tompdw Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 (edited) I finally got the digital camera and computer setup. here are some pictures of the shop. Edited September 26, 2008 by tompdw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 That's an awfully clean shop Tom. How do you like your gas forge sitting so close to the ground? I notice you have it tipped back to see in. I like mine mounted just about breast pocket level. It lets me see inside from anywhere within sight, puts the end outside the fire in easy view so folk (myself included) are less likely to trip and most of the dragon's breath is already above face level so I almost never get singed. All round it's a nice looking set up, even being way too clean. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnr Posted September 26, 2008 Share Posted September 26, 2008 Very nice looking shop. Now I see this "clean" thing i have heard of!!! Finnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orgtwister Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 i'm jealous so clean neat and all the equitment i dream of owning someday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Martin Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Nice setup, all the equipment ya need. Lol. How does that stand do for an anvil??? Not trying to undermine it, just looks a bit flimsy, that's all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 I dig the machine tools - my shop is also a combination machine/blacksmith shop. Is the Grizzly a mill or a mill/drill? I see it has power feed on the table but can't see the collet setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kovacija(blacksmith) Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 For me your shop is just another SF movie:( (even our industry don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tompdw Posted September 27, 2008 Author Share Posted September 27, 2008 My anvil stand is too high but I bought the stand for a good price but it is as low as it will go. I need a good stump about 21-23 inches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tompdw Posted September 27, 2008 Author Share Posted September 27, 2008 Hi Frosty, I just happened to have the stand for the forge at that height and I never really thought any different simply because I don't know any better. It seems to work ok though. Would you like me to mess up my shop for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tompdw Posted September 27, 2008 Author Share Posted September 27, 2008 The Grizzly is a true full sized mill with an R8 collet setup. I happen to have the drill head in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 Hi Frosty, I just happened to have the stand for the forge at that height and I never really thought any different simply because I don't know any better. It seems to work ok though. Would you like me to mess up my shop for you? Actually, rather than messing up yours how about coming over and neatening up mine? It'd be a good opportunity to see how you like a forge mounted as high as mine is. We could also swap other valuable information and good repeatable lies. The invite's serious, if you or anyone get to my neck of the planet I'd be honored by a visit. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted September 27, 2008 Share Posted September 27, 2008 My anvil stand is too high but I bought the stand for a good price but it is as low as it will go. I need a good stump about 21-23 inches. Anvil stand is not too high, your not standing tall enough. So, figure out the difference and build a platform that height. Adjust as needed. Once you have the right height figured out, trim the stump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LITTLEJOHN Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 When I started getting interested in smithing I was given a book by an old smith who helped me get started. Little did I ever think there would be a correct height for your anvil to be set at.The book explained that the correct height should be equal to the distance from the floor to a closed fist with you standing strait up with your hands to your side. If your anvil is is at the correct height you should be able to take a pine board and place it on your anvil and strike it with you hammer and leave a full imprint of your hammer.If mounted to high you will leave the imprint of the half of your hammer nearest to you to low the half away for you. If you miss the board the height isn't the problem.Little did I know then that this is such a skilled science and sometimes trial and error. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tompdw Posted September 29, 2008 Author Share Posted September 29, 2008 I heard about knuckle height but my stand isn't adjustable but the guy down the street recently cut up a tree and there looks like some promising chunks of wood about the right height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TASMITH Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 Tom, That certainly is a well equipped shop, and CLEAN!...LOL I have some pictures of my early stage construction of my shop as well. I post my pictures with Picasa web albums so if you want to view them they are at this link.Picasa Web Albums - Terry - Village Smithy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug C Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 Nice looking shop. Always good to see pictures of other peoples shops. Plenty of good ideas to be had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hammer Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 Anvil height is a personal thing. The knuckle height is in a few blacksmithing books, but isn't necessarily what will suit you best. From my experience, I have learned that if you are usually wailing away with great intensity on stock, the knuckle height may be fine, but if you are working with a bit more finesse, you might want your anvil a bit higher. Mine is several inches above knuckle height. It serves my wrist, shoulder and back much better than when it was lower. IMHO... It all depends upon what type of work you are doing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted September 30, 2008 Share Posted September 30, 2008 Setting the anvil to knuckle height appears in most books written before the current resurgence of blacksmithing. The ones that concern us as comparitively small time operations used strikers. The smith rarely worked alone like we do and had helpers available. Knuckle height is just right for striking with a sledge. More recent books suggest setting the anvil to wrist height seeing as most of us don't have helpers available to strike for us. Using modern materials and fab tech we can build our own striker and not have to feed or house him. What I've found from personal experience using anvils set at different heights is between knuckle and wrist height is excellent for me, I don't have to adjust my stance at all. If the anvil is set much above or below that range I have to tighten or widen my stance to work properly. One minor correction, Set too high and you heel the hammer, (strike with the close edge) too low and you toe it. (strike with the far edge) I don't know if anyone else uses the terms heel and toe but I haven't run into anyone who didn't get it right off. All in all you have to set your anvil where it works for you. On the other hand being able to do good work when the equipment isn't perfectly set up is an advantage. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferrous Beuler Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 Anvil height is a personal thing. The knuckle height is in a few blacksmithing books, but isn't necessarily what will suit you best. From my experience, I have learned that if you are usually wailing away with great intensity on stock, the knuckle height may be fine, but if you are working with a bit more finesse, you might want your anvil a bit higher. Mine is several inches above knuckle height. It serves my wrist, shoulder and back much better than when it was lower. IMHO... It all depends upon what type of work you are doing... actly... "It all depends on what type of work you are doing". I have my 269 lb. set on a black walnut stump at knuckle hight. The 92 lb. Peter Wright is set higher, maybe 4" higher on a "stump" fabbed from pressure treated 6" x 6"s glued up into a 12" x 12" that I find much nicer to work on with smaller stuff and lighter hammers. Lean over in an unnatural position while working for too long and it starts to feel too much like work... "Whatever feels comfortable and gets good results"... Dan:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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