[TheForge] Re: shop tools and layout

[Catherine Jo Morgan]

Three more things I'd do if I were starting over:

1) Design the building and layout for future expansion. 

2) Design the building and layout so that things that could be allowed
to freeze (like steel) are stored in an adjoining shed. In other words,
have three spaces: clean heated, dirty heated, and dirty unheated. This
will make it cheaper to heat the working areas.

3) Design it so it's possible to work outside when the weather is
pleasant. A screened porch would be great. Even a roof could be enough.
One of our list members lives in AZ and her first studio was the patio.
It worked fine.

Re tools. Remember you COULD start with:

Anvil (The Modern Blacksmith shows how to use a piece of old railroad
rail. But if possible, buy a good one second hand.)

Forge (even a secondhand farrier's portable forge with handcranked
blower will do if you build up a firepot with fire bricks in it.)

Vise (a post vise is best but a sturdy mechanic's vise will do for a
start.)

Hacksaw

Chisel

Hammers (2 lb and 1.4 lb cross pein - Sears used to carry good ones, not
sure if they still do. Might need to look at Centaur Forge or Kayne's.
Plus a 1 lb ball pein hammer for riveting. You'll need to grind the hard
edges to soften the radii so they don't leave dents in the steel.)

Tongs (or vise grips to start)

Portable 4" grinder (I prefer Makita because the range of wheel
accessories is vast - many kinds of wire brushes, sanding discs, flex
discs, as well as grinding discs)

Drill (I guess you could use a really sturdy corded portable drill, but
a drill press and drill press vise would be much better. An import is
ok.)

(You can make your first pieces all of one piece or forge welded so you
don't need a drill or rivets. Then move to rivet joints. Then move to
welding.)

Soapstone for marking, a scribe, a center punch.

I've probably left out some essentials, but I don't think I've included
anything you won't need. Of course, eventually you'll accumulate another
$20,000 to $50,000 more in tools and equipment....
===============================
Later, for welding, I'd start with oxy-acetylene because you can cut,
tack, and weld with it. Also, you can get a rosebud tip that will heat
metal. You could even use it instead of a forge for some things -
certainly for sheet metal.



Catherine Jo Morgan
Morgan Sculpture: iron & mixed media vessels
Artist Journal Online - Hand Forged Vessels:
http://radio.weblogs.com/0120691/ 
mailto:cjmorgan@hemc.net