Jon Paul

I agree with Kozzy I would use square tube and weld like 2-2 inch 1/8 inch wall square tube between the square tube upright. It's not very blacksmithish but it's steel and will last forever. The down side is it will be heavy and hard to move. If the ladder is moving then some cool looking wood. Hope this helped some.

I'm starting a new shop and I was wondering if I could get buy with a cheap bench vise for light duty smithing. I know they are cast iron and very brittle but if you are light will it last? I'm looking for a nice leg vise but coming up a little short. I've used multiple leg vises and those things you can beat the heck out of and don't wear. Any experience will help.

10 hours ago, Frosty said:

8' height is a little tight but okay, you can forge most anything in a 12' x 12' shop so long as you can assemble things elsewhere. Putting cladding on the inside sounds better than I believe it to be for fire safety. As you note a spark or hot bit of steel can get behind it and you won't notice a smolder till it't maybe too late. Having open wood will not only let you see any smoke but will keep you creaped out enough you won't forget to do a walk around before closing the door for dinner.

However a person can spray the wood with a flame retardant for cheap. A saturated solution of laundry borax sprayed liberally on dry wood will dry and be reasonably fire resistant. NOTING is fire PROOF but you can make it not easy to light up.

Burning charcoal means more sparks going up the stack, I recommend a spark arrestor to relieve that concern some.

NEVER think you're completely safe from fire, always be alert and expect it to get away from you. Better safe than sorry.

Frosty The Lucky.

 

When you say burning charcoal means more sparks going up the pipe is it a bunch of sparks? Or will it be manageable? Where would you find a spark arrestor? Would that reduce the draft from the hood?

46 minutes ago, Frosty said:

8' height is a little tight but okay, you can forge most anything in a 12' x 12' shop so long as you can assemble things elsewhere. Putting cladding on the inside sounds better than I believe it to be for fire safety. As you note a spark or hot bit of steel can get behind it and you won't notice a smolder till it't maybe too late. Having open wood will not only let you see any smoke but will keep you creaped out enough you won't forget to do a walk around before closing the door for dinner.

However a person can spray the wood with a flame retardant for cheap. A saturated solution of laundry borax sprayed liberally on dry wood will dry and be reasonably fire resistant. NOTING is fire PROOF but you can make it not easy to light up.

Burning charcoal means more sparks going up the stack, I recommend a spark arrestor to relieve that concern some.

NEVER think you're completely safe from fire, always be alert and expect it to get away from you. Better safe than sorry.

Frosty The Lucky.

 

The building is old and in need of some minor work I could possibly raise the roof. What is a decent hight? I know the taller the better but money is tight.

7 minutes ago, Tubalcain2 said:

mine is an 8 inches and too small. my new shop will have a  10 or 12 inch.

Thanks I think I might be able to get some 10-12 inch chimney pipe from my neighbor. My forge is a good size as well so that's good security.

4 minutes ago, yves said:

Get the sheet metal down low behind the dirt, push the dirt back and I would be surprised that you would have problems. I am thinking of moving my gaz forge to a large barn and I entertained the same  worry and thought about it. There is always a risk. Let's evaluate it.

OK that sounds good. Another concern is that 75 feet from this shed is a 60-40 1890s era barn with a ton of dried straw and hay. The wind does usually blow the complete opessete way but that's another risk. If that thing went up it would be a huge loss. By the way what are you guys doing for chimney sizes for your forges?

Thanks for the replies I will be doing mostly smaller things like drive hooks, s hooks ornament holders things like that. For bigger things I have ample out door space to weld and grind. Also my forge is Mobil and the anvil can be mobilized (thank goodness for tractors). Will screwing sheet metal into the wood help fire reduction? My fear is if something gets behind that then it's off to the races to start a fire. 

Hi I have a old calf barn on our property that measures 12-12-8. It is all wood construction and galvanized roof. My question to you is this a good size? Will fire be an issue? My forge is a good sized charcoal forge. Along with my forge I will have my anvil, post vise, quench bucket and small work table. I have a different building for welding and metalworking but don't want it burning down lol. The reason I want this is because I was operating out side and this is a problem in the Midwest. This barn is not connected to electricity and has a dirt floor.