Introduction: This financial overview provides a snapshot of our current financial situation, including revenue, expenses, and profit margins. We aim to maintain a healthy financial position while investing in our growth and development.

Revenue: Our primary sources of revenue include custom ironwork, artistic creations, and restoration services. We have experienced steady growth in sales, driven by increasing demand for our high-quality products.

Expenses: Our main expenses include materials, labor, and overhead costs. We are committed to managing our expenses effectively while ensuring we use the best materials and hire skilled artisans to maintain the quality of our work.

Profit Margins: Our profit margins have remained stable, allowing us to reinvest in our business and fund future growth. We continuously evaluate our pricing and cost management strategies to ensure we maintain healthy margins.

Future Projections: Based on current trends and market analysis, we project continued growth in revenue and profitability. We plan to expand our product offerings and explore new markets to further increase our sales and customer base.

Conclusion: Our financial position is strong, and we are well-positioned for future growth. By maintaining sound financial practices and staying focused on our goals, we will continue to achieve success and make a positive impact in the blacksmithing industry.

Introduction: Our business plan outlines our strategy for establishing a successful blacksmithing enterprise. We aim to provide high-quality products and services while fostering a strong sense of community and preserving traditional craftsmanship.

Goals: Our primary goals include building a loyal customer base, expanding our product offerings, and increasing our market share. We also aim to promote the art of blacksmithing through workshops and community events.

Target Market: Our target market includes homeowners, DIY enthusiasts, architects, general contractors, artists, and historical reenactors. We also seek to attract businesses and organizations in need of custom metalwork and restoration services.

Pricing: Our pricing strategy is designed to be competitive while reflecting the quality and craftsmanship of our work. We offer transparent pricing with detailed quotes for each project, ensuring our customers receive fair and accurate estimates.

Marketing Plan: Our marketing plan includes a strong online presence, social media engagement, and participation in local events and craft fairs. We will also leverage word-of-mouth referrals and partnerships with local businesses to attract new customers.

Conclusion: With a clear vision and strategic approach, we are confident in our ability to build a successful blacksmithing business. By staying true to our values and continuously improving our skills, we will achieve our goals and make a lasting impact in the industry.

Introduction: Our blacksmithing services cater to a wide range of needs, from custom ironwork to artistic metal creations. We pride ourselves on our craftsmanship and attention to detail, ensuring that each piece is a true work of art.

Custom Ironwork: Whether you need a bespoke gate, railing, or furniture piece, we can bring your vision to life. Our custom ironwork is designed to meet your exact specifications and crafted with the utmost precision.

Artistic Creations: From sculptures and wall art to decorative home accents, our artistic metal creations add a touch of elegance and character to any space. Each piece is uniquely crafted and can be customized to match your personal style.

Restoration Services: We also specialize in the restoration of antique and historical metalwork. Our team can repair and refurbish old pieces, preserving their original beauty and ensuring they stand the test of time.

Conclusion: No matter your blacksmithing needs, we are committed to delivering exceptional quality and craftsmanship. Contact us today to discuss your project and discover how we can bring your ideas to life.

Introduction: The blacksmithing market has seen a resurgence in recent years, fueled by a growing interest in handmade and artisanal products. From custom ironwork to decorative pieces, blacksmiths are finding new opportunities to showcase their skills.

Trends: One key trend is the increasing demand for bespoke items, as consumers seek unique, high-quality products that reflect their personal style. Additionally, there is a growing appreciation for traditional craftsmanship and heritage trades, which has brought blacksmithing back into the spotlight.

Demand: The demand for blacksmithing services is driven by several factors, including the popularity of home renovations, the rise of DIY culture, and the desire for sustainable and locally-produced goods. Blacksmiths are also finding niche markets in areas like historical reenactments, custom metal art, and restoration projects.

Competition: While the market is expanding, competition remains high. Blacksmiths must differentiate themselves through their craftsmanship, unique product offerings, and exceptional customer service. Building a strong online presence and leveraging social media can also help attract new customers and build a loyal following.

Conclusion: Overall, the blacksmithing market presents numerous opportunities for skilled artisans to thrive. By staying attuned to market trends and continuously honing their craft, blacksmiths can carve out a successful niche in this evolving industry.

Larger projects may require samples for approval and we will state in the contract what samples will be supplied. If samples are requested in the design phase, there may be a separate additional charge.

As we progress through the project we will periodically update the client with pictures and information as needed. Some times in the course of work we come up with a possible better design option, in which case we will contact the client to discuss it. We encourage our clients to contact us whenever they have questions or ideas and suggestions for improvement.

Pricing is based on the estimated time to execute the project plus the material cost. The project is thought out through all the steps and processes from beginning to end to determine the best approach for minimizing cost and producing a beautiful end result.

The contract will list all the features to be included in each piece, the quantity of pieces being ordered, the material, finishes, surface texturing, and any other pertinent details and a reference to any detailed drawing with dimensions included with the contract. Materials are a separate figure from labor and subject to change depending on the market price. Some materials like copper alloys or gas prices can vary from day to day.

When the customer is satisfied with the quote, and all questions have been answered, the contract is signed and a 50% deposit is required with the balance on completion.

We encourage our clients to visit our shop if they are local so we can show them some samples of work we have on display. This way they can get a first hand look at various designs, styles and components we have on display, and become familiar with surfaced textures and finishes. It also gives them the opportunity to see our shop, learn about our processes, and become more comfortable doing business with us.

Artwork is a personal thing and when designing art work for someone, it is very helpful to get to know them. Meeting our client in person when possible is the the best way. Depending on the size and nature of the commission we may wish to plan a site visit to get a feel for the environment that our work will be designed for. If that is not practical because of distance, then photographs and videos of the location are a good alternative.

Once we are confident that we understand the clients needs, we will create some conceptual sketches with detailed elements where necessary and send it to the client for their feedback. Once we have a design concept that they are happy with, we will produce a detailed drawing for them. When the detailed drawing is approved, we will prepare a quote with a contract.

Our blacksmith shop works on commissioned projects only. All of our work is custom designed and built to suite our clients wishes.

Every component of our ironwork is built by hand from raw materials according to a design approved by the customer.

We do not use pre-fabricated components manufactured in other facilities. Our objective is to create a truly unique, one of a kind piece of art for our clients.

The process begins with an initial inquiry, either by phone (908-439-3506) or email (artistiniron@gmail.com) from the client. Very general information is exchanged at this time to see if we are the right choice for the client’s project.

We ask the client to describe the nature of the project, for example, an entrance gate for their driveway or a front door treatment. Next we find out how far along they are in the design of the project.

In some cases the client has a complete set of drawings and is ready for us to put hammer to metal. Most of the time, however, the project is still a concept with possibly some pictures of designs they like or a rough sketch. We try to get as much information as we can to determine the scope of the project.

Once this information is exchanged, we can give a very general ball park price, contingent on a final design. We try to do this in the initial conversation to make sure the cost is not going to be a problem before we begin the next phase of designing and preparing a proposal. Designing and pricing can be a time consuming bit of work and we require a small retainer of $350 to $500 to cover some of the cost. This cost can be deducted from the final bill if the project goes to contract.

Masterpiece locks are among the signature work of Robert Frieber, Artist In Iron.  In olden times, the main entrance door to a fine home was highly adorned to show off the wealth and status of the owner.  Some of the features often used to create the feeling of power and wealth in a main entrance are the size of the door, use of graphic relief in wood carving and metal panels, and lavish trim and coining.  However, the crowning jewels were always the hand forged hardware; the masterpiece locks, door handles, and hinges.

Often, the owners profession was expressed in the artwork of the masterpiece lock and hardware.  If the owners was a vintner, grape vines or wine kegs might be used in the motif of the hardware.  A ships captain might display a mermaid or an anchor.  The ultimate expression was to have a bust of the owner on the handle of the lock.  These works of art can be found, still in use on the main entrances of fine old mansions in England and Europe and in the collections of museums.  Robert Frieber, Artist in iron is one of the few remaining blacksmith shops that still produces this caliber of hand sculpted hardware on commission.

If you are interested in having us design and build a custom  masterpiece lock or complete door treatment for your home or have another project you would like to discuss with us, feel free to contact us.

An important consideration when planning a project is what material is best suited for the job.  Today we can forge in a variety of metals and achieve beautiful results. Robert Frieber, Artist In Iron works primarily in iron and bronze.  Both of these metals produce beautiful end results when forged, however depending on the application, both metals offer their own advantages and disadvantages which should be considered when choosing the metal to use.

Blacksmithing technically refers to the forging of iron and its alloys.  Prior to the industrial revolution, iron material was largely limited to wrought iron.  Wrought means: to hammer. Wrought iron is iron that is made by hammering the iron bloom that is produced in the smelting of ore.  Hammering the bloom removes the impurities such as slag, silica and carbon.  When the wrought process is finished, the resulting product is relatively pure iron.

Pure iron rusts very slowly and can be exposed to the elements with little concern for oxidation.  The more carbon in the iron, the more it is prone to rust.  Therefore, a high grade of pure wrought iron was preferred by a blacksmith who forged things that would be exposed to the weather.

Since the start of the Industrial revolution, wrought iron has steadily given way to steel.  the last supporting market for wrought iron was for marine application.  In 1964, the commercial production of wrought iron ceased.

Today, all blacksmiths use mild steel for forging decorative iron work.  Mild steel has a low carbon content and some other elements that give it greater strength than wrought iron, but it will not hold up well to the weather without protective measures such as painting or galvanisation.  These rust preventative measures tend to hide the desirable character of  hammer marks, pitting and burn texture which are the classic fingerprint of wrought iron work.  To the discerning eye, this loss of character is noticeable and undesirable.  Maintenance is also a concern.  Paint needs to be reapplied every 5 to ten years.  Galvanisation may last longer by the process requires dipping the work in hot liquified metal baths which can stress the metal and cause it to warp.  The galvanised finish is also thick and often lumpy which detracts from the aesthetic appearance of the hand hammered texture that is so sought after in true wrought iron artwork.

A good alternative to iron on metal work that will be exposed to the weather is silicon bronze.  Silicon bronze will not rust and develops a fine textured finish comparable to iron when forged.  When exposed to the elements, the bronze forms a light oxide coating which gives it a beautiful coffee brown patina, sometimes with highlights of green, grey and red, depending on the elements it is being exposed to.  Bronze needs no protective coating to survive elements and is therefore maintenance free.

The downside to using bronze is that it is 30% heavier than iron and costs about 10 times as much pound for pound. Keep in mind however, that the cost of labor in most hand forged metal work far exceeds the cost of materials.  When you factor in the savings of bronze being  maintenance free, it is the material of choice for exterior wrought metal work.  A consideration when using bronze is that it is not as strong as iron.  If the end product will be supporting weight such as hinges supporting a gate or heavy door, it is advisable to increase the thickness of the metal or beef up the structural design of the work as needed.

One final point worth mentioning is that the surface texture of iron and bronze have subtle differences when being forged.  Iron burns in the forge and will produce more scale than bronze.  As such, the surface will show more pitting and topography than bronze in the finished product.  This is particularly evident in forgings that are viewed close up such as hardware and should be taken into consideration especially for interior projects where this difference becomes more apparent.

If you have any questions or need advise on a project, don’t hesitate to call or email us via our contact page.