Northumbrian

Yeah, already starting to think along those lines

At the moment I've got a couple of rats, which until the new doors for shop are finished, no point doing anything about them. But, I quite often get a couple of small snakes slither across the shop floor.

Sounds good to me

Thanks for the link I'll check that out.

The actual forge I'm planning to make on a "trolley", so it can be wheeled in position, so I can move it around to find the best spot. Then if or when I get any good, I'll build a purpose built shop just for the forge. I've got plenty of space on the farm. But, the Old shade idea might be possible, I need to have a good look at that idea.

Cheers fellas, most appreciated. Humidity is almost none existent in the summer months, so swamp cooler should work. The new shop has been built, with an insulated roof, however setting up the forge in side is not an option, and a small corner of the shop is where my wife is storing, her horse feed. Not ideal, but until we get a purpose built feed shed built, I've got to make do. Outside of the shop, is a large covered, but open area. I was thinking about setting the forge up there, however, it's a sheet steel roof. As the roof on the shop is new, I have no idea if there will be cool air in there or not. I'm in the process of making a set of insulated doors for the shop. The new shop has not yet had a summer to deal with. Mind you, I am toying with the idea of air conditioning in the shop, but thats not much use as the forge can't be in the shop. Working after dark won't be a problem, my closest neighbour about half a mile away behind a hill. I'll take some photos of the place tomorrow, so you can at least see what I'm talking about. Alternatively, it's work in swimming shorts and jump in the pool, then carry on working whilst wet Many thanks for advice, if was nearer I'd buy you both a few beers.

I'm intending on setting up a small forge, in order to get starting in bladesmithing, although will probably do other things as i progress. Whilst I'm pretty much happy with forge construction, anvils and all the other toys, I struggling to find enough information regards setting up a shop in hot climates. I live in Southern Portugal, in an area often called "the desert", were during the summer months the temperatures can reach upto 50 degrees C (122 deg F) in the shade. If any of you on here, work in similar conditions, how do you manage the heat (I know we all work with heat, but dropping dead from heat stroke is not my preferred outcome) Is there any tricks to help reduce the ambient temperature to a manageable degree? Thanks in advance Cheers Chris

Cool thread enjoyed reading this. Somehow, I doubt my wife will let me do the same to her horse trailer

This is one of my Lathes, the only photo I have at the moment, the shop is not finished yet. It's a long bed Myford Super 7, nice little lather if a little underpowered. My other lathe is a Swiss Simonet DC102 plain toolmakers lathe, which is in need of a new motor.

Thanks for the pointers and welcome, Glenn. The most readily available fuel in my location is charcoal, with bottled gas next in line. However Charcoal appears to be the cheapest. I've already been looking for ideas, on here, for both projects and forge designs, ultimately I think the forge will be governed by what refractory materials I can get. Which is looking more and more like bricks. I think to start off with I'll go for a mobile forge that I can set up as and when I need it, and then put it "away" afterwards. The crazy part is I've been working with metal for over 25 years now, just never done any hot work. Plenty of welding both stick & TIG, some sheet work. Tons of machining, toolmaking & gunsmithing. Just never forged anything. I've got a fairly well kitted out machine shop, including a heat treatment furnace, just no forge. New country, new home, new shop, why not a new direction.

Thanks for the welcome You would be correct in your assumption

After years of wanting start blacksmithing, moving to a new country, now is a good a time as any. New workshop almost finished, I think it's time to build a forge. I would like to start bladesmithing, but to be honest I have no idea what I'll make... I hope to learn from all of you on here, and maybe get good enough to contribute as well. Cheers Chris