Blacksmith - limited to a wheel chair

[Glenn]

Sometimes things happen where a blacksmith can no longer work as he once did. This is usually related to mobility. There are others that have physical problems that would like to start blacksmithing, but the tools are too tall, too heavy, or whatever. Let's start a discussion on ways and ideas to address these problems.

To start, how would a blacksmith that could not walk easily or was limited to a wheel chair make changes so they could work in their blacksmith shop.

Any suggestions?

[Glenn]

Tony Pewton UK Blacksmith mentioned one time that he worked in a blacksmith shop where the smith sat in a chair suspended from the ceiling. Think of a boatswain's chair.

This would allow the smith some mobility, but would need grabs for the feet so he could maintain one position when needed.

Another possibility would be a similar set up, but suspended from a trolley railing attached to the ceiling, such as a barn door track. This would need some thought but could work.

[ApprenticeMan]

That is a tough question. Not having firsthand expeirience, but I think I can say that alot of blacksmithing equipment is set low, my rivet forge is set up on blocks, because I would have to be sitting to use it otherwise, The anyang style of power hammers is also very low set, allowing for sitting while using I would say. as far as making an existing shop suitable, slearing a large enough path to get around through all the stuff in the shop for one, then lowering everything to a more comfortable height.

[habu68]

An anvil formed from a piece of 3 to 4" shafting or 4x6 flat stock could be set in the ground low enough to work between the leg supports on a wheel chair and still have enough mass below the work to be effecient. A similar support could be made with a hardy hole to use with a bick or hardy tools. A leather split leg apron is advised. We might also look to photos of 3rd world blacksmiths who work sitting on the ground for Ideas. Also a piece of RR track set up like a tall bridge anvil comes to mind. Example mid page:Anvils in America by Richard Postman: Anvilfire Book Review

[cheftjcook]

I like AP's direction, recreate your world, just a bit shorter and widen the work paths for easy of movement and work from the wheelchair.

But if a Smith was looking to be independent and free from the wheelchair, which is more than understandable, maybe we should think more linear as opposed the tradition triangle work path arrangement.
You could set up a narrow longer shop with working stations, forge, anvil. power hammer, swage, drill press, cone mandrel etc on one long side and all hand tools, hammers, tong and lengths of iron on the opposite wall with in short reach.
With an I-Beam rail running in front of stations hung from the rafters. Or better explained... between the long wall of stations and the opposite long wall of hand tools mounted to the rafters.
The I-Beam rail could also be a large oval (closed loop) configured track running in the shop, again mounted to the rafters running past main work stations and curving around to the opposite tool wall and curving again back to work stations. leaving a bit of open space in the center of the shop but very user friendly to the limited mobility Smith.
Set it up like you would a winch system running on the I-beam rail you could rig it up with winch electric servos to position the smith up/down or left and right. The smith would be in a swinging seat or jumper setup on the rail with hand controls for servos affording him greater independence and freedom of movement within his/her Smithy.
Just a thought
TIM

[johnny99]

OK. A little bit of topic, but I have to share.
I was at a blacksmith auction a couple of years ago where I was out bid for a treadle hammer by a smith with only one leg???? (true story)

Seriously though I have had several friends who although not paralysed, suffered from reduced mobility. None of them seemed to have a huge problem getting the work done. Several favored the mechanics rolling stools w/the tray underneath. and just set their anvil and forge lower.
A lot probably has to do with what your making. A bladesmith is going to have a lot easier time of it than someone trying to do large architectural things. Maybee a shift in focus to knives, reproduction hinges etc... ,or jewelery style stuff. Where more care and less gruntwork is required.

[Mikek]

my dad has been in a wheel chair for about 17 years now, he worked for the first 10 or so as a cabinet maker, one man show pretty much, i think that your only limited to will and creativity when your in a wheel chair

[ApprenticeMan]

Not to make a joke or anything, but if I was in a wheelchair, I think I would have two, one for regular moving about, and one for working on, it would have all sorts of tool holders and racks and stuff for small things, tools, hammers, welding rods, all that.

[LarryM]

Just thought I add my two cents. First of a swing type mobil chair needs to have a place for the smith's feet to rest. Or be low enough so their feet could to touch the floor. A power chair would be better. You need to build everything lower. But remember that there cannot be any cross rails under benchs so chair will be able to go under it. Same with forge and anvil. The anvil stand should be built so that a least the front part of the chair will go under it.


LarryM

[Ian]

Hmmm,
I had a bit of a think about this and keep coming back to the wheelchair time and time again as the main issue. Most large tools are designed for the able bodied and adjusting their normal working heights etc would be a lot of work. Also a smith striking hot steel produces sparks (okay red hot scale) and even with a leather apron I wouldn't be too keen to end up with a lap full (even if I couldn't feel the burns) even worse is the idea of dropping hot steel into your lap when you can't physically get out of the way. My idea would be to redesign the wheelchair into somthing that would hold the disabled smith in a taller, more upright posture. Almost as if he/she was standing. Think along the lines of a climbers harness crossed with the seat from a 'suspended' rollercoaster. The chair frame would be taller and use two triangular shaped 'A' side frames mounted with four wheels, a top mounted attatchment for the actual seat/harness would pivot in increments allowing the disabled Smith to pitch himself forward or backwards to whatever degree he/she needed.
That way there's no need to change an existing shop or go to the additional expense of modifying all the equipment. All you're doing is modifying the Smiths posture in relation to the workplace.

I've put in a VERY quick and dirty sketch just to give you an idea.