backwoodscrafts

The smithy I used for 15 years was 12' by 12', but that is all I did in it. It was cramped but I got the job done. I wish I had pictures but I don't, sorry. My best advice for you is to set your forge, anvil, vice etc up outside in the configuration that suits your way of smithing. Measure the area and that is the size your shop should be. Give yourself a little extra room for growth. Set some 4" by 4" posts how ever high you want the shed to be then put a roof on. Later on when you have the money add the walls. I had half walls on mine and covered the upper half with canvas, when it got warm I rolled the canvas up and tied it. You can leave the floor dirt but after awhile I poured concrete in mine. It's not fancy but it worked for me. Hope this helps. Larry

Hey! It's great to see you're back Frosty. Our Heavenly Father does answer prayers

I used to live in Fla. I felt like I was shooting little yearlings hunting there. I'm back in Ohio now, dropped a nice doe this year with my recurve. I hunt for the meat only. Nothing tastes better than good old venison stew when I'm at a rondezvous.

That's a very nice hawk. I like everything about it. I've made several hawks but never thought of using a railroad spike. Good job.

Wanted to say hi to you all and let you know I'm excited to join this group. I have been pounding metal for around 15years off and on. Learned everything on my own by trial and error--mostly error lol. I've made lots of knives, swords, spears, made my own tools as I needed them, made some art and repaired broken iron. I live in farm country and close to the Amish. Haven't done any pounding on iron for a couple of years since my chest was opened up for heart surgery but I miss the heat of the forge. I am in the process of building a power hammer so I can get back at it. I just turned 63 and can't swing a hammer like I used to. I started with a brake drum forge and now have a nice forge with a hand blower. I just moved off my farm where I had a nice smithy shop and now live in town. I'll be setting up shop behind my garage. Hope to learn from the group and maybe I will have some answers to some of your questions too. You all have a good one and keep your fingers off the hot stuff.