How To Make Money Welding - Part 34 ( What Sells v. What Does Not)

Discussion on what items to I make and sell and which items do not sell very well - also how to prep wood for mounting the cowboy art forms
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[@frigginpos]

You're a great person, and your sharing of this knowledge is very much appreciated. Thank you and wishing you the very best.

[@JorgeL721]

"If someone pops up and wants one, I can get that to them really quickly." The most gangsta thing I've heard today.

[@curtisaitken7027]

Love your non BS approach to the work and great advice/tips/knowledge.

[@bobprice9244]

I'm not into bottle holders but I saw the 2 cowboys holding a bottle and I figured I'd give a quick try at it but the bottles open end up to the other cowboys mouth. Function and humor.

[@kenbrown2594]

I love your work, very creative. I work with rail road spikes too. They make decent knives.

[@snoopu2601]

Thank you for sharing your hobby with us. I've made a plane out of spark plugs, I made some of those figurines out of scrap round bar and a heating torch to heat and bend make them sitting standing. Made a whole band playing instruments.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

yeah its fun - take a look i made a skull out of a old piston - using scrap can be fun and good practice

[@ildefonsogiron4034]

Very nice and creative work. I enjoyed watching your pieces of art, no matter if they sell or not. Best regards.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

thank you my friend

[@1nvisible1]

*Great artists are never appreciated during their lifetimes.* *Van Gogh paid a bar tab with one.*

[@TheHomeHandyman]

my best 2 ways are by taking pictures and keeping them on my phone and showing them to people and I have some small shop type owners that will purchase them intermittently - coat racks and hangers i sell a lot to local ranches/farms

[@TheHomeHandyman]

you can get them off EBAY sometimes at a price of around $1.00 each - I buy mine from a local horse shoer - email me in a couple weeks at [e-mail] as i sell them also but currently out - my price is about the same but i throw in extra stuff for people who sub to me.

[@ihavefelines284]

The moose 🫎 is Adorable! 🥰 I love 💕 it! 😂😂😂❤

[@grimwurks]

I have been enjoying your videos, building and selling is a thing all by itself as i am a clay artist _potter_ so I get it . . . keep doing what you are doing

[@TheHomeHandyman]

Thank you and i will have more coming up in the future - clay and pottery is a interesting area and i have a friend that has a wheel and they fun part for her is to keep notes and try different glazes and firing temps...........it is a art.........

[@Rowels_Darling]

I make some of the same stuff and I've always been a bit dismayed by the look of screw heads mixed with the horseshoes. It's a foreign look -like they don't belong. What I've come up with is a method of using horseshoe nails for fasteners and the finished look is quite pleasing compared to the look of the screw heads. What I do is drill a small pilot hole where the shoes will be mounted on the wood. Drill all the way through so it marks the exact spot on the back side of the wood. Then on the back side, I'll drill a countersink hole - much bigger - even as much as 3/4 inch - (all depends upon the thickness of the wood and how much of the nail will be protruding from the back side) Then when I pound the horseshoe nail thru, I'll take a pair of needlenose pliers and bend the tip 180 degrees then with channel locks I'll force the tip of the nail back into the countersunk hole so that it's hidden and won't cause the piece to sit unlevel or to scratch the furniture it's placed upon. Effectively making a staple out of the horseshoe nail. Much like what a farrier does when clinching down the nail on freshly shod horses. Use an old rag or a piece of an old leather belt under the pliers jaws on the top side so you don't scratch the finish on the project. This also means that you won't have to drill thru the horseshoes for your screw hole because the nail holes are already in place. Another method I've used which sells well is to take the same horseshoe I know will end up being the base, heat it up in the forge and use it to burn into the wood base. If I get it good and hot and a good deep burn it helps to hold the finished piece in place and adds a certain western rustic look to the entire piece. If you don't have a forge, you can simply place the shoe on the board and trace around it with a pencil then use a wood burner to burn the image of the trace. You don't get the countersink effect but you get a good look. This method is a lot easier to make sure that you get your burn in the right place if you have two shoes since you can easily do this method AFTER you've finished the piece. With the other method, just be sure that you don't weld a connecting piece to each side of the bottle holder so that it becomes fixed in it's dimensions - otherwise, your burn marks could be off and make it look horrible.

[@ArcticBlues1]

Thank you 🙂

[@benkanobe7500]

You are looking way more healthy! Congratulations

[@gabyluchagaby]

You are so talented and honest about your work.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

Thank you

[@brandonGCHACHU]

It's awesome you share your knowledge. Most welder fabricators would rather keep it a secret to protect their products. I used to make a little L shaped rocket stove type camping stove back in 2005 or so. Sold tons of them on EBay then people picked up on the idea and flooded the market. I used to get about $60 a stove steadily then after the market flood I was down to $18 plus shipping just to keep up. Wasn't worth it. I hope you're product keeps its value after these videos at least

[@TheHomeHandyman]

I agree and I had that happen with a heavy duty equipment dolly that i designed and was selling here locally - doing really well and then someone undercut me by half - So I stopped making them - Then waited and watched and finally they stopped so I started again but its hit and miss now - so it goes but I make alot of other things so its fine to show how I do it because its just a hobby thing for me ...thanks for the comment

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Alot of cool things you make

[@TheHomeHandyman]

thanks

[@harrisonkuchman8651]

Thank you man I appreciate your wisdom

[@grahamirwin4233]

Many thanks fella for sharing

[@denttech2515]

They're probably refering to the minwax paste wax. It's wax based and should not be coated. Minwax makes plenty of stains suitable for coating. Minwax is just a brand and makes many different products. To hopefully clear that up

[@kellywizbang]

Great vid, Your imagination is the only limitation on things like this. But as you say some things just won't sell but you'll never know till you roll out a few to see. Keep up the good work and thank you for sharing.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

sure will - failure and success with where i live and others you never know what will sell easy and what will not but your right i keep mixing it up and coming up with new stuff

[@jayc4715]

Thanks

[@moedammit8477]

Just found your channel, gotta do some binge this weekend

[@stevestewart7808]

My first visit.....I enjoyed the video and subscribed to the channel. I look forward to more videos.

[@gpena383]

I want to know how your hair is fabulous bro.

[@appallokelley3207]

Great video man .

[@patriciasiadonai4670]

God bless you! Nice things you have done!

[@danmosley8769]

Thank you very much

[@damnu8089]

I prefer to use sand and seal with stain in it after it dries sand it down then apply just a coat of sand and seal then you're through. Horseshoes chains Bob wire I warm up then apply sand and seal on it. B seals the rust prevents it from rusting more and you can wipe it down to get the dust off

[@TheHomeHandyman]

good idea and i will look into it - thanks

[@rogermccaslin6750]

The one thing that stuck out (at least for me) was the wood bases. To me, they don't match the rustic feel of the welded pieces. I would think a weathered look would be more appropriate. Of course, that's just my opinion. I'm sure others will disagree. Just food for thought.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

I agree with you and i do make other bases out of sheet metal and then do different treatments. Some rusted out , some with textured spray etc. I will do a video in the near future on how I make those bases but I do understand your point and thanks

[@FlakeTillman]

The Home Handyman Maybe you could scavenge a few railroad planks while you’re looking for railroad ties ;)

[@Toyotas_n__Tools]

A stand with a whiskey bottle would be great or the thin flat style bottles

[@ronb1071]

If I could do it on the side, I would build autoclaves, lab equipment, stainless steel conveyors or structural steel jobs that would pay to support me

[@xQuadroGamingx]

Great ideas man very creative

[@italwayshitsthefan]

I appreciate your video

[@andy-jac]

Good job. Very creative.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

Thank You

[@jamiethomas4716]

Great video with some great ideas. Time for me to make some money with my everlast welders.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

I have a deal worked out with a local shoer .......... i repair things for him and he give them to me

[@TheHomeHandyman]

@Dominique Hardie ??

[@gianfrancofronzi8368]

Good informative video thank you, I wish other videos were to the point and as informed.

[@kevinoverholtzer3126]

I want to make some money making practical things like tool boxes and hauling trailers but it may not be possible with all the cheap stuff you can get at home depot made with only the cost in mind

[@TheHomeHandyman]

I still do trailers and it is possible to buy them cheap in bad condition - fix them up and resell them......craigslist is a good spot to keep a eye on. other things that are easy are hangers.....see my playlist

[@harrydietrich3854]

Thanks for sharing

[@Vreguleift]

Have you ever tried renting out a booth space at local fairs? These kinds of things would sell great there, as long as the price is reasonable.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

not yet but that is a good idea.........thanks

[@paultaylorfollowframe3579]

Thank you very much for you ideas buddy

[@dixienormous9171]

He just didn’t wanna say “get bigger nuts” lol

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Great tips

[@BradsWorkbench]

Great video with sound advice 👍🏼

[@TheHomeHandyman]

thanks

[@jackgaskins4170]

Nice video. I am interested in teaching myself hobby welding. I want to attempt to make small metal "stuff" not art so much, just stuff like making airplanes from sparkplugs, those little metal statues made from old hand tools, wrench J hooks, things like that. I purchased a new Hobart 210 MVP welder which i need to learn how to use. Would you know of some videos or web sites for people showing how to make hobby welding items like i mentioned? Thanks a bunch.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

I have several videos on smaller project that are just fun to do and a few on setup tips and how to kind of things. I am sure there are others on youtube. I use and show you how you can make simple useful things from horseshoes also.

[@e-racer4673]

They are not called railroad ties. They are railroad spikes. The ties are the big wooden cross ties that lay under the two rails on a train track, those are what spikes drive into are ties.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

Yep I totally agree and it was a miscommunication on my part

[@dorianleal5491]

Where do you get all your horseshoes, I’ve been looking and they’re expensive even the used ones

[@tragicmagicMAN]

Railroad SPIKE...🧐

[@TheHomeHandyman]

Yep my error there is a difference i agree

[@t54760]

I enjoyed the video. I found it very interesting on what sells and what doesn't. However, I think I would have had to stop the video and cranked up the oxy acetylene or something to take care of the flying insects. I think they bothered me more than you. Liked and subscribed :)

[@TheHomeHandyman]

Southern Calif heat draw them even though i have traps all over

[@stevenbaca3470]

Cool!!!!! Where do you source your horseshoes? Found them on Etsy, but the largest amount (best value) are always out. Ebay seems to be too expensive on a per unit basis.

[@stevenbaca3470]

I see….you trade? What do you trade the ferrier…..if you don’t mind me inquiring.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

I get them from a shoer and many times I sell them on Ebay for about $1.00 each plus shipping. I may have some coming in the next day or so and i put 50 per box. You can email me at [e-mail] and use Paypal as i have done it that way also.

[@isaac8334]

Good videos well done

[@TheHomeHandyman]

thank you

[@1978garfield]

Where do you get railroad spikes?

[@TheHomeHandyman]

Last purchase was off Ebay

[@jgar8563]

Great video and art work. Where do you get all the horse shoes from?

[@TheHomeHandyman]

local farrier but ebay has them also..........i sell them also but currently out but stay in touch

[@russblakney]

Great info....don't make things too heavy seems to be a good takeaway for me. Do you have a particular website or posting on eBay or something for selling the horseshoes? I'm interested in purchasing some. Thanks

[@TheHomeHandyman]

yes you are right about the to heavy things or to large when it comes to shipping and selling off the web. However, locally the larger stuff for me is hit and miss but i am not advertising either. The coat racks out of horse shoes and railroad ties sells good here for me - take a look back at my videos where i show you how to make them Contact me here: [e-mail] and in the title in caps put HORSE SHOES so i can tell easily that it is not spam............

[@jorgeposadas1192]

I make nic nacs and the occasional grill and my stuff is elaborate, so when people ask: can u make me one, I automatically answer, NO because a grill cost $2k? Ur better off at home depot and they always ask, why so much and I'll tell them: cuz mine ur kids are going to inherit.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

You are right because a lot of times it is cheaper for them to go buy the "Cheap mass mfg" then to have me make you one - but like you said making it is taking it to a higher level of quality and material

[@reecewatson5311]

Do you buy your horse shoes new or get them from a ferrier???

[@TheHomeHandyman]

Ferrier - I get them and sell them also when i get to many

[@Computernerd1200]

Thanks for the video. What’s the best place you’ve found to buy horseshoes?

[@TheHomeHandyman]

Ebay is a good start for purchase - you can email me at [e-mail] - I sell them for a dollar each and usually min of 50 at a time when I have them. If you are a sub i throw in a few other things as a thanks. I use the money to feed the animal around the shop.

[@Tom-qn5nd]

Where do you get the railroad spikes? What state are you in. How much time on average does it take you to do a wine holder, with a wood base.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

Ebay has railroad spikes - I am in Calif - Wine bottle holders i can now do fairly fast in a hr or less - I have many of the pcs cut up etc and its just a matter of welding them up

[@johnl5177]

Railroad spikes not ties ties are the wood

[@TheHomeHandyman]

already mentioned ..........thanks

[@johnl5177]

@@TheHomeHandyman I like the how to make money videos, by the way the spike your making things outta have odd heads must be older spikes . I'm a machinist at where the bulk of spikes in America are made

[@TheHomeHandyman]

@@johnl5177 thanks - thats interesting you probably know alot about these spikes and how they are made..........

[@johnl5177]

@@TheHomeHandyman it's not to complicated 5/8 bar 53ft long ran through about 10 ft of inductive furnace almost white hot, into cutters that cut into blank length feed rolls sling it into the die griper. Holds the blank into the die while the head stamp slams into it forming the nose and head the kickers kick it up and out down shoot to conveyors at a rate of about 2 spikes per second

[@roadstar499]

cool, but you never mentioned how long those things take to make? thax

[@TheHomeHandyman]

most are quick to make but i have never timed it and part of the reason is that i pre make many things that go into the making. example is railroad spike knobs - i will cut up many at a time and drill out all of them and put them in a box so when i get a order i can quickly tap them and paint them or whatever. Also, as you make these items i mentioned you will get faster at making them and probably spend less than a hr once you get the hang of making them..........best answer i can give you ....thanks

[@TheTwistedOutdoors]

Where do you sell the most products?

[@kronicsoldier]

those are nuts ;)

[@williammoore2259]

How do you clean your horseshoe I use vinegar and water and let sit in a 5gal bucket for 3 to4 day and use a hand brush to clean then up but it still still doesn’t get the groove clean what do you use thanks bill

[@TheHomeHandyman]

I use the vinegar also and the pick set that i did the video on - look in recent videos or playlist on my channel under product reviews and the link to the one I got is off Amazon - The HF ones work ok but I got the better ones and they work great - after soaking a bit i use the picks and soak again then clean them off.....

[@Tom-qn5nd]

@@TheHomeHandyman I've used a wire wheel on a drill motor that cleans them pretty good. I happen to have 4 horses so I get free used shoes whenever the horses get new shoes.

[@squiretaylor963]

Have you made a how to video on the heart?

[@TheHomeHandyman]

No but in the near future i will but thanks for the suggestion

[@johnlocatelli1768]

Have you tried running classes to help people to tap into their creative side and basic welding? You'd be great at that. Cheers John from Sydney Australia.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

thanks my friend - i will in the future do more videos on how to's but i do work a normal full time job so actual classes would be to hard for me right now but i hope to get time to do more hands on things in the future ............thanks

[@benkanobe7500]

Where do you get all the horse shoes?

[@TheHomeHandyman]

local farrier and get them cheaply

[@jamesturpin4426]

Where do you get the rail road spikes? Great video, I'll be watching more of your content.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

I got them off craigslist and bought alot of them but have sold alot since.........stay in touch as the same guy gets them from time to time and then i get them from him

[@johnlebeau1]

Great video toady - thanks for the info - need to get some more shoes from you. Where is your coffee?

[@TheHomeHandyman]

anytime

[@donvito204]

How much do the horse shoes cost and where do you get them?

[@TheHomeHandyman]

Local shoer is where i get most and trade with them but you can try craigslist but that is hit and miss - I sell them to people who sub to me and throw in a couple extra things as a thank you ... you can contact me at [e-mail] I usually sell in lots of 50 as they fit into the medium size USPS flat rate box but I can sell you less or more just depends on how many you want - $1.00 ea approx and half of that goes to feeding animals which is my charity thing.......... thank you

[@Oldtech51]

Those are rail spikes, not ties.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

You are correct and i misspoke but i am sure you get the idea.

[@briman113]

👍

[@barniescamp]

where do you buy so many horseshoes

[@TheHomeHandyman]

local farrier and i get them really cheap as he is going to trash them

[@rhuerta2002]

Where is a great place to buy horse shoe , do you use mig or stick or tig

[@TheHomeHandyman]

I use mig - You can buy the horse shoes on Ebay, local shoer are 2 good sources and I sell them also but I am low on quantity right now but you can contact me at [e-mail]

[@donaldneeley122]

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR HORSESHOES FOR YOUR PROJECTS

[@TheHomeHandyman]

Ebay or local ferrier are good sources - I am currently out as i sell them also but you can stay in touch and i put extra stuff in for people who have subed to me

[@kcnms6564]

@@TheHomeHandyman Great!! I have subbed and would be interested in buying some extra horseshoes from you if and when you have some that you would be willing to sell.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

@@kcnms6564 email me at [e-mail]

[@gdavis8588]

You can buy new ones at most farm supply stores. TSC, etc.

[@jaycesimmons7785]

Those aren’t railroad ties, they are railroad spikes. Ties are the large wooden timber’s that the tracks attach to.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

yep my error during the video

[@hotshoter2]

Where do you get all the R R spikes you use ?

[@TheHomeHandyman]

Ebay usually has them in different quantities

[@keithmizell604]

There is a railroad near him with a bunch of missing spikes

[@johngrace6679]

Where is your forum-love you videos!

[@TheHomeHandyman]

thank you

[@benjaminmoore4592]

Great advice. I want to make some money from everlast equipment.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

You have a good setup with Everlast - I will be doing more videos on welding soon and what i sell etc- thanks

[@Jim-ee6pz]

Very cool! KK7YJ

[@dennissanchez4995]

Not railroad ties..they're call spikes..ties are wood.geee

[@TheHomeHandyman]

Yep you are correct but i think you get the point.

[@Motorcycle_McLovin]

Where can I get horse shoes and rail road spikes??

[@TheHomeHandyman]

I sell them when i get in enough but currently i do not have a surplus - you can get them from your local shoer or Ebay are a couple good sources

[@pitdawg6418]

Great ideas BUT the reason you don't sell is the prices are too too high.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

I thought about that but locally i sell them ok and could drop the price but what was really killing it on the larger things was the shipping - example is the moose head cord hanger - I sell alot of them to local shops and horse barns and they sell really well but when i had them online for sale and with shipping they did not so instead of dropping the price i just sell them off locally..........you may be right on other items but my time is worth something and with more and more things I show around and sell i am not willing to do that right now....... thank you for the comment though

[@Tom-qn5nd]

@@TheHomeHandyman Actually, I think you sell your products too low, buy I guess it also depends what part of the country everyone lives in. Shipping rates are crazy so I would concentrate on local sales.

[@TheHomeHandyman]

@@Tom-qn5nd faster for me and better without adding on shipping

[@laurol4342]

There isn't any point in selling if you don't make a profit. Typical charge is parts x 2.8 + hourly rate for welding.

[@derek8742]

Do you (or anyone) have an inexpensive and reliable source for horseshoes, railroad ties, or other metal?

[@TheHomeHandyman]

Email me at [e-mail]

[@derek8742]

The Home Handyman I emailed you! Thanks!

[@TheHomeHandyman]

see the email i sent to you and thanks

[@robert23497]

Geez, you should have named this video "which steel characters are selling and which ones arent."

[@laurol4342]

Vance, Your mom should have named you Derp

[@robert23497]

@@laurol4342 Vance and Derp are both better names than Lau Rol.

[@laurol4342]

🙅🏻 nope. Don't be jealous!

[@rcnewflyer5811]

Toilet paper holder lol