inazuma_x Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 i am wondering what levels of noise smithing generates. i am not talking power hammers here coz those are positively deafening. i just mean normal hammering of hot steel on an anvil. i wouldnt have thought it would exceed the noise generated by a lawn mower or similar. but it seems my local city council is worried that my suburban smithy will generate sufficient nuisance for my neighbors that it would be best if i didnt...far from being worried about the forge itself...its the hammering that bothers them :S i've spent a fair bit of time at the anvil and have never worn ear protection. and it doesnt seem to bother me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fat pete Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 where are you from .....?? did your town fathers stop you or did someone complain?? what kind of neighborhood do you live in.... anyone have a harley close by....you surely dont make that much noise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inazuma_x Posted August 19, 2008 Author Share Posted August 19, 2008 brisbane, queensland, australia... i am in the process of building my smithy at the moment. called up council to see if they'd drag me out in the street and shoot me for doing something like this...its not a popular activity. one of the people i talked to at council didnt even know what an anvil is...bit odd...i woulda thought anyone who'd seen road runner or the sort would at least have asked their parents "what's that big black thing coyote is trying to drop on road runner?"...but anyway...that's a different story they suggested that i should get an "acoustic assessment" done. which costs about $4000 and even then that wouldnt guarantee a pass...but people are allowed to use power tools and the sort...so i dont really see the big problem...but if a neighbor complains then i will be asked to stop what i am doing...which would be rather...unfortunate :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Browne Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 (edited) I find it amazing the controls people expect on "non mainstream" activities. Sure the anvil makes a bit of noise but compared to lawn mowers its chickenfeed but then mowers are expected in surburbia. Some people just like to complain.............. Try talking to your neighbours and get them to tell you if they are having guests and would like it super quiet. Maybe that will help. Edited August 19, 2008 by rmcpb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inazuma_x Posted August 19, 2008 Author Share Posted August 19, 2008 and people tuning their v8s in their garage rumbling, sputtering engines are far better than the clang of creativity i guess... i am considering doing a letter drop on my block...or perhaps offering discounts on my services to neighbors in the immediate vicinity...nothing like bribes to keep people quiet the problem is that keeping up with demand may be a fulltime job :S just to stop them complaining :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metalliferous Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 I agree that your smithing won't make much of a noise nuisance (the smoke might be a nuisance, but that depends on your fuel). You might be able to ease their worries if you offer to deaden the anvil's ring with magnets/chain/rubber and demonstrate how much that cuts down on the noise. I hope that they're reasonable folks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inazuma_x Posted August 19, 2008 Author Share Posted August 19, 2008 smoke shouldnt be a problem. i use coke which seems to produce next to no smoke...i am also looking into sound proofing options too...the floor of my smithy is going to be decomposed granite which is supposed to be quite good for reducing the tuningfork effect that concrete slabs have...how do you use magnets to reduce the ring? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metalliferous Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Just lay a few big magnets (like the one from car speakers) on the anvil's side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inazuma_x Posted August 19, 2008 Author Share Posted August 19, 2008 like actually sticking them on the side of the anvil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabre Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 ya or wrap chain arround the anvil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inazuma_x Posted August 19, 2008 Author Share Posted August 19, 2008 like a chain chain ( http://www.ok.gov/okohstest/images/chain.jpg.jpg )? are you guys pulling my leg? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 A couple of loose wraps of chain as shown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inazuma_x Posted August 19, 2008 Author Share Posted August 19, 2008 yeah thats what i thought...interesting...how effective is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metalliferous Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 it's worked pretty well when I've tried it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coltpax Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 i built a wooden stand for mine (I need to post some pics on here) and my little HF ASO dont ring as bad as it did before. I dont know why, but it rang more than my other one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pault17 Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 I have a little "70 lb" magnet that I stick on the bottomside of the horn on my russian HF submarine anvil. It takes the "ting" to a "thunk". mine is sitting on a three-legged base made from a single sheet of 3/4 inch plywood. The whole thing never rings with the magnet on it. I also hold the legs down with a short length of chain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inazuma_x Posted August 19, 2008 Author Share Posted August 19, 2008 my anvil is a 300lb wilkinson sword anvil (circa 1840) that has seen a fair bit of use over the years...still has many good edges despite having a fairly distinct depression in the middle of the face. i plan to mount it on a 40cm high block of aussie hardwood (probably kwila) though perhaps softwood may be a more sound-dampening option. i would like to take whatever measures possible to make it as quiet as possible. keep those neighbors happy. so if i wrap a chain around it and have it on a wooden block which is sitting on a compacted earth floor and perhaps even a large-ish magnet stuck to the side it should be fairly quiet yes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metalliferous Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 nice anvil. Try the measures you're talking about, and if they don't work, try heavy plastic or rubber underneath the anvil. With all that, something is bound to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGropp Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 My 260# Czech anvil had a very sharp ring to it until I fastened it down. The anvil sits on a wood post which is just slightly smaller than the footprint of the anvil. two 8'' x 10''x 1/2'' steel plates are through bolted through the post with 5/8'' threaded rod, pinching the anvil feet with a very tight grip. The anvil does not budge and the ring is deadened to a dull thud. This also makes it easy to turn the anvil around should the job require it. The post is set into a hole in the dirt floor about 30'' deep and filled to just below grade with concrete. Nothing moves, wobbles, or shakes with this set up. Don't be complacent about the long term damage from noise, protect what you have. I've worked all my life around loud machinery , logging, sawmills ,commercial fishing, carpentry and 13 years as a full time smith. I've always work good ear protection and my ears still ring. As for the neighbors, it's best to keep the noise to ''normal'' work day hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inazuma_x Posted August 19, 2008 Author Share Posted August 19, 2008 thanks for the advice everybody feel slightly more positive now will let y'all know how it goes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bendik Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 (edited) A fellow Norwegian blacksmith I know had this setup with his anvil to reduce the ring: The stand is a welded steel box filled with fine sand, and square tubing for legs. One large magnet on the underside of each horn. Absolutely no ring, just a low thud, and very stable and comfortable to work on. Just drew that image in a hurry, I can see now that it's a bit out of proportion The anvil is supposed to be much larger in comparison to the stand.. Edited August 19, 2008 by Bendik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solvarr Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 alot of the noise can be absorbed by making sure to limit hard flat surfaces. The stuff we spray on cielings in houses helps Acoustic tiles(don't have to be new). welder's blanket on the wall. Flammability is an issue so be careful what you use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcraigl Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Inazuma, All good suggestions so far. Go for maximum effect. First, put a peice of rubber matting under the anvil, then fab up some hold-downs that you can lag bolt your anvil down on the your stump, add chain and magnet, and that's about the best you can do for the sound production. Then think about sound propogation. I forged in front of my garage for a while and when the garage door was closed, it reflected the sound straight down the driveway, across the street and into the neighbor's front door. They never complained, but I was at the end of my driveway one time when someone else was working at the anvil and wow, it was quite loud. I went and opened the garage door, and voila! Walked back to the end of the driveway and the sound was reduced by a lot. Now I'm inside the garage, and can close the door if it's not too hot outside and my hammering at the anvil is no more obnoxious than if someone was hammering nails inside their garage. I've talked to all of the neighbors and know their work schedules and adjust my forging time accordingly. The neighbor to the south works graveyards and is sleeping on weekdays from 8am to 5pm, so no problem there. The other neighbor works a swing shift and his bedroom is on the opposite side of his house. He says he's never been woke up by my hammering so I'm good to go. Also, as some have suggested, a nice simple little gift, candle stick or flower or something will go a long way toward ameliorating any hard feelings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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