Neighborhood Blacksmithing

[Alan DuBoff]

Originally Posted by ThomasPowers

Alan; I don't know where you live but at least in Columbus OH it *is* against the ordinances to produce any smoke or fumes that are discernable off your property, *except* when done for cooking or heating purposes; though you can get a burning permit, $25 and 10 working days prior to each time you fire up. In general it's wasn't enforced except when someone complained.

I need to check to see what the regulations are in my area, but in the worse case a propane forge will do. I was told today by the instructor I'll be studying under that a propane forge will work fine for most of the type of stuff I want to do, he mentioned that it's only for fancy scroll work and/or larger stock where a coal forge comes in handle. But he felt strap hinges and tools and hooks, all could be done easily with a propane forge.

Originally Posted by ThomasPowers

I had a friend whose neighbor did not like coal smoke and so we found out the details in a most unpleasent way.

I 'spose some of my neighbors might not like it, I don't know. When I BBQ I do put out a lot of smoke, I wonder if they could tell I was forging opposed to 'quein...?

Originally Posted by ThomasPowers

Now I had a neighbor who used to call the fire department on me; but after the fourth time they came up flashing lights and sirens blaring to find me BBQing (we used real wood in our smoker) I think they had a talk with whoever it was about "false alarms and large fines" cause I didn't have any problems after that.

Interesting...the first time that happens I'm firin' up my DeWalt thickness planer by their side of the house.

Nah, in general I try to get along with my neighbors and not cause them problems. I think that mentioning it to them, that I am doing what I'm doing is probably the best step to prevent that. I like the trinket idea, make them something like a fireplace poker, and then if I do get p.o.'d at them for blowin' the whistle on me, tell them where to put that poker.

Thomas

Thomas[/quote]

[civilwarblacksmith]

I live in a townhouse community in a small town that seems to like to ordinance everything to death. I know the coal won't fly in the neighborhood due to the smell and smoke, so right now I rely on my gas forge. I am putting in a forge to burn coke which won't smell and has a very reduced to no smoke or charcoal. Charcoal won't smoke much and smels no different than a bbq cooking. So I figure if they complain about the charcoal burning, they better not start up thier BBQ.

Reb

The Civil War Blacksmith

[hammerkid]

well where I live in don`t really matter! LOL I live in a Very Rural place. My neighbors haven`t complained yet. But i always try to quit before 1:00 in the morning LOL. the closet neighbor is my grandma. I try not to use my treadle at night cause my granny says she can hear it . But mom and dad don`t hear it and their awake in the living room and our house is about 50 ft. away from the shop and Granny`s house is about 100 yards away LOL
Thanks,Chris

[geofthesmith]

i live in the suburbs were i have neighbors on 3 sides, so i intend to make free items or, if need be, to pay them off to keep there mouths shut if they start heckling me

[JAFO]

I rent from and live next door to my aunt about 40 yards away and the neighbor on the other side is gone all day. I'm retired so all my work is done during the day when the neighbor is at work.I pay my aunt off by helping out around her house and making the odd plant hanger, screen door handle, etc....No complaints from either one so far. Nothing behind me but woods for miles and no one across the street.
We have more problems with bears getting into our trash than we do with the folks living on our street.

[ThomasPowers]

I spent 15 years in the old inner city of Columbus OH where my nearest neighbor's house was close enough for me to lean out my window and spit on her house; she was the one I got on well with.

My house had a double lot so the other neighbor was about 40 feet away but it was a rental property and they were always causing trouble for me.

I *really* *really* like living in the country now!

[Vladimir Marenus]

I live in Grafton, Ohio (the actual township), so the houses are pretty well smashed together. So far, I've not had any complaints, even when neighbors were outside while I was forging. I hope they give me some time before they get upset, as I'm not quite good enough to forge bribes yet.

[geofthesmith]

haha neither am i, i jsut hope i can scrape out a steak fork, or spatula for em thats passable liek it was from a garage sale

[wolfy9005]

Just an idea, a higher flue/chimney might help. If it's low, the smoke hasa habit of staying, but 3-4m(~10feet) up in the air their might be a light breeze which will help carry it away.

Also, after 9am and before 7pm it's generally ok to make as much noise as you want, but within reason(ie. 1-2minutes with an angle grinder, not 1 hour non stop)

[Thunderstrike]

I suppose I got lucky with shop location. I live out in the county so I can do pretty much anything I please as long as its on my property. As far as neighbors I have 3 One across the street and over 100 yards or so, another about 50 yards from the house and on the other side one about 500 yards but with a, and I quote, " Redneck taxidermy, butcher, general auto repair, and odds and ends repair shop." I've had the cops called once for an unrelated event loud music on the fourth of July. Forget they had illegal fireworks and we had no problem with it lol. I just make sure to shut down before 10 p.m which isn't a problem for me. Though I may try the trinket deal just to be neighborly.

Course I scare almost all the neighbors anyway, which if I must say, I'm a pretty nice guy most the time v.v.

~TS