Making a wood brick floor for our blacksmith shop

Wood brick streets and floors for factories and workshops were a common theme not too long ago. Very hard wearing and effective they were the favorite choice. Softer on human feet and knees than cement, they also are gentle on horses hooves and keep the noise of wagon wheels down in town centers.
We made ours from hand split shortleaf pine 3 1/2" thick.
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Пікірлер: 1 700

  • @MrChickadee
    @MrChickadee4 жыл бұрын

    subtitles are attached to all who would like to know more

  • @tkjazzer

    @tkjazzer

    4 жыл бұрын

    Best add yet. If you ever add subtitles to old videos let us know. Probably not enough time for this though

  • @paulkeating2049

    @paulkeating2049

    4 жыл бұрын

    Tappa, tappa, tappa!

  • @drkrystian7586

    @drkrystian7586

    4 жыл бұрын

    Dobra robota. Good job.

  • @user-eb4qk9lx3m

    @user-eb4qk9lx3m

    4 жыл бұрын

    Тяжело, наверное, было пилить?

  • @anton-ww8tp

    @anton-ww8tp

    4 жыл бұрын

    Felicitaciónes muy buen trabajo.!!!!

  • @kirkendauhl6990
    @kirkendauhl69904 жыл бұрын

    There’s “patience” and then there’s cutting down a tree by hand, to saw into wheels by hand, to froe into bricks by hand, to lay on the floor of a shed you built...

  • @AndreiIR000

    @AndreiIR000

    4 жыл бұрын

    So true!!!

  • @user-zz3vm9vz2n

    @user-zz3vm9vz2n

    4 жыл бұрын

    You're right, dude! And one more thing. Everybody burn wood. Everybody!

  • @izzyplusplusplus1004

    @izzyplusplusplus1004

    4 жыл бұрын

    With sand you shoveled from a stream, and stones you carried from the forest, and hewed to shape.

  • @ithinkthonkthunk5333

    @ithinkthonkthunk5333

    4 жыл бұрын

    This guys ideas + know how is awesome - definite respect! Just begging the question... So - Battery Powered tools would have cut this job down by how much %? What do you think? 50, 60, 70, 80%?

  • @garronteed

    @garronteed

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@ithinkthonkthunk5333 He'd have to walk to the nearest town to recharge the batteries. I think it's about 40 miles. :)

  • @tryingharder6392
    @tryingharder63924 жыл бұрын

    Amazing work and dedication to a concept. Very well done. Thanks extra for not adding background music. It was a pleasure not to hear anything other than normal sounds of a craftsman.

  • @a.w.thompson4001

    @a.w.thompson4001

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yes!!

  • @Wandering.Homebody

    @Wandering.Homebody

    3 жыл бұрын

    I second that

  • @BillFromTheHill100

    @BillFromTheHill100

    3 жыл бұрын

    B as by the sound of birds or an occasional monkey sound

  • @jackdempsy7696

    @jackdempsy7696

    3 жыл бұрын

    I agree no need for music when awesome is being performed

  • @williamturner4520
    @williamturner45204 жыл бұрын

    I'm a wood flooring contractor so I install and finish wood floors. That might be the coolest floor I've ever seen at least as a basic installation versus crazy patterns, inlays, etc... What a tremendous amount of work but a tremendous result. Very cool!

  • @SouthernYankeeLifestyle
    @SouthernYankeeLifestyle3 жыл бұрын

    I have watched many of his videos and I have nothing but mad respect with a slight envy

  • @OEF_Vet_0331

    @OEF_Vet_0331

    3 жыл бұрын

    Same here!

  • @ronaldkearn3322
    @ronaldkearn33224 жыл бұрын

    Where I worked, a 745 mega watt coal fired power plant, the mechanical maintenance shop used that type of floor. It lasted for over 50 years of very hard use. It's demise came when there was a flood which floated most of those blocks. Being a very timely task to reproduce that floor it was decided that the blocks be disgarded and concrete was poured as a replacement. The men who worked in that shop missed that floor. Also my wood working shop in junior high school had the same type of floor, it is still in service over 75 years old. Ecellent floor. :-)

  • @MrChickadee

    @MrChickadee

    4 жыл бұрын

    wow, hard to imagine the concrete was cheaper? Maybe it was a labor cost issue? Or they did not find skilled labor who knew how to handle the job? I would always find wood to be much cheaper and better than concrete...

  • @ronaldkearn3322

    @ronaldkearn3322

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@MrChickadee It was an issue of speed. They had to get that shop back in service as quickly as possible. Those blocks would have taken for ever. The plant was torn down in 2014 and 15 and replaced by a new modern plant.

  • @kkarllwt
    @kkarllwt4 жыл бұрын

    I worked in a shop with a wood brick floor for 4 years. A real advantage of this floor is that dropped parts suffer much less, or, no damage on hitting the floor.

  • @emmanuelmartin2310

    @emmanuelmartin2310

    4 жыл бұрын

    My question is. How this floor keeps the level? I mean. doesn't the bricks move?

  • @7891ph

    @7891ph

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@emmanuelmartin2310 As he's installed them, they have a little give to them. I'm also guessing that he's doing it traditionally. As for when they were used in industry, predominantly in toolroom applications, they were set on a concrete floor. I've been in a couple of shops that had them, and the blocks were 4"~6" tall. To set up a a machine, they just pulled up the appropriate number of blocks and and used the leveling pads/ assemblies on the slab under them, or put down steel blocks to replace them. That's the way it was explained to me. Industry's gone away from this type of flooring for a lot of reasons, one of the biggest being safety. They soak up oil like a sponge, making them both slip and fire hazzards at the same time. They're also expensive up front for the wood; in the machine trades, oak or hard maple were usually the preferred types of wood, and those are slow growing species, versus softwoods like pine.

  • @emmanuelmartin2310

    @emmanuelmartin2310

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@7891ph thanks for the answer :D

  • @shednut2666

    @shednut2666

    4 жыл бұрын

    Plus they suck up a lot oil

  • @lancewilson3785

    @lancewilson3785

    4 жыл бұрын

    The main advantage is that kind of floor does not hurt your joints back and feet when you walk stand on it every day for long hours. I you ever walk on one its like no other.

  • @Mercator_Gerardus
    @Mercator_GerardusАй бұрын

    I admire your patience and hard work!!

  • @lolaa2200
    @lolaa22004 жыл бұрын

    Raise your hand if you think Mr Chickadee need to build a nice traditional wooden wheelbarrow !!

  • @DcaCo123
    @DcaCo1234 жыл бұрын

    I have seen many floors like this in my lifetime. I am 63 and have been in many factories built since 1900. This was the floor of choice. Thick wood floors in early Ford, General Motors and Chrysler assembly plants was much more comfortable than standing on concrete all day. The intent was not beauty however it was used to save on back problems due to standing on concrete.

  • @jmt6615

    @jmt6615

    3 жыл бұрын

    I worked in a ford stamping plant. The wood floor was used to cut down on noise and was easy and cheep to repair.

  • @5x535
    @5x5354 жыл бұрын

    Sixty years ago I too worked in an old factory that had a woodblock floor. One Monday we came in to find the floor all "bubbled" up. It was crazy. There had been a large water leak in one of the old pipes and the wood soaked up the water and did impossible things. It even lifted a couple machines with it. It was a sad sight.

  • @Khono

    @Khono

    3 жыл бұрын

    Sad but cool! All of the factories I've worked in have had concrete floors.

  • @josiahsdays

    @josiahsdays

    3 жыл бұрын

    I've seen them bubble as well, it's pretty wild to see it. It reminded me of a Salvador Dali painting!

  • @thecurrentmoment

    @thecurrentmoment

    3 жыл бұрын

    They would probably be easier on your feet than a concrete floor too

  • @bobsofia68
    @bobsofia684 жыл бұрын

    Reading thru these comments a bit & I realize that floors like this are still in use today. And a quick google search shows that they have been in use for centuries, and yet this is the first one I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing this video, I always learn something watching & reading comments on this channel.

  • @genegoodman5233
    @genegoodman52334 жыл бұрын

    Josh you know the difference between you and most people? You love your work and most people don't. They are scared of sweat and work. When you want something you go to it, if it takes a day, a week, month, year, you're going see it through. I'm proud of you Josh Stevens, Mr Chickadee I love to watch you work, wish I still could.

  • @kolilagephart3766
    @kolilagephart37664 жыл бұрын

    Back in the 70's I worked at Allis-Chalmers plant . The floors were wood brick made from old rail road ties, easy on the feet but the fork lift drivers hated it, too slippery. No spills of any kind were ever cleaned up , it just went through the blocks. Thirteen acres of blocks.

  • @Tiiru.

    @Tiiru.

    4 жыл бұрын

    Really cool, thanks for sharing. Do you remember how thick were the blocks?

  • @thomasarussellsr

    @thomasarussellsr

    4 жыл бұрын

    This smallish forge shop building looked like a workload, I can't even imagine hand cut wood bricks over 13 acres of flooring. Sounds like a dream to have, but a nightmare to do. Maybe process the logs on a mill to square/rectangular beams, then crosscut the bricks from there?

  • @recyclebills
    @recyclebills4 жыл бұрын

    Job well done. I've been in lots of steel mills where the floors were covered with oak blocks because they are durable and easily replaced when someone drops a heavy steal beam on the floor. Some of the mills actually had employees whose entire job was to wander around those vast mills replacing broken blocks.

  • @rubberdwellers3911
    @rubberdwellers39114 жыл бұрын

    Thank you. This was both educational and peaceful. In KZread era of obnoxious and loud this was a beautiful refuge

  • @toonybrain
    @toonybrain4 жыл бұрын

    Young people like you who are talented, clever, persevering, industrious, hardworking, strive for excellence, and who value tradition make me proud and hopeful.

  • @stewartmcmanus3991

    @stewartmcmanus3991

    4 жыл бұрын

    Me too.

  • @ej7404
    @ej74044 жыл бұрын

    The Navistar International truck plant in Chatham Ontario Canada had a similar floor, thousands of square feet and full time carpenter to maintain it. Very nice job you did!

  • @joycethomas8868
    @joycethomas88684 жыл бұрын

    I worked at a GM manufacturing plant in Hudson Ohio that had wood floors like this through the entire plant. It was great for rolling over heavy metal parts, and it was easy on your feet. We make large earth moving equipment. Terex equipment

  • @williameverett3136

    @williameverett3136

    4 жыл бұрын

    Joyce Thomas in trenton to

  • @PaulWhitedWoodStoneIron

    @PaulWhitedWoodStoneIron

    4 жыл бұрын

    I live in and grew up in Hudson and remember the terex plant there. It’s now jo Ann’s on terex rd. Non the less. This is cool to see your comment on here. Small world it can be. My uncle worked there many moons ago.

  • @immelting9834

    @immelting9834

    4 жыл бұрын

    We have these floor covering our entire ranch home in the mountains (2,700 sqft) however, we choose a size proportionate to our space . Size is 12 x 6 .

  • @vikassm
    @vikassm4 жыл бұрын

    Breathtakingly beautiful! Built to cherish and built to last. So THATS what "Built by our forefathers" meant. Not built by a contract work crew on a schedule, not built to a budget, built with your own hands.

  • @CharlesM-dp4xe
    @CharlesM-dp4xe4 жыл бұрын

    Well, well ... lookie here; a young man that isn't afraid to work. Something you don't see often these days. I can really appreciate that. I come from a very old family of ship builders. Not the sort of thing kids today would consider unless it was a family thing and your heart was really in it.

  • @jasongannon7676
    @jasongannon76764 жыл бұрын

    One of the things I do to make a living is building patios, but I never thought of building one out of wood. I have some lumber from the minni ice age 500 years ago. That I've been saving for a special project. Now I know what to do with it. Thanks this will be amazing.

  • @therealhellkitty5388

    @therealhellkitty5388

    4 жыл бұрын

    I’d love to see that! You must post a video when you’re done.

  • @nmceri

    @nmceri

    4 жыл бұрын

    He did this with green wood so if the wood gets wet, ideally the floor won't buckle, as it's already as large as it'll ever get.

  • @stewartmcmanus3991
    @stewartmcmanus39914 жыл бұрын

    In my home town in Yorkshire, when they removed some bitumen fron a road, lo and behold, underneath were wooden blocks. Been there since the early 1800s, it seems.

  • @realsiberianone

    @realsiberianone

    3 жыл бұрын

    I am from Irkutsk, Siberia. A century and a half ago city center streets were paved with larch blocks. Pretty the same technology as Mr.Chikadee used and as you mentioned. It seems that it was a kind of standard technique for that times

  • @robfinch3277

    @robfinch3277

    3 жыл бұрын

    I`ve seen the same thing in a lot of the old London streets. Apparently they are all cedar blocks and were felled and brought over from Australia.

  • @j.ericswede7084
    @j.ericswede70844 жыл бұрын

    Back in 1974, I traveled to Finland with my Father and in the airport there was the most beautiful parquet wood floor I had ever seen. This hand made wood floor is right up there with that Finnish floor. If I was a younger man (69) I would endeavor such a building. Love watching your videos Mr. Chickadee!

  • @gentryism
    @gentryism4 жыл бұрын

    Also as a teen I was hired to be part of a demolition crew in a large factory. It was big enough for train cars to pull inside to load large machines sold to breweries. The company, Barry-Wehmiller, was founded in the 1890’s here in St Louis. The entire loading area, bigger than a football field was wood block. I had never seen it anywhere else. The roof had developed leaks and in several places the blocks swole up into giant lumps the size of igloos.We had fun throwing cinderblocks on them to watch them fall into piles before we carried them out into dumpsters. Anyway it was a fun memory triggered by this video. We done.

  • @jorijudith
    @jorijudith4 жыл бұрын

    What a very special person! If I were a mouse, I would make that my home and never ever cause trouble for the blacksmith.

  • @LPMutagen

    @LPMutagen

    4 жыл бұрын

    J F I think this might be my favorite comment ever.

  • @bozolito108

    @bozolito108

    4 жыл бұрын

    If course you wouldn’t because he would offer you perfect pieces of Swiss cheese to snack on and you be like his side kick and customers would come in and say “hi” to the smith and then “hey ya Mousey! (Or whatever the hell your name is) to you and you’d wink at them like you own the joint.

  • @DanteYewToob

    @DanteYewToob

    4 жыл бұрын

    What a strange and wholesome comment. Thank you. lol

  • @stevewood7884

    @stevewood7884

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@bozolito108 😂😂😂

  • @gracenurse3365

    @gracenurse3365

    2 жыл бұрын

    I think I found a different video of you in the shop after hours, JF, under “house-proud mouse”!!

  • @Tom_Losh
    @Tom_Losh4 жыл бұрын

    Beautiful job, sir! Two of the buildings I worked in, both built before 1910, had similar looking end-grain wood floors. Very durable, very comfortable, and surprisingly quiet floors.

  • @austntexan
    @austntexan4 жыл бұрын

    The type of American woman required to make this possible is exceedingly rare. Excellent vids Mr. Chickadee. It really tells the story. Well done.

  • @straight-up-shots

    @straight-up-shots

    4 жыл бұрын

    American woman? What's this reference?

  • @42StevoStyle
    @42StevoStyle Жыл бұрын

    I am a mason of 30 years.. I love your simple way and rough approach..Thats a compliment..lol . KISS Keep it simply stupid ..Im also a disabled vet and I learned a long time ago to try and just be simple. Everyone thinks we need to improve everything..we have to try and remember to not loose the traditional techniques that have been working for years.. Great job

  • @TheRMUPs
    @TheRMUPs4 жыл бұрын

    Getting a new video from Mr. Chickadee always makes my day

  • @131dyana
    @131dyana4 жыл бұрын

    That floor is amazing. You really know your history. My Great Grand-Mother had a floor like that in Oklahoma. she had it in her kitchen and dining room area because she had a boarding house for coal miners. she had to get the wood fire going and bake bread every morning for miner's lunch tomorrow. she had to be on her feet all morning long.

  • @johnpyle8027
    @johnpyle80274 жыл бұрын

    First and foremost this gives a new meaning to "The patience of Job"! It is now the patience of Mr. Chickadee from me! Next thing I thought was. wood floor in a blacksmith shop/fire. I saw a guy about 20 years ago take old barn timbers of varying sizes and he cut pieces off the ends maybe 2" thick and glued them to his sub floor. He then grouted with something I can't remember and then sanded and urethane it. The floors were beautiful! Looked almost like cobble stone.

  • @OuroborosArmory
    @OuroborosArmory4 жыл бұрын

    Every time I think this shop couldn’t get better, you prove me wrong.

  • @curtisvonepp4335
    @curtisvonepp43354 жыл бұрын

    That's one of the Best floors you can have .I worked in a machine shop with a wood block floor it supported veary heavy machinery and warm in the winter 😁🙌.

  • @gl309495
    @gl3094954 жыл бұрын

    Back in my navy days in the eighty's there was a large shop in the shipyard at Pearl Harbor with a wood block floor. That building was from pre WWII, it still showed camouflage paint from the war and the deck was in good condition.

  • @bentnickel7487

    @bentnickel7487

    4 жыл бұрын

    Wow, you were at Pearl Harbor in the 1880's !! :-D :-D :-D

  • @shoddyproductions9793
    @shoddyproductions97934 жыл бұрын

    I really enjoyed the absence of crappy music and blathering. Great to hear the work :)

  • @donmittlestaedt1117
    @donmittlestaedt11174 жыл бұрын

    One place I worked had a million square feet under roof (built in 1943) and most of it was wood block floor covered with tar. When the roof leaked, the floor soaked up the water and the floor bucked up. They broke open the buckled floor, scooped up the blocks with shovels, laid fresh dry wood bricks and re-coated it with tar. Good until the next gully washer! I admire your tenacity, good job. Thank you.

  • @joealbert7773
    @joealbert77734 жыл бұрын

    I remember being in a Caterpillar manufacturing plant in East Peoria, one of the really old buildings, and it had a wood block floor. I was told that there was a large clamp at one end of the building that held the blocks in place. It could be released if blocks needed to be replaced.

  • @alexdemchenko5897
    @alexdemchenko58974 жыл бұрын

    Я САМ УВЛЕКАЮСЬ ТРОТУАРНОЙ ПЛИТКОЙ, НО ТАКОГО Я ЕЩЕ НЕ ВИДЕЛ!!!!!! 🔥 RESPECT 👏👏👏 ПОЯВИЛИСЬ ИДЕИ, СПАСИБО!

  • @judyrosey
    @judyrosey4 жыл бұрын

    Oh, Mr Chickadee, I loved the natural wood so much better. It brought light into the shop. I just so much prefer the look of the wood without it being blackened.

  • @indigoblue4791

    @indigoblue4791

    4 жыл бұрын

    Said like a woman, l am too, so absolutely no offensive meant. The wood is charred that way to seal it and offer it some protection from moisture. So as beautiful as the raw wood looked it wouldn't be as durable!

  • @davidmicheletti6292
    @davidmicheletti62924 жыл бұрын

    I used to work in a turn of the century iron mine machine shop when I was young that had the original wood block flooring. It was in great condition but undulated up and down in many areas from the loads of equipment driving on it. It was a good surface and looked very nice. I was sort of shocked when I first saw this type of surface as it varied in height a great deal. Having said that I was very smooth and held up very well to a hundred years of heavy use.

  • @crabbyhayes1076
    @crabbyhayes10764 жыл бұрын

    I worked in a steel mill (sheet mill) in the 60s, where end grain hardwood floors were used. Those were typically laid over concrete, and usually sealed with some kind of pitch. They stood up to coils much better than concrete. Berger Juel (sp?) in Chicago used to make this flooring for high-end residential use. It was featured on a This old House project many years ago, when Bob Villa was in charged. It was awesome.

  • @Devin82m
    @Devin82m4 жыл бұрын

    Honestly, I was skeptical at first, but man that turned out amazing, great job! Thanks for sharing.

  • @ddbronco1873
    @ddbronco18734 жыл бұрын

    Gotta be the hardest worker on KZread!

  • @jeremysidebottom139
    @jeremysidebottom1394 жыл бұрын

    Mr. Chickadee!!! You've done it again! I've watched just about every video you've posted , yet you still find new ways to make me say WOW! Congratulations on another well-earned masterpiece!

  • @445supermag
    @445supermag4 жыл бұрын

    Nice. My father told me that machine shops used to have this sort of floor made of end grain oak over concrete. It could take the weight of heavy lathes and mills, and if you dropped a tap or milling cutter it wouldn't be damaged.

  • @olfuc4404

    @olfuc4404

    4 жыл бұрын

    I worked for Illinois Tool Works as an Apprentice Machine Builder in 1963, they had that wood floor throughout the whole shop. Lathes, mills, grinders, it was comfortable to work on. And no damaged parts if you had an "oopsees".

  • @RickStewart1776
    @RickStewart17764 жыл бұрын

    I hate to make a fuss, but feel like was robbed of a hald dozen Mr. Chickadee videos. I should have been able to watch a video of you walking to an Amish livestock sale, buy a couple ox calves and lead them home. Then, I could have watched several videos of you building a cart for the oxen to pull. Then, I could have watched a video of you making harnesses and various needed tack for attaching and leading the ox. Then, I could have watched a video of you raising and training the calves to pull the cart. Finally, I would have seen you, two years down the road, get sand from the creek in your ox driven cart instead of that nasty old truck! Well. I guess all my dream are shattered. Love ya.. Thanks for another great video.

  • @stokerboiler
    @stokerboiler3 жыл бұрын

    They are sometimes called "Belgian Block" floors. Not only easy on people's joints but on mobile machinery - a big plus when you fork lift has no suspension. Virtually indestructible to the hottest metal. But it is wood and never, ever, let it get wet. the wood expands radially and the floor buckles and they ain't cheap to fix. A great favorite in the auto, foundry, and forging industires.

  • @MARS72JJ
    @MARS72JJ4 жыл бұрын

    So rare to see a humble American that isn't afraid of hard work these days. If you want to make the states great again you gotta be out doing this, not eating sitting in front of a TV eating McDonalds.

  • @mcseforsale
    @mcseforsale4 жыл бұрын

    The first time I saw this technology was at the Pratt and Whitney jet engine factory in East Hartford, Ct. Some of these wood bricks had been in place in that factory for over 90 years. When damaged, they just burnish a new one in place. Takes about 5 min to repair.

  • @uekiguy5886

    @uekiguy5886

    4 жыл бұрын

    Interesting. I know the word "burnish" can mean polish--what does it mean in this usage? Thank you.

  • @tropifiori
    @tropifiori4 жыл бұрын

    My forge had a wooden floor. I covered it in ceramic bricks because of the fire hazard. When you start forge welding you will see the sparks fly. Also cut offs from the anvil can light wood. The small hot bit that gets between a couple of blocks is a hazard. I also put tin up 3 feet high around the walls and behind the fire. I hope it doesn’t become a problem.

  • @waymakers_kid9904
    @waymakers_kid99044 жыл бұрын

    pretty darn smart young fellow. He hasn't had anything handed to him it looks like. I bet he washed out that coffee cup and is drinking coffee out of it again lol. This was really interesting Mr Chickadee...thanks!

  • @not2tees
    @not2tees4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for making all those fascinating, calming, skillful sounds with your musical instruments of hammer, broom, wedges and all.

  • @jimsaenger7316
    @jimsaenger73164 жыл бұрын

    I recall removing these from a barn. in the early 60s. The bricks were end grain and had been steeped in tar.

  • @arnjhon
    @arnjhon4 жыл бұрын

    Wood brick floors is one of the best type of floors in a smithy, even for modern shops. In my opinion. The reason why is because they're not as hard as concrete so you don't hurt as much in your feet after standing on it for a day, also the bricks that are in the path of most wear can easily be replaced. (maybe not so much when they are handcrafted frm a log rather than being cut from a 2x4) Torching them was an awesome idea I had not thought of before and it will render them more stable when it comes to catching fire. And they burn less so than the rubbermats that are commonly placed in blacksmith shops today. :-) This has been my floorplan material whenever I get around to my own shop, and it was nice to see some improving ideas and get some great inspiration!

  • @idontthinkso666

    @idontthinkso666

    4 жыл бұрын

    I don't think the torching/burning has any role in fireproofing them. Josh has explained that it makes the wood less palatable to wood eating insects.

  • @spencergreenhill7728

    @spencergreenhill7728

    4 жыл бұрын

    The place my father worked, Acklin Stamping Co in Toledo had creosoted wooden blocks on the floor. A really good floor I'll tell you. Also there were some streets of those blocks. The only problem was when it rained, a lot of them would float away.

  • @arnjhon

    @arnjhon

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@idontthinkso666 From what I have experienced I got the impression that it helps to torch the wood against smaller embers and such, which is mostly what a smithy's floor is going to see. But you also have a very good point about the insects.

  • @DeadmanR68
    @DeadmanR684 жыл бұрын

    Incredible work. Very satisfying to watch. No loud music. Just the calming sound of hard work. Very well done.

  • @alankenney
    @alankenney3 жыл бұрын

    I have spent literally hours watching your videos today. I was watching a guy sharpening an axe and during his video he mentioned a Mr Chickadee and said he had put a link to him I had to look. Well, that was it. I got nothing done in my home because I became absolutely enthralled and mesmerised by this guy showing so much skill at everything he turned his hand to. Sir, you have my complete admiration. It's very rare that someone with your skills comes along. All traditional methods and tools which you have put to use and made modern power tools look redundant. A worthy use of my lockdown time as far as I'm concerned and I won't be ashamed that I've done sod all else but sit glued to my computer screen. Right, back to your video's, gonna be a long night!

  • @MrChickadee

    @MrChickadee

    3 жыл бұрын

    Glad to provide some Covid Entertainment

  • @dianeglynn8606
    @dianeglynn86064 жыл бұрын

    I worked in a stable on a old estate that had these floors. Solid, easy to clean, easy to treat with lime. Great floors.

  • @michaelcerkez3895
    @michaelcerkez38954 жыл бұрын

    I use to drive tractor trailer in Philadelphia PA an go into one warehouse on Spring garden Street. It had a wooden floor over 100 years old and still in fine condition wearing like iron.

  • @shopshop-lx9hj

    @shopshop-lx9hj

    4 жыл бұрын

    Philly also has a couple of small streets where the paving is done in wood blocks

  • @JW-wn2oo
    @JW-wn2oo4 жыл бұрын

    Perfected, Artistic, Craftsmanship, Period! Just happened on the video and was blown away.. Bravo fellas, Bravo !!!

  • @yvindascanius6061
    @yvindascanius60614 жыл бұрын

    When I was a young 10-11 y old we were moved to a newly built school closer to my home. Some of the classrooms had woodblock floors. They were fine when they were new, but kids will rock on their chairs and that dislocated and loosened the blocks slightly, so when you moved your chair leg to a crack between two blocks, you could suddenly find yourself lying flat on the floor staring at the ceiling! To the amusement of the rest of the class. Those floors were over time replaced by good solid concrete and vinyl flooring. Having said that wood blocks make good sense at a blacksmith. If you drop something like a chisel on the floor it won't get ruined.

  • @donwalsh9426
    @donwalsh94264 жыл бұрын

    Saw floors like that in Germany that were about one hundred years old, and wearing well. They had oiled those, charring is cheaper and easier.

  • @IveysFamilyFactotum
    @IveysFamilyFactotum4 жыл бұрын

    That is just plain beautiful...i will so be doing this to my future shop once I move.

  • @jediscum33
    @jediscum334 жыл бұрын

    As a wood floor installer and sander for last 15 years I find this very satisfying..

  • @mtnsurf1932
    @mtnsurf19323 жыл бұрын

    Who is giving thumbs down to this? Whether someone likes the look of it or not, the amount of work that went into this project is probably far more than most people have ever worked physically on a project in their lives. Looks great to me, Nice work

  • @dreoneful
    @dreoneful4 жыл бұрын

    I have never seen floors like this this is great.

  • @jasonledbetter6638
    @jasonledbetter66384 жыл бұрын

    You inspire everyone of us who enjoy your craftsmanship. Truly amazing.

  • @Imightberiding
    @Imightberiding4 жыл бұрын

    I've been subscribed since your early days & only occasionally comment. That said, for a Young man with little to no experience at the start, you have certainly grown into a man of much knowledge & experience, expertise & talent. It is always a pleasure watching you work & create with nothing but the background noises & the song of your tools. Fantastic work!

  • @justcolin2887
    @justcolin2887 Жыл бұрын

    You do such nice work, i love how old fashioned you are!

  • @unclebellys
    @unclebellys4 жыл бұрын

    I toward a Euclid heavy equipment plant in Cleveland Ohio and they had wood floors just like you made very comfortable to walk on and work on.

  • @garys9694

    @garys9694

    4 жыл бұрын

    I swerved a machinist apprenticeship at Black & Decker in the early 1970's and this is the kind of floor we had in the shop. We loved it.

  • @williambronson2935

    @williambronson2935

    4 жыл бұрын

    The Ford Plant in Sharonville Ohio had floors like these up until a few years ago. I heard they made for lovely bonfires at some people homes since they had been there a long time, soaking up oil.

  • @eddiep5676
    @eddiep56764 жыл бұрын

    What you can do when you don’t watch KZread videos all day.

  • @5x535

    @5x535

    4 жыл бұрын

    thats funny!

  • @willhartgrave3130

    @willhartgrave3130

    4 жыл бұрын

    Nothing no time left after KZread

  • @dougd2723

    @dougd2723

    4 жыл бұрын

    That's one thing to never have on the "honey do" list.

  • @paulbadger6336

    @paulbadger6336

    4 жыл бұрын

    What you can do after watching the right KZread.

  • @thomasarussellsr

    @thomasarussellsr

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@paulbadger6336 yup

  • @LonesomeElk
    @LonesomeElk4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for taking the time to record this build. It helps to preserve these techniques and spark new interest.

  • @clydedecker765
    @clydedecker7654 жыл бұрын

    No way there is a negative side to this flooring. Old mills and warehouses had them for hundreds of years. Adding more sand occasionally will keep it tight and lose fewer screws and nails down the cracks. Great idea and beautiful execution. Not for cooking but great for hard work and heavy treads. Kudos.

  • @darrenjones9180
    @darrenjones91804 жыл бұрын

    I live in Louisiana and the termites would love this floor , more than me.

  • @uncledavesfrontier6846

    @uncledavesfrontier6846

    4 жыл бұрын

    Im in northeast Texas. Same here.

  • @MrChickadee

    @MrChickadee

    4 жыл бұрын

    Most termites prefer wet or decomposing wood in contact or near to wet soil. Understand this and you control them.

  • @svendittmann3105

    @svendittmann3105

    4 жыл бұрын

    How about linseed oil?! It is bitter.

  • @rapboyz89

    @rapboyz89

    4 жыл бұрын

    We going to leave the fact that souh shugi ban (aka wood burning) creates chemical compounds and a particular smell that is 99% resistant to termites and other bug infestation??

  • @jester994

    @jester994

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@MrChickadee Is there any concern of the floor collecting moisture and developing rot?

  • @steveledbetter5613
    @steveledbetter56134 жыл бұрын

    My “wood” floors are only a quarter inch thick. This is the coolest thing I have seen in a long time.

  • @BeachsideHank

    @BeachsideHank

    4 жыл бұрын

    Put the torch to 'em, makes them harder. ☺

  • @marin4311

    @marin4311

    4 жыл бұрын

    This thicker one seems to be a good isolant as well.

  • @MasterQuack14
    @MasterQuack144 жыл бұрын

    All this time I thought I just had to figure out what was going on on my own... Then I learn the videos are subtitled with explanations... Guess I gatta rewatch 5 years worth of videos now....

  • @adezone866
    @adezone8662 жыл бұрын

    A very interesting approach to laying a floor straight on the ground - warm and insulated under foot; no inaccessible under-floor cavities to make rodent control a problem.

  • @greatnortherntroll6841
    @greatnortherntroll68414 жыл бұрын

    Beautiful, and functional ! I like how the floor will be "self leveling" under a heavy load! 😊

  • @mattburns2968
    @mattburns29684 жыл бұрын

    Great job man! Such a simple design but will last forever. I see why you beveled the sides of the blocks, so when you put the sand in at the last part makes it to where they wont shift! Brilliant just brilliant!

  • @justincase3371
    @justincase33714 жыл бұрын

    I didnt think i would finish the video, but it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Then i chose to spend another 15 minutes in the comment section. Good video. You have a new subscriber.

  • @paulbadger6336
    @paulbadger63364 жыл бұрын

    Did the same from scrap construction lumber for the floor of my shop in Alaska. It also helps to insulate your feet from having the heat sucked out by direct contact with the earth. Keep a thin layer of sand on for awhile and the joints will continue to fill until it’s as tight as it can get. Unless the cloth you laid down over the crushed stone is made from something like hemp you’re likely to find areas of settling where the cloth has rotten and the sand has filtered down and created a void causing a low spot. Not as easy as it might seem to resolve with everything so tight. There are ways of mitigating this but that is the subject of another video. I like your style.

  • @singJJBplay
    @singJJBplay4 жыл бұрын

    Part of the machine shop at the college I studied at had a wood block floor. Really nice on the feet. That's one amazing shop you're constructing there, Josh. Happy new year.

  • @OldNew45
    @OldNew454 жыл бұрын

    I don't recall how you sharpen your hatchet, but I changed the edge geometry on mine to a single edge bevel. It made doing those kinds of tasks infinitely easier. Also, I usually use a hand tamper when I do that project (I doubt you'd use a gas powered plate tamper). All that being said, another great video. Another great idea.

  • @MrChickadee

    @MrChickadee

    4 жыл бұрын

    I have a plethora of hatchets with various grinds and weights for differing jobs....this one is double bevel and works fine

  • @OldNew45

    @OldNew45

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@MrChickadee yup. The light bulb came on as soon as I read your reply. I'm such a boot.😑

  • @njfrog26
    @njfrog262 жыл бұрын

    Does this guy inspire anyone else to be a better person, or is it just me...? Much love goes out to you Mr. Chickadee

  • @lighttraveler7514
    @lighttraveler75144 жыл бұрын

    Wow. Just wow. Learned so much and did not have to endure someone over explaining process. I will watch again to turn on subtitles.

  • @bunyipdan
    @bunyipdan4 жыл бұрын

    What wonderful way to floor for your smithy and a beautiful job. We all do things slightly different I was a little taken back when you mortared the edge, felt that a fine gravel (cracker dust) would have been better (probably not locally sourced though) especially since you went to so much effort on the dry fit foundation. Always find it better to finish the half bricks at the edges after the whole floor is laid (find it's effecienct in action and process and can help stop creep), We also typically dust pavers with dry sfine and then compact (using a motorised vibrating plate compactor.....not so traditional), this helps drive sand deep into the seems and locks everything very tight (sort of looked like you had swept a fine layer in prior to wackamole?). Thanks for sharing your knowledge and art, very much look forward to seeing your forge up and running.

  • @phrebh
    @phrebh4 жыл бұрын

    It was worth watching this just for the reaction my cat had to the birdsong in the intro. She's still looking around the room for a victim.

  • @deadhorse1391
    @deadhorse13914 жыл бұрын

    Traditionally wood floors like this were also used in higher end horse stalls I think in a shop like this packed dirt floor would be fine and lots less trouble I mixed lime and ash added water and used it to cover my shop floor work area where I busted out the concrete in front of the forge / anvil The man I apprenticed under built a shop using wood short logs like blocks.

  • @valuedhumanoid6574
    @valuedhumanoid65744 жыл бұрын

    We had one of these floors in the old factory I used to work in. So much better than concrete. And if you need to replace, just pick them up and lay new ones. If they got damaged or water logged, same thing. We spread tar on ours and it made an excellent floor. Like your description said, easy on the legs and feet. After a while and a lot of heavy vehicle traffic, it was smooth and easy to maintain.

  • @0Hillbilly
    @0Hillbilly4 жыл бұрын

    Floor looks great, love the entire project.

  • @miraccanbakr9739
    @miraccanbakr97394 жыл бұрын

    loves from Turkey. I love following. I hope one day I will build structures like you.

  • @PaganWizard
    @PaganWizard4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for reviving and sharing this certainly long since forgotten art form. In my 55 years walking this planet, I don't think I have ever seen this. I have seen interior floors that have been made from rounds cut from various diameter logs and branches, but never anything like this. The end result very easily looks well worth the effort.

  • 4 жыл бұрын

    There's an old Studebaker dealership near me and the service floor is oak block, it's been in there since it opened in 1885. I believe it was originally sealed with beeswax or paraffin. It's privately owned but still used for fabrication and repairs.

  • @1951shelby
    @1951shelby4 жыл бұрын

    If I were a tree that lived within a hundred miles of you I would break out into a cold sweat, seems there is nothing you can't accomplish, great videos.

  • @brodystowers8092
    @brodystowers80924 жыл бұрын

    I like the content I see on here very much but I think this is one of my favorites!

  • @mike04535
    @mike045354 жыл бұрын

    I have been in several old English blacksmiths shops and they all had woodblock floors. I was told by two of the blacksmiths that these floors served two purposes. When they were shoeing horses the horse would not slip on a wooden floor. The second reason was that if the blacksmith dropped a piece of hot metal he was working on it would not bounce when it hit the floor. So in both instances wood block floors were safer than brick.

  • @tylerkrug7719
    @tylerkrug77194 жыл бұрын

    You are one hard working dude! Awesome!

  • @devajonesdiy
    @devajonesdiy4 жыл бұрын

    I swear he always comes up with the most ingenious ideas

  • @rgr3427
    @rgr34274 жыл бұрын

    Absolute dedication to the craft. Thank you for this video and allowing us to see your craft at work. Have a great 2020.

  • @word1one
    @word1one4 жыл бұрын

    HANDS DOWN the "BEST" D.I.Y. video I've seen on KZread!!! You built this with the "bare minimum" tools and took zero shortcuts. I am super impressed by this video! Much Respect!