BrittB Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 A few of the basics are required. I'm soon to retire and am in mid-purchase of a home on 1.7 acres with plenty of room for a smithy. Cost is of minimal concern as this will be my last "real" shop. I have been working out of my 2-car garage and have gotten used to the smaller footprint. I am an Apprentice Bladesmith with aspirations to become a Master Smith with the ABS, so the shop needs to be built with that idea in mind. I also have an anvil problem and currently own 3 with intentions to own more. I will need room for a forge press and power hammer(s) (probably a tire hammer as well as a 50# LG). I also dabble in blacksmithing, so I run both a coal and propane forges. This shop will have a bricked in coal forge, probably occupying a corner or center wall. I am leaning heavily towards a late 1800's style blacksmith shop with a barnwood upper exterior walls and river rock and concrete bottom walls. I need room for guests as I wish to hold monthly hammer-ins and other get togethers for smiths as well as provide lessons to aspiring smiths. I am in the idea/design stage and plan on breaking ground in January. Any suuggestions/ideas from the more experienced crowd will be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 South Carolina? An adjunct shoplet where you use an induction forge and can run an air conditioner at the same time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrittB Posted October 20, 2016 Author Share Posted October 20, 2016 Thank you for the reply. The new house is in Cosby, Tennessee and not in an area that's as hot and humid as Charleston. But a separate area with AC is a requirement. Probably the "cold room" will have an AC so I can work on sheaths and handles in comfort. Currently forging stops in June, except at night, and resumes in September. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WL smith Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 Personally I have never understood the passion for brick forges against a wall. To me they seem restrictive. I have seen two in use. Both were free standing in the middle of the room with a hanging hood. Easy to approach from any side depending on steel length and to be close to vises and other tooling. Please educate me I must be missing something. I use a large round clay forge on four legs and can lever it where I need it with a 2x4 stud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrittB Posted October 25, 2016 Author Share Posted October 25, 2016 No specific reason to me, other than to keep clutter from the center of the room. With adequate racks and braces, long stock can be inserted on 3 of the 4 sides, allowing the flue to be rocked (bricked) in with the rest of the structure during construction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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