Icohedric Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 Hello, straight to the point, I am planning to build a shed to start getting everything in for forging and work like that, and I was wondering, what materials should I use to build the shed? Anything special? And for the floor, I was thinking just bare dirt would work, but am I wrong? And if dirt is good, is there anything special I need to do to the dirt itself? Thank you for your time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gromgor Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Smiths have used every type of building material possible to build shelters. The only thing you need to do to a dirt floor is kick it off your boots before you go into the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireInTheForge02 Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 ive got dirt in my shop, pretty good on the feet. also helps with bolting down anvils and post vices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1forgeur Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Anything but concrete for the floor. I prefer ag lime. Shed could be wood with maybe tin on inner walls? Have worked on concrete for 40+ years at work and it takes a toll on your body! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Icohedric---since you live in Antarctica; your shop will need to be massively insulated and probably sunk into the icesheet; I mean since you live in the Amazon Basin your shop will probably be a pole building with an overhanging roof and no walls---Oh since you live in the desert Adobe walls will work well and help keep the shop usable during the heat... You get the idea? Asking us for suggestions WITHOUT a location is a waste of time. Where I live high winds, (80 mph gusts are often seen during the spring,) High heat, (a week of 112 degF last year) and very little rain, (and NO SNOW) are the controlling factors. I built a well anchored pole barn---utility poles sunk 5' deep and concreted in. with 10' side walls of used metal roofing and a peaked roof with the gables left open for ventilation. It has 2 10' x 10' roll up doors on opposing ends to allow the wind to go through when it's hot. It was also cheap as almost everything was scrounged, used, etc and in a rural area building codes were not an issue. Almost the complete structure is metal (only the utility poles are wood and some PT buried in the dirt to enclose the sand/gravel floor) My local soil is pretty much adobe in the raw. I went to the local arroyo and dug out 5 gallon buckets of fine silty sandy/fine gravel to fill in the pt frames and soaked it with the hose to get it to settle tight and be firmer under foot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Welcome aboard extraterrestrial visitor glad to have you. If you put your general location in the header we won't have to keep asking you and you won't have to put up with silliness. Well as much silliness. Even better you might discover how many of the IFI gang live within visiting distance. Seriously, what kind of answers do you expect without a few details? Bad questions can only generate bad answers. For instance, with all the good intentions in the world you have; a dirt floor is the only good floor answer. What's your water table? Is it -6" in which case you'd be ankle deep in mud or losing stuff in the gravel all the time. Nothing is always right. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L Smith Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 I love working on dirt, you don't get as tired as working on cement. Plus small round pieces don't roll as easy when if you step on them. Then at the end of the day one can observe their travel patterns for lost motion. Elmer Seybold told me "extra steps mean lost heat". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucas9 Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 does the ag. lime on your floor combust when it is hit by a piece of hot metal? The lime we put in our outhouse seems like it would but i don't believe it is agriculture lime. just something to consider. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 does the ag. lime on your floor combust when it is hit by a piece of hot metal? The lime we put in our outhouse seems like it would but i don't believe it is agriculture lime. just something to consider. Thanks No, lime will NOT combust without serious persuasion. Think oxygen lance, and they will make concrete burn with vivid orange smoke. You put quick lime in the outhouse and it won't catch fire either, burn your hide to be sure but no flames. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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