twistedforever Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 Well here is a picture of my garage/blacksmithing area....ignore the junk in the background. Any tips or pointers anyone can think of to make more use of my space? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njanvilman Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 Make sure the stand for the gas forge is on wheels. And get a CO2 fire extinguisher and mount it to the table. Roll it outside to use. No need for CO poisoning. I would build another cart to hold tongs, hammers, files, and whatever else you need. Put it on wheels too. And get a post vise, mount it to a round thick plate that could be rolled to where ever it is needed. Having the ability to move tools easily in a small shop or garage makes life and work so much easier, and faster to set up and break down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 28, 2013 Share Posted October 28, 2013 Too much clutter for safety; I'm with the "roll it outside" party Perhaps an open ended conduit structure with a tarp over it if you are on the wed side of the state... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twistedforever Posted October 29, 2013 Author Share Posted October 29, 2013 I was planning on opening up both doors in the garage and put a fan in the windows and door, I also have a 8 inch exhaust fan in the garage which I would turn on to prevent any CO poisoning. Its usally raining out here and no room outside to do it either. :( But, yes getting a CO detector will be a must even though I have the room opened. The wheels idea is a good idea, I will need to do that. For the vise(machinest) though I have a HUUUUGE one ways about 100 pounds but right now I am trying to figure out how I want to mount it, thinking along the lines of using some 6x6 lumber strapped together., or a stump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 Greetings Twisted, I always worry about forges in attached garages... It only takes one mistake to loose all that you have.... I have several buildings with various shops and most wonder why I do it that way... If I loose one I don't loose it all.. I would not take your insurance man for a tour.. Now days you can buy a small portable building say 12x12 and put it on a cement floor.. If that is not possible move your forge outside the service door.. I do just that in my winter shop where I only have a 12x14 heated area in a large building.. Just a few steps through the door to the anvil... I hope this helps... I sound like a overprotective grandfather... Yep I am.. Forge on and make beautiful things.. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSW Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 Machinist vises, even huge ones, don't always take well to beating on them. Post vises on the other hand are designed for pounding on things. I can find post vises for $70. the guy I know who has a 100 lb machinist vise wants close to $600 for it. It's a no brainer which one I'd use. Cheap machinist vises are usually more prone to damage than the top end expensive ones, but I'd still opt for a good post vise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 Ya just gotta get rid of that exercise thingy...has absolutely no use in a blacksmith shop! ;) The bikes could stay if that's the only place to keep 'em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twistedforever Posted October 29, 2013 Author Share Posted October 29, 2013 Lol need to get rid of it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danguite Posted October 29, 2013 Share Posted October 29, 2013 Also, not sure exactly what those fire bricks are sitting on, but I had a similar setup with some 4x6 wood under firebricks for some extra support and after about four hours of forging the heat from the forge had gotten things so hot that the wood was smoldering pretty good. The heat had got through the tiny little gaps in the firebrick and scorched the wood. That is when I learned that saving a couple pennies by using wood instead of spending a little time fabricating something out of steel for the forge could have burned down my shop. Definitely going to be much more vigilant in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.