jeremy k Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 Beth - now your talking a workable shop! Along with any and all cool tools/toys that one can aquire for metalwork. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOblacksmith0530 Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 I built my hobby shop with the possibility to go Pro. It is 30 by 50. I do have a couple of machine tools and some general storage in one end of the building. I did 8' height with a concrete floor and an extra thick pad where the power hammers sit. If I had a do over it would be 40 by 50 or 60 and definitely 10' or higher sidewalls. I would also build an attached portion for an office and display area. I have a side draft coal forge and 2 gas forges in the shop for when friends come over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bentiron1946 Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 I like the idea of that bridge crane, I got tired of man handling everything. Sure it builds muscle but it also wears you down. If not a bridge crane then a high enough ceiling to have rolling gantry and a smooth concrete floor. My one studio/shop had such a rough concrete floor it might as well have been dirt. I liked my really high ceiling with north light, no direct sun burning your hide brown, sun can make things even hotter out here in Arizona but north light is cool. A roof that doesn't leak is good and rolling doors that go to one side, I guess that's called a barn door. Not very tight to keep vermin out like snakes and rats but it's out of the ways to one side instead of being over head in the way. My shop was 20 x 40 and wasn't always big enough for the things I made and all of our stuff, two power hammers, drill press, welders, work benches and other odds and ends. Sometimes there was just the two of us and sometimes we would take in a renter when money was short. That was a pain in the rear let me tell you have another person running around the place acting like it was his. I was happiest working alone or with a grunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 jk - yes - with all manner of tools for heating, hammering, forming, pressing, holding, supporting, shaping, cutting, mark-making, moving, lifting, and generally enjoying. and any materials your heart desires. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iron woodrow Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 pretty much all covered.... but i would have a sawtooth roof, facing south, to add more light, a wooden slab walled area for the forging section, part dirt floor (i love a dirt floor for forging area) airconditioned jewellery/armour making section (with stone walls), line shaft running most tools...... from a steam engine, definately overhead crane! oh and a shower/ washroom, so i dont dirty the house....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 iron john :) dirt floor YES, steam engine run air tools, YES. styley :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 i may change my name to iron betty.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 30' x 60' is plenty of space. Concrete floor, BUT with insulation under it. Too many forget that. Much easier on the feet and legs. Plus if it is built facing south and like a bank barn with the back of the shop, the north side dug into a hill side, the shop and floor will stay at 55 degrees year round. Not bad to heat in the winter and nice and cool in the summer. I also like the saw tooth roof, but this size shop is a bit small for that, but the clerestory is great for ventilation and especially for light. My curent shop is about 23 x 25 and it's just a tad tight. But for the newer smith would be more than enough space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warhawk Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 (edited) i would do a 30'x38' shop with two side lofts at the ends then a forge in the back center and a harden clay roof concrete floor with a under left loft for blacksmithing tools storage then on left loft i would do wood working tools and work space then on the right loft i would have a cot then under the right side loft i would have a solar shower with a drain under it that directs the water outside! Edited September 26, 2017 by warhawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Hinsman Posted December 9, 2017 Share Posted December 9, 2017 I am designing a shop. What is better for floor, concrete or gravel? I think gravel for drainage and vibration absorbtion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted December 9, 2017 Share Posted December 9, 2017 Owen you might find that to be a personal preference kind of thing. Some like wood floors (softer on the joints but easy to clean up), some prefer dirt/gravel (difficult to clean but easier on the joints), others like concrete (harder on the joints but easy to clean. I have used wood and dirt/gravel floors in my shop and prefer wood. I’d like to use concrete for part of the floor but I haven’t gotten around to installing it yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Hinsman Posted December 9, 2017 Share Posted December 9, 2017 Thanks mike This is what i have so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Cochran Posted December 9, 2017 Share Posted December 9, 2017 Kind of hard to see exactly what you have going on there on my phone. Are you going for open air setup on the one side? That setup would be fine with a dirt/gravel floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubalcain2 Posted December 9, 2017 Share Posted December 9, 2017 My opinion is concrete all the way. I have had concrete caravel and dirt, and concrete is the best hands down. You can put thick rubber mats in the places you will stand a lot (in front of the anvil etc.). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Hinsman Posted December 12, 2017 Share Posted December 12, 2017 as for the open air setup, i will have a sliding door, 7' tall x 5' wide. thats so i can have it open for ventilation, or to enjoy the bueatiful outdoors where i live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 12, 2017 Share Posted December 12, 2017 OK and what's on the other side to get cross ventilation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustAnotherViking Posted December 12, 2017 Share Posted December 12, 2017 Going by the lines on the above drawing, I assume thats a 2' window/opening on the left side wall? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Hinsman Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 20 hours ago, JustAnotherViking said: Going by the lines on the above drawing, I assume thats a 2' window/opening on the left side wall? yes. 2 windows, one on the left wall, one on the back wall. 20 hours ago, ThomasPowers said: OK and what's on the other side to get cross ventilation? i will have a vent on the right side, above the bench grinder, to help keep the air clean there from dust n stuff, and for cross venting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted December 13, 2017 Share Posted December 13, 2017 On 12/12/2017 at 7:48 AM, Owen Hinsman said: or to enjoy the bueatiful outdoors where i live. Where might that be. If you will edit your profile to show your location, you may be surprised how many members are near you and some answers are location dependent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Hinsman Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 17 hours ago, Irondragon Forge & Clay said: Where might that be. If you will edit your profile to show your location, you may be surprised how many members are near you and some answers are location dependent. i did so. as i do not have my own forge/smithy, i smith at Long Branch Forge in Bowdinham, ME Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Sawicki Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Have you joined the New England Blacksmith's yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Hinsman Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 no. How can I join? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Sawicki Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Visit the website. I'll pm the link. Also have you heard of The New England School Of Metalwork? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Hinsman Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 I am a youth (under 18) so ill have to talk to my parents. but this seems like a good idea to improve my skill level and meet other smiths. 5 minutes ago, Dylan Sawicki said: Visit the website. I'll pm the link. Also have you heard of The New England School Of Metalwork? yeah i have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Sawicki Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Cool! The NEB is really great I've gone to two meets one workshop, and gone to the brentwood teaching center a few times. I've learned so much! Even bought my second anvil at the fall meet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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