newbie plans

[Psychicash]

Hello, very new to smithing.  I'm really looking forward to having my own space. My wife and I purchased a property and we've been discussing building a forge for me to work with.

I've considered a few options.  There's a small storage building in the back of the house. 

I need to clean up the plant life attached to the building and do some minor repairs.

I also need to clear the plant life from around the building, I was going to clear 20 feet back.

 

It's crowded.

Inside, the whole space is 12x12.  There's some work that needs doing.  That hole in the wall is from an old wood burning heater that the previous owners took.  That brick is a facade.  There's a workbench to the left that I would move to the right side of the room.  The ceiling is only 8 foot high at most.

I thought I could place the forge where the heater had been. I was going to build a 55 gal forge with a chimney. 

However, I feel like there are precautions I could take. I'm also concerned about ventilation and of course fire hazards.

Any thoughts or advice?  Is this a horrible idea? being new to this, I feel like there's a lot of things I don't know to consider.

[George N. M.]

Rather than putting 2 90 degree elbows in your chimney to use the existing hole in the wall you will get better draft going up straight up and out through the roof.

BTW, welcome aboard.  Lots of good info and interesting folk here.

"By hammer and hand all arts do stand." 

[Goods]

Even if you could get a good draft that way, it will put your forge in the corner. You would probably be better off with the forge in the middle of the wall to give better access to heating the center of longer stock.

Welcome Louisville it not that far from me… Looks like I’m having a hammer-in (local IBA chapter) at my place 2nd weekend in January. Consider yourself invited! I’m just an hours drive straight up I65.

David

[ThomasPowers]

Lots of smiths in your area; I'd suggest visiting as many as you can and see what they are using for a smithy  and what they are making in their shops.   BTW if you meet up with PTREE, Jeff, tell him hi for me!

[Psychicash]

15 hours ago, Goods said:

Even if you could get a good draft that way, it will put your forge in the corner. You would probably be better off with the forge in the middle of the wall to give better access to heating the center of longer stock.

 

I'll take that into consideration. If I'm already putting a hole in the roof, might as well put it on the center line.