Rob Sigafoos's blog

Ethical/etiquette question

Rob Sigafoos - Monday, June 30, 2008 - 7:47am

I am getting ready to entertain some commissions for gates and hinges, but I am clueless as how to price them. In part, I am still new enough at this that my techniques are not as efficient as they need to be, and if I price things according to an hourly rate, I would need to charge the equivalent of the GNP for a small nation just to break even. Although there has been a bit of discussion on this site about how to price things, no one ever mentions what they charged for a particular piece. Does asking what someone got for a particular piece they have posted exceed the bounds of ethics and etiquette on this site?

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Sorry for my ineptitude

Rob Sigafoos - Saturday, June 28, 2008 - 11:17am

Sorry for the multiple submussions on the "Hinges" post- I still am having problems figuring out how to post multiple images in one posting...
Rob

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PBS tonight

Rob Sigafoos - Tuesday, June 24, 2008 - 11:43am

Thought I'd give folks a heads-up: Tonight on PBS is the NOVA special on Samurai swords. Apparently it is a repeat, but I haven't seen it. My wife has, and says it's great.
Rob

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Looking for swage block

Rob Sigafoos - Sunday, June 1, 2008 - 11:23am

Hi folks!
I am looking for a swage block with bowl dies with at least one in the 8-10" diameter range, along with several smaller bowl/ladle dies. There are some new ones for sale, and a beautiful Wally Yates matching pair on Ebay. Unfortunately, all these are well out of my price range. I though if anyone knew of one that was being used for a door stop somewhere and would be willing to part with it, I would be interested. I am certainly happy to do some finish work on them.

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Hossfeld benders

Rob Sigafoos - Monday, May 26, 2008 - 11:25am

equipment

I am thinking of purchasing a Hossfeld and would appreciate some input from those of you that use them frequently. Anyone have any thoughts regarding models, dies, manual vs. hydraulic, etc.?
Rob

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MAPP gas/ acetylene/ propylene/ propane

Rob Sigafoos - Friday, May 16, 2008 - 1:21pm

Hi Folks-
What are the MAPP users among you going to do now that it is being discontinued? I changed to MAPP from acetylene a couple of years ago and love it. I can do everything with it (except weld) that I could with acetylene, and it is much safer and far more economical. Now my supplier is recommending propylene instead. Anyone have any thoughts?

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Non-toxic finishes

Rob Sigafoos - Wednesday, May 7, 2008 - 4:26pm

Hi Finish Folks-
I am about to make some cooking pots from large diameter steel pipe. I would like to paint the outside, but I am concerned that the finish is safe to use under these circumstances. It would be a real bummer (not to mention very bad for business) if people started dieing after eating food cooked in these. My plan was to paint the outside only and do a bare metal, polished inside. I was thinking of using one of the high temperature paints, but I don't know if they would outgas something obnoxious. My thought was that these could be used both stove top and in the oven as well. Has anyone had experience along these lines?

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Virginia Blacksmiths?

Rob Sigafoos - Thursday, April 10, 2008 - 12:56pm

Anyone planning on attending the Blacksmith Guild of the Potomac's "Spring Fling" in Berryville, Va. next weekend?
-Rob

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Question about forge liners

Rob Sigafoos - Monday, March 10, 2008 - 5:26pm

Forge builders-
I am making a gas forge which I am lining with Kaowool. Lining the inside with the Kaowool should not be a problem since the inside is arched and I anticipate that the Kaowool will be self-supporting. I'm just not sure how to line the doors. I would like to use three layers of the Kaowool on the doors, but I don't know how to secure the Kaowool to the vertical surfaces of the doors. Anyone have any suggestions?

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legal wiring questions

Rob Sigafoos - Sunday, February 24, 2008 - 5:32pm

I am (hopefully) getting my first commission. Very exciting! This is for a large, interior hanging light in the foyer of a private residence in Maryland. The space is a two story cathedral ceiling (apparently- I haven't checked out the site yet). My question regards the legal aspect of wiring this fixture. I have certainly wired many fixtures so I am comfortable with doing this, but what do I have to concern myself with legally? I will certainly get a licensed electrician ( I am required to by law in Maryland) to wire the fixture to the house, but what about wiring the fixture itself?

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