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Second-Career Blacksmith Impresses With Shop-Built Items
Jack Bligh of Greensboro, N.C., built a second career as a blacksmith. “Thirty years ago, when I first retired, I wanted to stay active and do something mechanical with my hands,” he says. “I took classes to make old-style black powder guns, which involved blacksmithing. But after several guns, I realized that I prefer
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Second-Career Blacksmith Impresses With Shop-Built Items Jack Bligh of Greensboro N C built a second career as a blacksmith “Thirty years ago when I first retired I wanted to stay active and do something mechanical with my hands ” he says “I took classes to make old-style black powder guns which involved blacksmithing But after several guns I realized that I preferred the blacksmithing aspect Blacksmithing grew from there into a hobby and now it’s a full-time job ” Bligh sells homemade products on his website and eBay His grab hooks remain popular “I do logging and had several weld failures with my ‘made in China’ grab hooks ” he says “I began making my own Now I sell them in colors coordinating with John Deere and Kubota tractors ” Each is priced at $39 free shipping is available across the U S and the order includes the grab hook for a 5/16 or 3/8 chain spacer nuts and bolts Many of Bligh’s projects are inspired out of necessity “I had a tree limb go onto my 5000E series John Deere tractor and the company wanted over $500 for a brush guard ” he says “Instead I made a slip-over brush guard from scrap steel for approximately $23 It works great ” He plans to perfect his design further and eventually sell the brush guards Bligh has also updated his grader blade for a fraction of the cost of a new one “My previous tractor had a 7-ft grader blade but my new tractor is wider ” he says “I needed a longer blade to go past the wheels but didn’t want to pay $1 000 to $3 000 for an 8-ft grader blade My solution was to weld on a 3/8-in thick by 5-in plate protruding on one side of the 7-ft blade It’s ugly but works great!” He plans to replace it with a bolt-on piece with three studs when time allows Bligh’s quick to offer advice for other would-be blacksmiths “Seek out formal education I suggest going to a school with blacksmithing classes ” he says “Tennessee Tech in Smithville actually offers a degree in blacksmithing and there’s also John C Campbell Folk School in Cherokee County N C and the Artist-Blacksmith Association of North America You can join a local association and apprentice under an experienced blacksmith ” He hopes others will find the trade as fulfilling of a second career as he has “Don’t be afraid to continue learning! I’m 84 and still enrolled in college courses In fact I just graduated as a certified welder ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Jack Bligh 400 Cook Ln Gainesboro Tenn 38562 ph 931-678-4035; tnblacksmith@aol com; www tnblacksmith com
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