Size of Forging Area

A

Augus7us

Joined
Oct 9, 2014
Messages
694
Hey all,

As I mentioned in my last thread I'm working on my new shop. I'm putting an epoxy floor down but it and fire don't play nice so I am sectioning off a bit of shop for forging equipment and welding.

Here is what I want room for:

Welding table
Coal Forge with a brick stand (4'X4'ish)
Two Propane Forges
Anvil
Post Vises
25lb LG
Quench Tanks

I'm going to add to this another power hammer and a press. I'll probably put my quench tanks and propane forges on carts or casters so I can move them around if needed.

I'm thinking around 150 sq ft. I'm thinking something around 8'x20 or 10'x15'.

What say you guys that have a forging area?

-Clint
 
You have all that stuff already? If so you should have a good idea how you like things laid out. I personally like being 1 step from forge to press, anvil, vise exc. strike while the irons hot.
 
Hmm perhaps I need to rethink this.

At my old shop my stuff was packed tight but it worked and I had a good flow from tool to tool. I want the same here and don't think I need a whole lot of space, but you're right Karl, I don't want things to get cramped.

I have all that stuff JT, except for the bigger hammer and press. The issue is I had it setup differently at my old shop so I can't really compare. But I'm in complete agreement, I like my stuff close at hand. The old layout worked out ok but a little extra space would be nice. I'm basing this layout on what's at my blacksmith club, I'll post a picture below. Their stuff is spread out further but they do a lot of demo's and stuff I don't.

IMG_0128 by Clint, on Flickr

Off camera to the left of Kevin is a 120lb Saymak and to his right is an awesome custom made Han's Peot 25lb mechanical. My brick forge will be smaller than what's in the photo there. But you can kind of see the circle of tools I was talking about.

-Clint
 
I have a 10x20 and it is just not enough room, hence my building a covered "porch" for the forge, anvil, and power hammer.
It works in the winter, but I find myself bumping into me all the time.
 
To maximize area use, put whatever you can on a rolling cart/base. If you have two forges, you will only need one at a time. Quench tanks can be rolled out of the way while forging, etc. HT ovens are not needed to be in fixed positions. Position the things that won't move first (power hammer, press, anvil, vise), and then deal with the portable issues.
 
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I suggest taking the equipment you have ( taking Stacy’s suggestion into account) and add the coming equipment with some mock 2x4 frames. Once hou figure out how many sq ft and dimensions you require, project layout space, and material storage, multiply it by a factor of 1.5. Its my experience that in 5 years I will require more space.
 
Draw it up on a white board and do it to scale. Use white board so you can erase and move items. Doing this will allow you to make cheap mistake on paper and not on the actual shop floor.
 
In the words of my uncle, when building a shop, barn, or shed, figure out how big you think you need it to be for everything you can possibly think to put in it, then build it twice as big as that. Wiser words were never spoken.
 
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