Lets design an off grid Smithy!

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

I want to build a Smithy by my pond mainly because it just sounds fun. I'm hoping to at least move my forge and anvil over there once I get a structure up. Lets come up with something fun!

I say off grid... hoping to keep it electric free because it is kind of a long run for electric. Electric might happen anyways but for now lets try to keep it simple. It might have more character that way!

Building ideas - pole barn style construction, 8x12 or 12x12 cabin. I want it to look like an old west building so it might have a fun facade. I have some used galvanized roofing that might do the trick for at least a couple of the walls. Used materials/low budget

Dirt Floor

Brick forge! It needs a cool forge built in and maybe a brick quenching trough. Brick forge could heat it in the winter. The big question is what do I do for bellows/forge power?

Porch - gas forge goes on porch to keep it cooler inside if I want to

Workbench with my blacksmiths vise and maybe a reguar vise.... not sure what else?

I'll hopefully hand my hammers and tongs/etc on one wall by the forge.

What else should I get or do?

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Unless it's awfully dry there, a dirt floor sounds like asking for trouble.
Maybe a brick floor-with sand poured between the bricks?

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Strong pole barn style. 4X6 corner posts set deep in concrete.
Roof that is VERY robust due to heavy snow buildup in winter. Don't skimp on the roof rafters. They need to be strong - 2X8 minimum.
Clapboard siding for the "Old West" look.
Crusher run floor. Raise it 4" above the outside grade.
Power - Solar panels on the roof to run the lights and blower? A small generator?
Hang cool old stuff on the outside walls. Old wagon wheels, farm tools, signs, etc.
Make a sign for the front like an old west saloon or store sign. Old barn wood is great for this.

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

Unless it's awfully dry there, a dirt floor sounds like asking for trouble.
Maybe a brick floor-with sand poured between the bricks?

Good point, especially being somewhat close to the pond. I actually have some pavers that might do the trick.

Central TX, it is like a jungle here on my property. River bottom land.

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

Strong pole barn style. 4X6 corner posts set deep in concrete.
Roof that is VERY robust due to heavy snow buildup in winter. Don't skimp on the roof rafters. They need to be strong - 2X8 minimum.
Clapboard siding for the "Old West" look.
Crusher run floor. Raise it 4" above the outside grade.
Power - Solar panels on the roof to run the lights and blower? A small generator?
Hang cool old stuff on the outside walls. Old wagon wheels, farm tools, signs, etc.
Make a sign for the front like an old west saloon or store sign. Old barn wood is great for this.

I like it!

I got this idea from a piece of land I cleaned up as a kid. There was a smithy right on a little hand dug pond, it was just as cool as can be! There was very little left besides the building which had quite a lean to it. We found tons of square nails by the pond that I bet he made, maybe rejects or lost while working. I still have the glass/crystal doorknob.

When I was a kid I got tired of our yard gate eventually hanging crooked here on the farm... I set a 10' telephone pole 4' deep in our clay soil and packed clay around it with an old army 6' tamping iron. That thing still hasn't budged! I don't think I'm getting that wild here, lol.

I'm no longer in CO, I need to update. Thanks for looking, I appreciate that. My shop there always had a clean roof but I lost it to wind shear funny enough. It looked like a bomb went off in it. It has to be tough here too because of the wind.

Good idea on the clapboard, that is the look I want. I have another project going where I am building a 3-4 building old west town (facades only besides the saloon) out of old farm junk and torn down barns. I am in the gathering of cool stuff phase, all stuff here on the farm.

Crusher run floor - good call! I might be able to talk the local pit into selling me some on the cheap, of course getting it here is all of the work. I need a load for my driveway anyways.

Solar - that's the goal, maybe get a little kit to run my blower and some other stuff. I was wondering if there was anything reasonable for the blower besides one of those little hand crank forges or having someone run bellows/fiddling with that.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

You could set up a couple of lithium iron 100AH batteries with a 110v convertor and the solar panels.

 

[DanF]

The price on those have really come down now, pricing is most attractive

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

A 12V blower run off solar panels or a battery will run a small forge just fine.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

The Chinese sites have those batteries for about $180 each.
LED lighting requires very little power and is bright!

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

Thanks guys! I am working on a campsite too, started researching the solar for it as I want a little cabin with power. I'm surprised how affordable it has gotten. You can just bring a power supply and charge it at home, that might run a blower.

I thought I could be missing some obvious solution... probably a reason you can hear the blower motor in almost any forge video. I notice the Japanese use a side blower sometimes too.

I checked onto the 12v blowers too, I'm not sure if they would be that solid but look to be fine for what I want. 90% of my work will be done with my passive atlas forge or in the main shop with a blown burner larger forge.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Option 1-
Get two 200watt 12VDC solar panels ($200), a 600 Amp Hour LiFePo4 solar battery ($650) and a 1000W pure-sinewave converter ($200).The total on those three items was $250 less last week before the tarrifs kicked in, so waiting for them to be TACOed will be wise.
Put the battery and converter plus the necessary plugs/cords in a sturdy box with strong handles on the ends. A large HF tool box would work fine. An alternate assembly is to mount them on a small cheap hand truck and roll them around. You can unplug the assembly from the solar panels take it to the forge, anyplace that needs power in an emergency, or camping. Make an extension cord that plug into the box from your forge power panel. You should have a 12VDC power socket and a 120VAC standard duplex socket on the battery box (probably $50 for whole box and cords setup). It will store enough power for all the lights, a blower, small fridge, radio, and other low-current equipment, etc. for a day at the forge or a long weekend of camping.

Option 2 -
Get the above things and install the solar panels at your forge. Make the battery/controller box the same.
On a sunny day, the panels should run your lights, blower, and a small fridge without using any battery power. The system will always be ready when you arrive. Best of all, the beer will always be cold. It can run a motion detector security light at night for when you come early or leave late. The same flexibility for use in other places will be the same as above.

Option 3 -
If you drive a van, put the panels on the roof and the battery/controller/charger in a box in the back. It now is your mobile power supply for the forge, home, solar camping, emergencies, parties, etc.

It would be best to use 12V LED lights and a 12V blower for the forge. This saves a considerable amount of power that would be lost in converting to 120VAC.

Note: Wash off or sweep/blow off the solar panels often. Dust on them can cut the power drastically. This is especially important in a place that does not get weekly good rain showers. A sturdy permanently installed ladder to the roof where the panels are is a smart thing.