[TheForge] Finaly a newbe can set up.

[CGRAF]

   The wisdom about what is "right" is often the fruit of the dedicated, 
industrial shop, with multiple people all using the same equipment. 
Heights, spacing,layout and tooling was each optimized to a statistical 
average and product requirements. ( A large shop making heavy chain as a 
mainstay differed in many particulars from one making hinges as the 
stock in trade money maker.)

Much of what you do and how you do it is personal preference.

My advice would be to keep things mobile as much as possible until you 
have a fixed system.
  In process, thoughts like,
  "This would be a lot easier if the vice was to the left", will come up.
Make it so you can move it to the left without losing a day in the process.

As to tooling , I'd suggest the most rudimentary of tools and ONE 
clearly defined and simple project to start. During that projects life, 
if you keep your mind open, you will discover the "need" for some other 
tool or jig.
Make or purchase that tool or jig.

Each thing you make along the way will recommend other tools or jigs.

It took me about four years before I discovered I already had most of 
them already. At that point, I had a shop suited to what I do.

If I decided to try being an armorer much of what I have would need 
resign or replacement.

Mike Graf