[TheForge] Re: small shop question

[Doveknives at aol.com]

I have 8' walls in the rear forging area in my shop and have really regretted not building them higher.  I would consider going 10' or higher as in the future you may need to put in a hoist.  Getting the heat away from you is of paramount importance if you forge much.  When I forge large billets of Damascus it can get well over 100 degrees F.  I put a swamp cooler in and that helped alot.  
  Consider casting heavy wall square tubing into the floor ( say 4x4 ID) in places that you plan to put tools that require heavy work, like a post vice, tubing and bar benders etc...  Mount your tools on heavy wall tube that nests inside the floor sockets, so that you can mount them firmly when needed and place several similar sockets along the wall to store these tools when not in use.  I will be cutting holes in my floor for this very purpose since I'm REALLY tired of a vice that moves while I'm twisting larger sections of Damascus Steel.
Lots of electrical outlets, you don't think you need them now, but you will latter.
-- 
Trusting HIM,
Steve Rollert
keenedgeknives.com
doveknives.com