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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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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