Forging outside

chris609

chris609

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2003
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274
Hello everyone I searched some threads about forging indoors and it seems to be a bad idea for my basement shop. I have alot of room but I have plenty of outdoor space to use. My question is would a 10x10 shed be roomy for a forging setup?
 
chris609 said:
Hello everyone I searched some threads about forging indoors and it seems to be a bad idea for my basement shop. I have alot of room but I have plenty of outdoor space to use. My question is would a 10x10 shed be roomy for a forging setup?
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What kind of forge are you going to use? Gas, coal, wood? Portable or permanent? How big is your forge going to be? If all you plan on doing is forging in the shed, just you're forge, hammers and anvil, and not do any polishing or finishing, and you're forge is small enough, and you have good ventalation, it could work.
 
I will be using propane. All finishing and grinding would be in my basement shop. Thanks for responding.
 
My forge is medium to large size and it, my anvil and quench tank fit into about an 8'x8' area when I forge, though there are no walls. The only problem I would have is I like to use the full length bars to forge from like 4' - 6' bars and forge the blade on the end while holding onto the bar instead of cutting a piece off and using tongs. Once the blade is shaped I guesstimate the length of material I will need for the handle and cut it then use the tongs.
 
Interesting that you posted this thread. I just finished forging my first knife in my shed in the back of my condo. It is only about an 8' shed and I put an exhaust fan in the wall and keep the door open when I forge. It actually worked pretty well...no complaints from the neighbors yet.:D Here's a picture of the inside of my shed.

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Do you move your forge away from that wall before you forge? Just curious...

I forge outside using a blown propane forge. I used to forge in my driveway, just rolled my stuff outside the garage but now I have a polebarn type smithy on the side of our storage building. I'll be wiring that building up soon. A lot of people forge in their basements with wide open doors/ windows but if you choose to do this I can't strongly recommend a monoxide detector enough.. a must have.
 
Will Leavitt said:
Do you move your forge away from that wall before you forge? Just curious...

I forge outside using a blown propane forge. I used to forge in my driveway, just rolled my stuff outside the garage but now I have a polebarn type smithy on the side of our storage building. I'll be wiring that building up soon. A lot of people forge in their basements with wide open doors/ windows but if you choose to do this I can't strongly recommend a monoxide detector enough.. a must have.
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The forge looks closer to the wall than it really is. I had the forge going for a few hours and the wall did not even get warm. I was contemplating either painting the wall behind it with fire resistant paint or putting some sort of metal barrier behind it. The exhaust fan I have in the wall right above the forge is rated for 350 cfm. I also make sure the door is open.
 
I lined my walls with hardy board, the concrete wall board. It adds just a little more comfort in the forging area. In fact I walled the whole shop in it. Now there are no problems with hot sparks or welding.
 
A C Richards said:
I lined my walls with hardy board, the concrete wall board. It adds just a little more comfort in the forging area. In fact I walled the whole shop in it. Now there are no problems with hot sparks or welding.
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This sounds like a really good idea. I think I am going to line my shed inside with Durock cement board, or at least put a sheet of cement board behind the forge itself...That should help.
 
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