[TheForge] Foundations and shop design

[David E. Smucker]

Three things I did with my shop floor that have worked are:

Since this was my second shop with a poured floor and the old shop had a 
sloping floor and drain -- I went the other way in this shop -- 100 percent 
level floor.  The guys that did the finishing work used a laser level system 
and the floor came out damn level.  Smooth finish too which I like.  The 
level floor means it is much easier to set equipment, move it around and you 
have a large flat surface good enough for lots of work.  I really like it.

Second item was to green cut "crack" lines in just as soon as the floor 
starts to set.  Try to have the cuts a series of squares.  I have no 
cracking "except" in the cuts after 6 years.  Green cutting with a special 
saw is fast and adds little cost.

Third item is that for under the power hammers, anvil and such I just used 
an 8 inch floor with 3/4 rebar on 12 inch centers.  I have had no cracking 
or problems in this area.  My heavy hammer is a 60 KG hammer from Tom Clark. 
It does sit on oak timbers.  My light hammer is a 50 pound Clay Spencer tire 
hammer.

Dave

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From: "Ekaterina Harrison" <ekaterina at wildblue.net>
Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 12:15 PM
To: <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [TheForge] Foundations and shop design

> 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 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.
>
>  One of the issues that I have been trying to figure out is the best  way 
> to mount a power hammer and treadle hammer. 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
> 2- block up hammer on timbers
>
> OR -  I have, also,  seen some blacksmiths simply leave a whole  section 
> of dirt floor for their various power hammer stuff. I have  been 
> considering this as well. The draw back to this that I see is  simply 
> difficulty in clean up. The plus is it seems to leave more  versatility 
> for adjustment of tool placing, replacing and upgrading.
>
> 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.
>
> Thanks,
> Ekaterina
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