Owen Hinsman Posted April 7, 2018 Share Posted April 7, 2018 I am building a forge in my backyard. What should I use for the flooring? I think that a base of concrete covered in 6-8 inches of pea gravel would be good, but I have no experience in these matters. I live in Cumberland County ME if that makes a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 Lay concrete then cover it with gravel? . . .eh . . . uh . . . er. . . HUH? Only if you like walking on a shifting surface and losing anything smaller than a quarter if you drop it. If you're concerned about your feet and knees on a concrete floor wear gum shoes or better, Z-Coils. If you want a dirt floor talk to a local gravel company and buy some D1 gravel. It's a crushed aggregate specifically graded to compact hard. If you don't have seasonal wet soil conditions and good sub soils clay compacted hard makes a good floor as well. I prefer concrete myself but that's me. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShortMagPirate Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 A good hard packed dirt floor would be fine, if your soil conditions allow it... otherwise concrete over packed gravel would be my choice. Anything that gives you good, solid, safe footing. I may be new to blacksmithing but I do know a thing or two about putting a shop together in unusual and irregular locations... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaudry Posted April 8, 2018 Share Posted April 8, 2018 This subject has been discussed at some length with numerous opinions and reasons pro and con for various floor systems . The short answer is that depends on your resources , location and intended use for the space, whether it's for traditional or contemporary blacksmith work , general metal work ,including fabrication , machining and forged work . Some types of work are best kept in separate spaces , wood work away from hot metal and sparks, machine tools away from dust , grit and potential damage from the impact and vibration from heavy forge and fab work. There no reason that separate areas of the shop can't have different floors depending on use or as the building evolves over time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobS Posted April 10, 2018 Share Posted April 10, 2018 I like concrete myself. But then I also have cats, so a gravel or dirt floor isn't the best idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShortMagPirate Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 Eeewwww. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldgoaly Posted June 3, 2018 Share Posted June 3, 2018 I have crushed limestone, can be packed hard or not. With these bad knees it's my favorite floor. Concrete is hard on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 Compacted dirt floor is my choice. Easier on the feet and far easier to mount tools. Personal choice rules here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1forgeur Posted June 23, 2018 Share Posted June 23, 2018 Ag lime is what I have. Worked on concrete for 45 years. Don't want it at home. What oldgoaly and anvil said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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