I tried being self employed for 3 years but didn't make enough money to live on. Now I'm full time employed. I don't forge that much, lots more time doing cutting, welding, grinding. I love it.

Same. I tried woodworking for a year. Made 100+ sales on Etsy and made a living but it was barely paycheck to paycheck and went back to full time. It was so much work for so little money but I loved every minute of that year.