Subject: blacksmith shop

From: [email-masked]
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 1996 09:04:54 -0500

If you have a small shop, make small stuff. Don't fall into that "build
it bigger than you need" trap. Not everone needs 12' ceilings. The thing
that first attracted me to blacksmithing was the ability to WORK IRON with
a few primitive tools. Spending $40,000 on tools is beyond my imagination.
The more you spend, the more you have to make. Before long you will be
working for your tools instead of them working for you. You can live well
on less if you watch the overhead.
   Keep it small, live on the edge. Life is to short to spend time with bankers.
                                                           What it is
                                                             Bob Schade

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From: [email-masked] (Robert L. Vaughan)
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 1996 12:14:57 -0500

I agree that you should have the largest shop space you can
manage.

I have a suggestion for those at the other end of the scale.
My first shop was built as a 4x8 shed with an overhang.  The 
sides opened to create a three sided leanto which provided just
enough space for a small barbeque-type forge and anvil.  All the
tools fitted into the shed when it was closed up and it took
about five minutes to set-up for forging.

Why go so small?  I was living in an apartment building and the
only exterior space I had was my parking space.  This shed fit
in the space leaving enough room to park a compact car.  Not an
ideal solution but one that worked for me.

I've now graduated to a single car garage for my shop, which
will eventually be heated so I can work all year round.

Hope this inspires those who say "I'd love to try that but I
don't have anywhere I could set up"

--
Robert L. Vaughan
[email-masked]
Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA

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From: "RALPH LAWSON-SMITH" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 09:34:36 +10000

> will eventually be heated so I can work all year round.
I couldn't  help but comment in my smithy I can only work in winter 
its way too hot in Summer   In winter the forge puts out enough heat 
for a nice cosy feel
just shows that the tools might be the same the world over but the 
conditions not
Ralph> 

Ralph Lawson-Smith
Data Manager               _______||_________________________     
Radiology                 |_______  _________________________>        
Westmead Hospital                 ||
Westmead N.S.W 2145
Australia 
(02) 845-7805
home page http:/www.usyd.edu.au/su/radiology/rls.htm

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From: [email-masked] (Bradley Sanders)
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 1996 17:54:31 -0500

>   Keep it small, live on the edge. Life is to short to spend time with 
bankers.
Hi Bob, Bradley Sanders here...

     I agree with you about "keep it small". There is, however, som 
interesting times to be had working with a team of 5 people on a project... 
or 20 people, or a hundred.. I think that "keep it human" might work as 
well. Try a look at that book Nol recommended "A Pattern Language", by 
Christopher Alexander. He makes some very interesting statements relative to 
scale of endeavor.

                                   see ya,

                                   Bradley Sanders

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From: [email-masked] (W Thomas Powers)
Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 10:25:11 -0500

>just shows that the tools might be the same the world over but the 

Well, I've worked in mid-summer in Oklahoma around 95F, (35C) and found
out that time release electrolyte tablets are your friend.  I have also
worked in 15F, (-9.4C), weather.  On the whole I prefer the very hot to
the very cold.  When its cold I have to pre-heat the anvil, the iron
cools off faster, I'm wearing heavy clothing---my shop doesn't get "cosy".

In hot weather you can work in light clothing, take your time, drink
massive ammounts of fluids, work early in the morning or late at night.  
And the borax splatter doesn't stick since you are covered in sweat!

Thomas, lucky in that as a hobby he can choose not to work if conditions
are against it.  (Did a demo once in light rain, had to stop when the 
water in the forge got high enough to run into the firepot....)

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From: "David C. Hufford" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 13:52:29 -0500 (EST)

My shop is fully insulated and finished inside (dry wall).  I had two 
15-inch exhaust fans installed in the ceiling and they do a good job of 
removing smoke and fumes as well as cooling somewhat in the summer; at 
least until midsummer.  The insulation makes a major difference in the 
winter.  I heat the shop with two kerosene heaters: forced-air 
torpedo-type for quick warm-up, and a round, radiant-type for 
maintaining a comfortable temperature.  Frequently, while the gas forge 
is operating, the kerosene heater can be turned off.  My recommendation 
for a smithy is insulation (if possible) and exhaust fans for smoke/fume 
removal and ventilation.  Also, for winter work, I constructed a 
styrofoam box/light bulb anvil heater to keep the anvil warm and ready 
to use anytime.

David C. Hufford

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From: [email-masked] (Raymond Coon)
Date: Fri, 29 Mar 1996 14:22:00 -0800

>My shop is fully insulated and finished inside (dry wall). 

For those of you in very cold climates and buildings that can't be heated,
it seems that those radiant heaters would work well.

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From: [email-masked]
Date: Sun, 31 Mar 1996 12:50:00 -0500

i dont know the temps down under,  but where i work its not uncommonly 115F
in the shade during the summer.  i always figure when you're standing near a
2000F fire
another 100 or so dont make much difference