space at this stage, the distance between the forge and the anvil or vice should just be a few steps.
The anvil should be so placed that when working at the fire, you need only a quarter turn to face the anvil. The vice should be free standing, so that long bars can be bent without obstruction.
Delicate forging often calls for much filing and fitting and the bench area should be designed so that such work can be done efficiently and safely. Cupboards with drawers and shelves are useful for storing tools, patterns, etc. that are not in daily use.
Legal matters
* You will be obliged to apply for planning permission from your local municipality if you intend building an extension to your home to house your forge.
* Consult the local authorities about fire regulations.
Check your insurance policy to see whether you are covered in the event of a fire.
Marketing your business
Advertise your ironwork in home and gardening magazines.
Display samples of your work at garden centres and nurseries. Offer a made-to-order service.
Smaller items, such as pot-plant stands and candlesticks, could be sold to florist shops.
Door knockers, wind vanes, candlesticks, magazine racks and similar items could be sold through gift shops.
Offer a repair service to the many people who are now restoring old houses.
Design an illustrated pamphlet to distribute to homes in your area.
Sell your smaller items at a craft market.
Market your ornamental ironwork by means of mail order.
Create your online store from wholesale products like Wholesale Business and Finance Books, Wholesale Detergent Suppliers, Business and Finance Textbooks Wholesale Price, BlackBerry, Economics for Business Wholesale Price, Cheap Business Marketing Management, Business Drop Shipping Wholesale, Car Parts Online, Business & Office, Quick Answers to Small Special, Business Management Textbooks Wholesale List, Business Planning Store and Business Card Organizers Wholesale, then drop shipping to your buyers.
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