[TheForge] Forge Trailer

Mon Nov 21 14:48:01 EST 2005

If your just using the trailer to haul stuff from point a to point b then I
would check into how stage crews work . they mark every thing with a Letter
and a number and then mark the boxes so box A would have 1-100 items then
box A goes to the place for it/ help with losing thing when you have help
packing up.
Dan Scheid
/
Yes Bob.  Upkeep is something that is strangely lacking when an undertaking
such as this comes along.  Most excellent!!

Note in general.  As I understand it, a trailer with one axle is considered
a "hobby trailer," in that it is covered by the insurance of the vehicle
towing it.  However, a trailer which has 2 axles is considered a commercial
trailer, and each vehicle that tows it must have a rider which covers the
trailer.  

The wife used to work insurance, long ago.  Don't know if it still applies,
but it is something that should be considered if someone is thinking of a
large trailer.

All the best.

>*>-----Original Message-----
>*>From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
>*>[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bob 
>*>Ehrenberger
>*>Sent: Monday, November 21, 2005 2:09 PM
>*>To: Ralph Sproul; Sponsored by ABANA
>*>Subject: Re: [TheForge] Forge Trailer
>*>
>*>
>*>Comments after questions.
>*>
>*>Robert Ehrenberger
>*>Shelbyville, Mo.
>*>eforge at centurytel.net
>*>
>*>
>*>----- Original Message ----- 
>*>From: "Ralph Sproul" <brhlbsmt at mcttelecom.com>
>*>To: "Bob Ehrenberger" <eforge at centurytel.net>; "Sponsored by 
>*>ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>*>Sent: Monday, November 21, 2005 3:09 AM
>*>Subject: RE: [TheForge] Forge Trailer
>*>
>*>
>*>> Thanks Bob, I really liked hearing this about the larger trailer 
>*>> because
>*>we
>*>> kicked it around for months before going how we did.
>*>
>*>Ours is a hog, takes a 3/4 or 1 ton truck to pull it. Does 
>*>limit the ability to set up classes in areas where there 
>*>isn't a member with a sutable truck to get it there.
>*>
>*>I think that the trailer is on BAM's insurance.  Since I 
>*>can't pull it with my truck I haven't paid much attention to 
>*>that point. Classes are covered on BAM's insurance as long 
>*>as they are restricted to BAM members.  For that reason you 
>*>have to join BAM before taking a class.
>*>>
>*>> That's another good point on the trailer tools and equipment.  We 
>*>> built a shelf in the front of the trailer so it is obvious when 
>*>> something is missing - it either goes in the box or on the 
>*>shelves we 
>*>> have and you
>*>don't
>*>> have to do a point  by point inventory for each user when 
>*>it returns.
>*>>
>*>> We only allow the NEB trailer to go out on NEB Sanctioned 
>*>events - but 
>*>> the opportunity still arrises when the person has it to do two or 
>*>> three demos during harvest season, or sell something out of the 
>*>> trailer set up - we decided that did not fit the 
>*>"non-profit" criteria 
>*>> - so we made up the
>*>rull
>*>> about only passing out business cards and folks have 
>*>stayed good with 
>*>> it
>*>so
>*>> far.
>*>>
>*>> We also developed a "trailer committee" in the club - (I'm 
>*>on it) and 
>*>> so
>*>are
>*>> five others........we get together once or twice a year and fix 
>*>> anything needs fixing, and rework or build anything we 
>*>find could be 
>*>> improved after we've had the unit out working for the 
>*>year.  This is 
>*>> year three for the club's trailer ...........and year six for my 
>*>> portable forging station (pretty much both are the same - 
>*>mine doesn't 
>*>> have the storage shelves or boxes for tool sorting - as I 
>*>use it for 
>*>> installations as well as lend it
>*>to
>*>> friends who want to sell items at a demo and we don't have 
>*>to worry 
>*>> about the non-profit things.
>*>
>*>We also have a trailer committee. I'm not on it, but am  
>*>pretty involved.
>*>>
>*>> In going with your gas forges - I thought that to be a really wise
>*>choice -
>*>> as blowers, stacks, extension cords, fire tools, coal, 
>*>buckets, slag 
>*>> catches, newspaper, etc........is all stuff that adds up.  
>*>What do you 
>*>> do for propane storage and use on the trailer?? Do you 
>*>have a 100 lb 
>*>> tank? or
>*>a
>*>> 100 gallon to run all those forges and not ice up?  Do you 
>*>keep the 
>*>> fuel
>*>in
>*>> the back of an open truck? or inside the cargo 
>*>trailer?.........or am 
>*>> I assuming you are using a closed trailer and it is really an open 
>*>> deck concept - or open walls and a roof?
>*>
>*>The host of the event is required to rent tanks locally. 
>*>That way we don't have to transport them. They were talking 
>*>at the last meeting of having members bring their presonal 
>*>tanks to conference. BAM would pay to fill them and then the 
>*>member could us up any LP that was left.
>*>
>*>The trailer is enclosed.  Doors at back and on one side.
>*>
>*>>
>*>> Just a rough guess on my part - but is your BAM trailer 
>*>about 8 x 12 
>*>> to carry all six forges, 10 anvils, stands, and tools?  
>*>What type of 
>*>> vice mounts do you use? - are they part of the trailer? or modular?
>*>
>*>The trailer is at least that big maybe even 14 or 16 foot long.
>*>
>*>For simple twisting eack station has a drill press vice 
>*>fitted to mount over the hardy hole. There is also one free 
>*>standing leg vice.
>*>>
>*>> Is this like a farrier's truck where the sides fold up and each 
>*>> station is already in tact? or do you set up all the gear 
>*>on stands 
>*>> each time?
>*>
>*>We don't work out of the trailer. It is just for transport 
>*>and storage of equipment.
>*>>
>*>> I'm asking because I have four gas forges and a spare 
>*>trailer and five 
>*>> anvils..........and could easily put something like this 
>*>together if 
>*>> you find it works well.  Part of any demo, conference, or 
>*>workshop as 
>*>> you well know is getting folks willing to comit to coming, 
>*>bringing 
>*>> gear, and
>*>taking
>*>> it home to put it away one more time!
>*>
>*>We have some dependable members that help with each 
>*>conference. But we really need to  not take advantage of 
>*>their kindness.
>*>
>*>For my personal trailer I have a 5x10 flat bed open trailer. 
>*> It hauls my portable shop and most of my product with ease 
>*>behind my small Mazda truck. The main problem is having to 
>*>load and unload it before and after each event.  Would love 
>*>to have a similar sized enclosed trailer but haven't come 
>*>across one at an affordable price yet.
>*>>
>*>> Thanks for any input.
>*>>
>*>> Ralph
>*>>
>*>> -----Original Message-----
>*>> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
>*>> [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Bob 
>*>Ehrenberger
>*>> Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2005 8:53 PM
>*>> To: theforge
>*>> Subject: re: [TheForge] Forge Trailer
>*>>
>*>>
>*>> BAM has a moble teaching station trailer.  I didn't set it 
>*>up but am a 
>*>> regular instructor.  Our set up has 5 gas forges 10 anvils 
>*>and enough 
>*>> hand tools for 20 students.  We went with the gas forges 
>*>because we 
>*>> wanted to teach forging techniques not fire management 
>*>(that's a hole 
>*>> nother
>*>subject).
>*>>
>*>> As Ralph said the big trailer is a pain to haul, and we 
>*>are finding 
>*>> that most of the time we don't have 20 students in a class 
>*>so a lot of 
>*>> the equipment goes unused.  We also used a cast refractory in the 
>*>> forges which are heavy.  We are looking at going to a 
>*>lighter forge to 
>*>> make them easier to haul.
>*>>
>*>> One thing we did that you may find usefull is build boxes for the 
>*>> tools
>*>that
>*>> have slots or holes for just the right number of tools.  
>*>That way when 
>*>> we are packing up we know at a glance whether or not we have 
>*>> everything.  The guy that set up our trailer did a good 
>*>job of making 
>*>> racks and boxs for everything so the trailer stays neet an 
>*>organized 
>*>> and the stuff doesn't shift while in transport.
>*>>
>*>> After three years use we are ready to take another look at 
>*>how well it
>*>fits
>*>> our needs.  We are thinking of modifying it for fewer students and 
>*>> then having extra equipment available for the few big classes.
>*>>
>*>> We also don't just loan it out to our members to use for 
>*>> demonstrations.
>*>It
>*>> is only used for BAM sanctioned events (conference, state fair, 
>*>> classes).
>*>>
>*>> BAM also has a pair of coal forges that are used for 
>*>conference and 
>*>> state fair where using coal is important.
>*>>
>*>> Robert Ehrenberger
>*>> Shelbyville, Mo.
>*>> eforge at centurytel.net
>*>>
>*>> ----riginal Massage ----
>*>>
>*>> Subject: [TheForge] Forge Trailer
>*>>
>*>>
>*>> I am beginning to plan for a forge trailer for our Guild.  I am 
>*>> looking
>*>for
>*>> advice from those of you who have built or used them.  
>*>Things like how
>*>many
>*>> stations, size and style of trailer, single blower for the whole 
>*>> trailer
>*>or
>*>> individual blowers, etc.  That sort of things.
>*>>
>*>> Thanks.   Barry Myers, Philip Simmons Artist Blacksmith Guild
>*>>
>*>>
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