Tim McCoy Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 I built this smithy about 18 months ago. Nothing used was purchased ... all scrounged or donated. Built the walls as tip up units. Used asphalt cut outs from a dump site for most of the flooring. Found a pick up load of cement forming plywood - has a form of formica as covering to allow a smoother finish. Door from sauna ... roofing tile from extra that my brother had and all nails taken from found nail gun strips ... and so on. Cheap, strong, drafty ... 7x7' interior dimension. I work from the center of the room ... everything is within easy reach. All stock that is over a couple foot long is outside. Small and efficient, but no room for any thing you could consider big. No power and no heater or A/C. Have to do any summertime work before 10AM as the heat here in the high desert can get to over 118. Anvil is a loaner - seems to be a vulcan. Forge is a large brake disk set on diamond plate (its upside down) and cast 2" pipe connected with tin cans tied on with tie wire (found that too) - Champion blower ... stainless steel slack tub with Superquench and in one corner we have used motor oil for quenching also. The window is some wire mesh I found in the road and the lumber is all scrounged from a dump site. The fire brick on the forge is from a demolished house ... big stuff! The punches and chisels are all yard sale items at 50 cents each. Hammers are all yard sale stuff too - except for a HF hammer that has been rehandled. Out front sits a champion forge that is cracked. The smithy sets within a small raised bed garden that has been unattended this past winter ... nearest the smithy there is a coal/charcoal bin. Have to use charcoal when there is no wind ... coal smoke causes complaints from the neighbors. It doesn't take much in the way of money to have a shop or tools or supplies or something to burn ... just a willingness to scrounge, use some imagination and be dedicated to getting what you need to learn how to be a blacksmith. Today was my first fire in almost a year as I was busy with tending to an ill wife. She's better and now the shop is open again and I spent some time practicing pointing up several different sizes of that nemisis rebar. I really have missed holding a hammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 its wicked tim - i love it!! its so cool what you can scrounge for nowt isnt it? you made a great job of that little workshop love how youve bothered with the detail - hope you get some good amounts of time in there... looks like you live somewhere warm and dry! lucky you :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim McCoy Posted January 28, 2012 Author Share Posted January 28, 2012 Thanks Beth - live in Las Vegas ... altitude about 1250' and 3" rain a year. Long hot summers and short cool winters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksnagel Posted January 28, 2012 Share Posted January 28, 2012 Neat little smithy Tim. Looks like you had a good time building it. Thanks for posting the pics. I should finish mine this week and will post pics then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 The horse shoe over the door is turned the right way. If you put a horse shoe over the anvil ir should be toe up, open end down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.Willis Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 Very creative. Nice little smithy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 I'm claustiphobic so would have to let this one 'grow' on me a bit. I love scroungin' and looks as tho you have done good. I would suggest that you try to find some lump charcoal, much better than what ya got and they sill smell like you are grillin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry H Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 thats a nice forging space you have here, I remember the days I wished to be out of the sun....rain....snow....wind...to be comfy during my grueling day at the fire (and enjoying every minute) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K. Bryan Morgan Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 Very nicely done. I like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poleframer Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 sweet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 as the song gos You can't always get what you want You can't always get what you want You can't always get what you want But if you try sometimes you might find You get what you need great space Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim McCoy Posted January 29, 2012 Author Share Posted January 29, 2012 Thomas - yep lump charcoal is the way to go ... ran out of mesquite charcoal so have to go to restaurant supply next pay day. Thanks for all the comments. Hopefully newbies can see that they don't have to be limited because they can't have a full fledged shop. I keep in mind a video I saw of a guy in Africa hammering on some unknown piece of steel with a small boy pumping a skin bag for a forge air supply. They did not wait until they had everything just right. I've paid a great deal of attention to the senior members here and have tried to embrace their constant reminders to others to "get something hard, build a fire and beat something until you learn how to make things" Be in the action mode, planning can only go so far. Mat is right, you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 tim your so right about be in the action mode - its so easy to keep thinking and planning, and actually Doing Nothing!! goes for all areas of life i reckon :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWHII Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 Nice smithy Tim! You are lucky man. Around here in a newer developed subdivision the home owners association would be all over you. Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Very nice thank you for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quick60 Posted February 8, 2012 Share Posted February 8, 2012 Nice work Tim!! The place has great character which I bet is a plus with Mrs McCoy!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim McCoy Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 Quick60 - Yep Mama likes it cause it's close enough to see but far enough away to not be a bother and she thinks it's "cute" :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tzonoqua Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Tim, that is a sweet little smithy!! And I agree with Glenn, you need to turn that horse shoe round so that the luck pours out all over that little shop!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Now nail a "My Little Pony" doll upside down over the door---for luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 The horseshoe over the door. In the U.S., the householders normally hang it heels up "to hold the luck in." In Ronald Webber's British book, "The Village Blacksmith," the author says the shoe goes heels down over the smithy door, so that "the luck continuously pours forth upon the forge." I found this mini horseshoe at an antique mall, 3 1/4" long, and I keep it over the house door, heels down. To each his own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim McCoy Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 So, I'll turn the shoe over ... but NO to the My Little Pony Doll, perhaps a GI Joe Doll with a leather apron :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FordPrefect Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Tim, nice little smithy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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