Building my small smithy in Florida

[neg]

For the past few days I've finally been building my workshop. It's pretty small, 12x10 (12x14 if you count the outside awning), but it's a lot better than what I had before. All that's really left for me to do is build the doors, some shutters for the window, and seal the walls. I'll post up some pictures of the inside when I get everything situated. :)

 

[Workhorse247365]

i like it. very cozy looking. cant wait see it finished.

[Frosty]

10'x12' is a nice working space, it's not like you'll be working on trucks. Having a large doorway where it is will allow you to work on larger pieces and still keep your equipment under cover.

 

It's a well thought out design, well done. Now enjoy and don't forget the pics.

 

Frosty The Lucky.

[Aaron J. Cergol]

Did you use a cut down tree stump (still embedded in the ground for a stand)? If so, kudos to building your shop around it!

A lot of people will argue and say that is too small of a shop. I like it, you will make a shop work, no matter the size. I prefer a smaller size myself, only allows me to have the tools I *need* in my shop, and makes it stay relatively clean. It also helps avoid the blacksmiths hoarder disease...which I still have a case of.

Nice work,

Aaron

[neg]

Well, the tree wasn't originally there, I moved it. But it's buried 3 feet under the ground so it's pretty solid. I just really like the look of the stump with roots going into the ground.

[neg]

Well, I finished building the doors and I stained and sealed the building. I'm really happy with how it's turned out so far. I still have some work to do inside though...

 

:)

[Pug}{maN]

Supper nice!

[Chuck in Ms]

Great shop! Can't wait to see how you set up the inside.

[Donnie]

The only thing I see wrong with that shop............it isn't in MY backyard. Very nice.

[Avadon]

Looking good! That awning would only work/be permitted in warm climate. Where there is snow, building inspectors don't like to see the back of the awning merely connected to the side of the building. They like to see 4x4's not only in support of the front, but also in the back. I asked an inspector why once and he said it's so a snow load doesn't collapse the structure killing/crushing someone as they enter/exit the building. Just make sure the back of the awning has some some hurricane clips if it's the lumber itself isn't tied into the building. ;)

[Jack Evers]

Yep, where I am , 50 pounds/sq foot snow load, that awning would be designed for more than a ton of weight. I remember helping a friend with a barn roof near New Mexico/Mexico boarder. Shocker!!  I'd never before been on a roof where I had to worry about keeping my weight directly over a truss.

[neg]

Lucky here in florida we don't have to worry about the snow, just rain. ;)

 

Today I made some shutters. Wasn't until after I made them that I thought I should have made them shut over the outside over the window instead of inside the window. Either way I don't feel like doing it over so that's how it'll stay. :P

 

I also made myself a little desk in the corner.

 

And I finally mounted my leg vise. It's on a banded cornerpost burried 5ft into the ground with concrete. The leg's attatched to another post burried under it. I've never had to mount one before this so I hope it stays in place. :D

[Frosty]

Nice corner desk but shouldn't there be an adult beverage bottle on one of those shelves? <wink>

 

The post vise looks solid enough to me. Nicely done.

 

Frosty The Lucky.

[VaughnT]

Very nice!

 

I'm thinking the shutters will shed rain a lot better because they are inside the frame.  Otherwise the water coming down would get between the shutters and the frame, entering the building.

 

The charm of the building is great and I can't wait to see it all together and you working at the forge....

[neg]

I finally got a new stump put in for my new anvil and put down small riverrock for the flooring. I'll post some pictures in the morning when there's ight out. :)


Here's some pictures inside. I finally got my new anvil mounted on a stump. I also got a light hooked up and built some more shelves on my desk to make it look nicer. Oh, and I put down smallish river rocks for a floor. :)

[darren70]

Mate, thats a great looking shop. My long term goal is to build a period style shop using cut slab for walls and hand cut shingles.

Yours is a great inspiration 

[neg]

Made myself a sign and stuck it to my shop. I ran out of coal the other day and had to use charcoal to forge the bracket. Man, it really makes me appreciate the good stuff. Came out okay I think, but not as good as it could have been otherwise. I had a really hard time getting a good picture, the sun was right behind it and I was using my ipod, but here...

 

My sign:

 

And mounted:

[Daniel.85]

Coolest anvil stands ever.

[neg]

Not a huge update, but I added a place for coal storage. The doorway leads to a sheltered 3'x3' area attached to the back of the shop. I just finished it, but when I get the chance I'm going to engrave "coal" to the top of the trim over the door. :)

The door is just tall enough for me to walk in if I squat a little and I bent an old wrench for the handle.

[atatude78]

How unbearable is the heat in there? I just started the process of prepping/rehabbing a rented shop space - last night as a matter of fact - that's 14' x 16' with an 8' ceiling, and I'm terrified at the thought of how hot it's going to get in there once the forge is up and running. So far, the tentative plan has been to install an attic fan (there's only one door, no windows), but is that overkill?

[neg]

Even in florida, it doesn't get too hot. I work with the window and doors open most of the time. Of course, it's hot when you get close to the forge, though.

[Omar Norvald]

Where did you get your anvils?

[neg]

The smaller one was my dad's and the larger one I got off of ebay.