#3: Blacksmithing: Status and a Summary on AH Fees

Fees Suck

Post Focus:  Blacksmithing

Skill Level:  Beginner



My Blacksmith is by far my oldest character.  I've seen the profession (and the class) change pretty drastically over the years.  I've always liked the profession and found it useful for gearing yourself to some extent.  Lately, I've been looking for means of making money via Blacksmithing.  Here's what I've learned and a report on what's working and not.

As you'll see, this summary really shows how important it is to have alts with multiple professions.  You'll see that by funneling resources through your own characters that it will really open up the doors to making more serious gold.

What's Selling:

1.  Epics, ...on demand.  The BS epic items are taught via recipes purchased from the Blacksmithing vendor in major cities or Twilight Highlands.  These usually sell, but I'd recommend only making them when you have a buyer lined up in trade chat.  They will require a list of mats that buyers will often provide.  They also require (soulbound) Chaos Orbs which require you running heroics.  What to charge for your Chaos Orbs will vary from server to server.  The more, the better, of course.  I also don't know of any rare recipes available (as of 4.1) that allow for the crafting of epic items beyond what the vendor sells (readers will likely inform me via comment below if additional recipes are available).

You can also make them and post them on the AH.  There's often not a lot of competition due to the risk of not being able to sell them.  I rarely see more than 2 of any BS epic listed.  Getting into an undercut battle with these sorts of item can quickly whittle away profits and should be avoided.

2.  Obsidium Skeleton Keys.  These are probably what I sell the most of.  They cost very little to make.  2x Obsidium Bars crafts in to 1x Folded Obsidium which crafts in to 2x Obsidium Skeleton Keys.  Total cost to craft is 2-3g per key.  I typically post 20 per night (48 hours at 13g50s) and sell between 5 and 10 per 24 hours usually.  There's also virtually no competition on my server.  At the time of this post, I've seen 2 other sellers in the past month.  The rest of the time, it's been all me.  Price them at where ever you want, but remember that these only open locked chests and most items in there aren't worth more than 13g or so.  Go much higher and they won't sell very well.

3.  Greater Eternal Essence.  I know, I know... What's this item doing on my list, right?  It starts with crafting Enchanted Thorium Blades.  I can craft these for 6x Thorium Bar, 2x Enchanted Thorium Bar and 1x Rugged Leather.  Total cost is around 11g.  These items will disenchant in to the following

1.  1-4x Greater Eternal Essence (Bountiful Bags guild perk is awesome)

2.  1-2x Illusion Dust

3.  1-2x Large Brilliant Shard

The Greater Eternal Essences sell for 25-36g each on my server.  When one 11g item can DE in to 4x GEE's at 36g each, that can add up to some serious cash.  There's been a bit more competition lately, but for the most part, I'm usually one of 2 sellers and I have the most to sell by far.  You have a lot of room to undercut due to the huge markup on these items.  I usually undercut them pretty harshly if they post large amounts.  I don't want them to feel welcome in my market.  When no one else posts, it's back to 36g each and they sell fast even at that price.

The Illusion Dusts sell for 6-10g each on my server and I save the Large Briliant Shards for Enchant Weapon - Crusader which I sell on my server for around 380g each.  I've had this enchant since vanilla and it's paying off more now than ever.  Otherwise, the shards can sell for market price.  It's all profit at this point.

4.  Arcanite Bars.  These are also great.  I buy Thorium Ore and Arcane Crystals for this (if you want to farm these, do circles around the border of Silithus and you'll get a ton very quickly).  I can typically buy the ore and the crystals for around 1g each.  These will transmute (no cool down) in to Arcanite Bars.  I typically sell them for around 25g each.  I'm careful to only post a couple at a time to guarantee sales and to avoid undercutting.  Posting massive amounts of this stuff will end up costing you a lot.

What's Not Selling:

1.  Pyrium Shield Spikes.  I've had the worst luck with these.  They're expensive to make, very competitive and hard to sell.  I don't bother.  Plus, I use Enchant Shield - Mastery on my tank's shield instead.

2.  Ebonsteel Belt Buckle.  These sell, but I'm not selling them.  I only craft them for alts and friends.  The market's been far too competitive and the profit margin simply isn't worth it on my server.

What I'm Buying:

1.  Cheap Ore.  Fairly obvious answer.  Set your deal finding apps (like TradeSkillMaster) to look for ore beyond a certain threshold and snatch it up.  Use the Obsidium for skeleton keys, Elementium for various BS, Engineering and JC items and Pyrite/Pyrium Bars for Truegold (alchemist transmute) and other BS epic items.

Also, look at the price for Ore versus Bar.  Two ore will smelt in to a bar.  Do the math and buy the cheaper of the two.

I also shop for cheap Thorium Ore and Dream Dust.  I buy any Thorium under 1g each and get Dream Dust for virtually nothing (5s each or so).  I use these to make the Enchanted Thorium Blades that I disenchant.

As I mentioned above, add Arcane Crystals to this list as well.

2.  Cheap Volatiles.  I typically buy all of the cheap volatiles that I can get my grubby little hands on.  I use most of them for Truegold Transmutes, but use the Earths for making Hardened Elementium Bars as needed.  Other items will occasionally require volatiles so getting them "while the gettin's good" is always a good move.

AH Fees and Mitigating Profit Loss:

1.  The Heavier the Item, the Heavier the Fee.  I cringe at the idea of posting weapons, armor and ore/bars on the Auction House.  I try to avoid it where possible and when I do post, I try to only post what I believe will sell.

Some items can have massive deposits that are no big deal...  if the item sells.  Otherwise, you're eating the fee.  Post small amounts with the shortest time frame of 12 hours.  Undercut as needed to be first on the list.  If the going prices are too low, hold off and sell later.

Of these item types, I'll typically only try to sell level 40-45 Mail/Plate items for varying classes.  I'll pick up these items mostly as drops in Live Stratholme while farming for Righteous Orbs (for Crusader).  These items typically get snatched up by leveling Paladins, Warriors, Hunters and Shamans all looking for gear upgrades at level 40.  Don't gouge too hard on the price.  You want these to sell and you want to avoid eating fees.  I typically go fair on these items.

Some items have a deposit fee that doesn't vary with auction time.  These are the items that I'll go 48 hours with.  Why not?  It doesn't cost any more and you can always cancel it if needed.  Enchanting Mats and other select items have a virtually nil fee that encourages posting and reposting as needed.  Unfortunately, not much in Blacksmithing shows up on this list.  :p

Patch 4.2 Shopping List.  Like other gold making blogs, I whole heartedly recommend stocking up on Chaos Orbs and Truegold for patch 4.2.  Blizzard will be introducing epic weapon recipes in this patch and the prices for both will jump up quite a bit, we're guessing.  Truegold is currently selling for 600g or so.  My guess is that there will be a mass posting when 4.2 is released.  That will sell out and that's when you'll want to post... as everyone else's supply is exhausted and prices top out.

To give credit, many of the tips in this article have come from various other gold blogs.  I'm simply gathering what I've learned from reading and playing and sharing it this format.  No ripping off intended.  :)

Thanks for stopping by.  -GNS

About Goldnut Sachs:

Follow me on Twitter:  @GoldnutSachs