[TheForge] Foundations and shop design

[Andrew Vida]

Ekaterina Harrison wrote:
> Hi All,
> 
> We are just getting ready to a pour a cement floor in the new shop, we 
> are building. I have the opportunity here to address and improve my work 
> environment. I am very excited about this. One of the things we are 
> doing is running steel 

	What sort of steel?  Rebar?

 > under the cement across the whole length of the
> shop to to provide more grounding points around the shop and running 
> pipe for airline hook ups and some conduit for stringing some wiring to 
> the other side of the shop.

	Air line IN the concrete?  This does not seem advisable to me. 
Generally speaking, I would want the moisture trap(s) to be installed at 
the lowest points on the "permanent" lines.  Otherwise moisture will be 
able to collect in the lover points on the line and that will make all 
good opportunity for corrosion.  If your lines are entombed in concrete, 
well... you get the picture, no?
> 
>  One of the issues that I have been trying to figure out is the best way 
> to mount a power hammer and treadle hammer.

	The general recommendation is a very large concrete block with 
cribbing.  I don't recall the precise design from Chambersburg, but for 
a 250# hammer, the block was something of 5' thick by 3 wide and 4 deep 
with timber at the bottom arranged grain horizontal in 2 layers, each 
90* to the other.  I know several people who have mounted hammers on far 
less substantial foundations than this and have had no problems.

 > My current power hammer is
> bolted to the floor with a 1" rubber mat between it and the floor. As 
> you might guess in the area around the hammer the floor has sustained 
> some damage and I, also, have had a hell of a time with my tools jumping 
> of benches when I work the hammer. So, it seems quite clear that in the 
> new shop the hammer should have its own independent foundation. We have 
> been considering several options:
> 
> We are planning to leave a graveled area just big enough for the hammer( 
> surrounded by the cement floor) or possibly cut out the section of floor 
> after we have figured out the best location for the hammer. And then :
> 
> 1- independant cement foundation 1' thick

	If you're going to do it, do it right.  I don't think 1' is really 
enough for this sort of arrangement.  Consider that I am the sort to 
over-engineer things such as these.  But consider that when it breaks, 
it will invariably do so at the worst possible moment.  Better it never 
break.

	Another thing I would reconsider is pouring the floor before the 
foundation.  I would give careful consideration to the proper location 
of the hammer first, then build the foundation, then put in the floor. YMMV.


> Issues I have been wondering about:
> If hammer is set on timbers is there a balance issue to consider - as in 
> keeping it from tilting and moving?
> I know that the treadle hammer ,I made, I never did mount it to the 
> floor, figuring that it was heavy enough it should stay put. I was 
> surprised just how much it did move across the floor.
> 
> Any suggestions, pro and cons, experiences of mounting hammers and 
> general shop layout would be greatly appreciated.

	I am a firm believer in making sure potentially ornery machinery stays 
put.  An unrestrained hammer can get plenty ornery.  As I said, do it 
right the first time, don't cut corners and you can forget about it 
pretty well forever.