Hi everyone, I'm James Davies, a coppersmith....

[Jimmidaboot]

I've been building hand forged copper hollow ware lamps/sconces/chandeliers since 1994. I opened my own shop, www.craftsmancopper.com, in 2005. I've had several features in magazines over the years (Style 1900, and most recently American Bungalow), and primarily my focus has been on the lighting of the American Arts and Crafts era of the early 1900's.

About a year ago, I became interested in the "new" wave of craft distilling. I started to do a little research on the design and construction of traditional alembic type stills. Never having had one in my posession until just recently. I have in my shop currently, a Hoga still. It's an 80 gallon unit....which I believe would be considered a 300 liter pot. After giving it a very thorough inspection, and adding some threaded bungs to it so that my client can use submersion heaters, I've come to the conclusion that the style in which I build my lamps and the techniques I employ in doing so, are the exact same techniques used by the craftsmen at Hoga to build their stills. The only difference being the brass brazing they employ, while I use silver/copper alloy for brazing, and the scale in which they work is obviously much larger than that in which I work.

I'm testing the waters here. It seems that there are some extremely knowledgeable and dedicated professionals that frequent this site, as well as a plethora of enthusiastic amateurs. I'm wondering if there is a domestic market for hand built alembic stills? I've seen some of the overseas products available, and I've seen their somewhat reasonable prices, but I know that shipping/communication/customs/taxes/etc. can be daunting obstacles for a start up distillery to navigate. It seems that there are very few domestic suppliers. Am I wrong?

The bottom line here is, I'm very good at what I do, which is hand form copper into hollow shapes. I would like to diversify. I want to be fully legal. I want to build a top quality tool that will help distillers make a top quality product. And before I commit to any more time doing research, spending money for the materials and eventually building an initial prototype, I would like to know if the general (and I suspect very well informed) opinion of the moderators and members here is if there is a market for what I would be able to offer?

I would like to thank, beforehand, any opinions or advice on the subject of my intro. And if this is too in depth for this sub-forum, please let me know where better to post these important questions. My future career may depend on the info that you good people can give me.

With great respect,

James "Jimmi" Davies

james@craftsmancopper.com

360-486-4962

[pressure9pa]

There are certainly more informed opinions than my own available from this forum. However, I would say that based upon lead times from domestic manufacturers that the market could certainly support another player. That said, I think your challenge will be selling "hand built" as an advantage, particularly if there will be a pricing variance. I would assume that you would have an advantage in terms of being able to customize specific units. Based on your stated experience I would assume that you could build a quality unit. Now, where is your competitive advantage over the current producers? If you're in my region, it could be the ability to service your products. It may be a short lead time for experiemental sized units. Maybe you truely can make equivalant size/quality for less.

One advantage you have is that you already have a stable business that can survive even if the still market is a slow climb. You also should have a good handle on your costs, and this site is a great investigative tool to figure out the pricepoints and lead times that are currently in the market. It also shouldn't be difficult to estimate the costs you mention from dealing with overseas producers - even the harder to quantify (travel, language barriers, exchange rate fluctuation, time zone differences, etc.). So in a very general sense, I believe that a domestic manufacturer would be welcomed with open arms. Whether your business can expand to be that manufacturer is dependant upon your ability to meet the current pricing of the established manufacturers, or clearly demonstrate value for any additional costs.

Hope that helped a little, and welcome aboard.

[Gwydion Stone]

James, it was a pleasure speaking with you today, and weird that I contacted you not knowing you'd posted here at ADI.

I want to re-iterate that in my opinion there's definitely an under-served market for the type and caliber of the work you do, and that market is growing steadily.

[Jimmidaboot]

This is precisely the kind of thoughtful feedback that I was hoping to elicit. Thank you P9pa. And Gwydion, it was a strange and fortuitous (perhaps fateful) the timing of your email and our conversation. Many signs are pointing to "GO" on this. I await more thoughts and feedback from other members to help me in my decision making process.

I also hope to be able to offer advice on smithing techniques, tools, and materials to those interested. I have a vast background in abusing copper. LOL!

[Gwydion Stone]

Mmmm. Copper porn...

I'd love to be able to do that.

[Furlongmx]

_{I like the idea as I am from Oregon. Maybe you could make some concept sketches of some stills with estimated prices. Then you could adjust prices for options that may be needed. Overall I think your work looks fantastic and would love to see some of your ideas. Are you thinking the stills would be direct fire, immersion heating element, or a jacketed steam/ Bain marie?}

[Jimmidaboot]

I'm leaning towards direct fire and immersion heating. I will need to build my skill set further before I go for a steam jacketed unit. As it is, it seems a person interested could have a look at offerings by Al Ambiq or Hoga, and that would help determine pricing. Then just cut shipping costs and maybe some percentage of pricing could be cut as well. Just riffing here!

[ViolentBlue]

that is some very nice work

I'd like to talk with you about some lights for our showroom distillery.

and I can maybe point you in the right direction towards getting registered with FDA and TTB as a manufacturer of distillation equipment.

shoot me an email Steven@artisanstilldesign.com

Steve

[bluestar]

I would consider one, just because of the beauty of your work. In addition to starting our distillery in a 1912 arts & crafts industrial building, I spent 15 years restoring our little 1912 arts & crafts home to original finishes and trim. How cool is it to have an arts & crafts coppersmith to make an alembic!

This is precisely the kind of thoughtful feedback that I was hoping to elicit. Thank you P9pa. And Gwydion, it was a strange and fortuitous (perhaps fateful) the timing of your email and our conversation. Many signs are pointing to "GO" on this. I await more thoughts and feedback from other members to help me in my decision making process.

I also hope to be able to offer advice on smithing techniques, tools, and materials to those interested. I have a vast background in abusing copper. LOL!

[Moe]

James

I am in a similar situation as you. Live in the coast range of Oregon. What weight of copper do you llike to work with.?? What are you doing for silver solder??? I make my own. I first learned coppersmithing from a family of nomadic metalsmiths in far western Nepal in1966. Lets stay in touch

Moe

[Jimmidaboot]

Nepal in 66! Very cool. In my lamp biz I generally use 32ounce copper, or about 19 gauge. I've been using commercially available copper/silver that I get at the welding shop. I also braze with brass, which is what I will do for the stills. Just seems more inert.