Don't know if you will ever read this comment John, but I am just sitting here in the early morning planning out my new works shop to be built next year and came across this older video(I think I saw it when it first came out). The timing is just amazing. As always thanks for the video even the older ones and see you in the future.

@BlackBearForge

10 ай бұрын

Have fun with the new shop

Besides my lights, my shop is fairly non - electric. I had the plan of setting up my shop to model a late 1800s early 1900s blacksmith shop. Learning the traditional blacksmithing techniques so if i lose power i wouldnt miss out due to no electric.

I'm in an Ozark trail pop up canopy lol. Got 3 walls, and 8x10 work space. It's enough for now. I'm in this for the long haul so yeah. Nice vid. Most of my inquiries involve the craft itself so stuff like this is just fun to watch and use for backgrounds noises. Thanks to my grandpa and all he had to teach me, eventually I'll be able to build most of my work environment when I finish saving up. Again, thanks for all the vids. A comment can't show enough gratitude. 🍻

@DaveDoesMetals

5 ай бұрын

Just coming back to this old video and saw your comment. How's things going two years later? A lot can change in two years. Hope you're still at it bud.

always amazes me, the amount of useful info in your head. just many years of experience, i'm sure.

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

I'm always amazed at all of the useless info in my head 😜

Very nice and comprehensive videos

Hi John! I’ve watched a couple hundred of your videos over the last three years and I love them! I really appreciate your positive upbeat helpful attitude. You’re very much appreciated 🙏🏼💚⚒️

@BlackBearForge

11 ай бұрын

Glad you like them!

I like that circular vise access idea

Just saw this video. Thank you sir. Gave me some good ideas for my small shop.

Someone working on small stuff should have a small shop, like a kitchen, keeping the work triangle small for ease, efficiency, and speed.

Thank you for this. Just in the process of setting up my first shop.

@BlackBearForge

6 ай бұрын

Best of luck!

Great video for me. I have about 2/3's of a 1 car garage for my shop.

Your shop is really quite amazing! I work in a shop that's 12x24. I have found that by having tools, tables, forge, smelter, welder, oxy-act, grinders, etc... all on wheels, it makes the shop much more versatile. When I'm finished for the day it all rolls out of the way. Thanks for the video...

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

Wheels are great on many tools. But don't work so well for vises, anvils and power hammers.

@shadowcastre

6 жыл бұрын

Black Bear Forge That's true.. some things need a solid mount!

Nice trip through work space John, I luckily do not have the climate considerations you have so if its under a roof its all good. That roof gets bigger and bigger every few years, my wife is always losing or moving gardens, not too cranky yet but I have to control my land grab!

Hi Black Bear Forge - Your Video Small Shop Hacks, Tricks And Ideas - Blacksmith, Very Suitable To Be Applied In My Home...

Great tips. I'm looking to start my journey in a few months once I get into my new place.

great information John! gives me a lot to think about

@BlackBearForge

Жыл бұрын

Glad to help

Older video, I know....but I've been looking for hacks for my new 180 square foot shop. My old shop was 8 x 12 as well so this was very helpful. Great video.

Thank you for all your input. Before in my time we had shop class now adays these kids can't build anything., becuase there are no more good teachers or educators. Keep up the good work.!😁

@motome8

6 жыл бұрын

Jose Avelar I don’t think the problem is in lack of good teaches or educators, all though policy’s are pushing them out. It is admins, politicians and parents that are causing teachers to leave.

@ColdHawk

4 жыл бұрын

Unlike some folks, neither of my parents did any sort of manual work, or crafts, or even repairs. I was interested in woodworking and took shop in high school. It was extremely tedious, the teacher was more interested in fraternizing with his students than teaching anything, and I think I got a B on my crappily assembled napkin holder. I am 50 and just started metalworking. That early experience with “shop class” turned me away from working with my hands for a tragically long time.

@stormyeffects4795

4 жыл бұрын

I don’t think it is fair or okay to say that kids can’t build anything now days.

Another video with great information and things for me to think about especially since I am in the process of re-organizing my shop (40' X 12'). My "Shop" was a boat carport the previous home owner had with a dirt floor (I actually prefer) and no walls which I am in the process of putting up as well.

Good video, almost finished with wife's green house and a dedicated shop for smithing is next. This video really helped with what size to make it.

Great video. I love to see other people shops and how things are arranged and I'm setting mine up so gives me a lot of good ideas. thank you. Galen

I actually use a lightweight chain from the ceiling to hold long bars.

I will come back to this video later. Great idea for a rarely discussed tip!

Great setup tips. Thanks John.

All Good Stuff!

Great advice. I have several benches at different heights that i plan to trim to get the benefits you have there. I also like the 45deg vise idea. I am arriving at that from a different angle via having a swivel vise. The angle really does help improve access ... even for like tig welding it is great.

Excellent video! Thank you!

Thank you for tour-sharing your workshop :)

All are good things to know , Really liked the wall opening , as an aide to compensate for smaller floor space !

Thanks!

Thanks John, reinforces my experience with levels and access. Currently building new coke forge and will make sure it's same height as anvil face (on it's new block).

Thanks, very helpful video.

Very good video! Thanks!

Thank you so much!

Keep up the great work! I really enjoy your videos!

Thanks for the advice!!!!!!!!!

Thanks again for the videos. I'd love to see a video on those heavy duty hinges and hasps you have on the bench.

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

I am sure we will be doing lots of videos on hardware as time goes on.

Good video. Thanks

Great video

Great

I know this is a year old but this is great. I just built an 8x12 for my first shop and this helps a lot

@BlackBearForge

4 жыл бұрын

Glad it helped

I have a 12x12 shop

Im sure all this info comes from strictly doing what you do. Respect for sharing tis with us.

Cool video

Fantastic video really useful.

@BlackBearForge

4 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@timrumble6945

4 жыл бұрын

@@BlackBearForge invaluable thank you.

Great ideas for a small shop. I'm in the starting phase of building my new shop and yes, it will be small to start out with. So...these are great videos with very pertinent information. I was actually thinking about your butcher/spring tool the other night. I also concluded that a better way to make it would be to do a couple of mortise and tenon joints and rivet the whole thing together, unless you just don't mind arc or mig welding the whole thing together.

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

In most cases I don't mind the mig welds on tools like this. But since not everyone has that ability and since we know our predecessors managed without. I am trying to do as much as I can for the videos without going that direction.

@jamesmcmillen4828

6 жыл бұрын

Totally agree. I really enjoy seeing "old school" methods of making the tools we enjoy using today.

My shop is 4x3, so I can use this info very well, thank you. But.... Gargoyle,we will never see him again😭, 😉.

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

I am sure he will come out and visit.

I work in a 12"x6 shop that was a garden shed just check out profile

Haha, your shop is HUGE compared to what I have to work with. Though in the last few months I have expanded a little bit. I don't even have room for an anvil. Though to be honest, my expanded room, I put a small lathe, mill and the heat treat oven I built. When I do my videos the tripods take up more space than I do, but I really love making videos. I would love to build a shop outside, just for forging(I do all stock removal & I'm learning machining). I built a propane forge that I keep outside, so maybe in the future I'll get to it, but living near D.C. the building codes are crazy.. Love watching you videos, they are very helpful... Take it easy...

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

It is always difficult to work from home in the city, but it can be done in most cases.

Probably i have the smallest shop in the world. Mine is 4X5 meters -+. However. It is possible if you have any system for shop organisation

I work in a super small shop, 8x8. My forge lives outside and the rest lives inside.

@jrocks1971

3 жыл бұрын

Hey man -- at least you have a shop! ;-)

@javanbybee4822

3 жыл бұрын

@@jrocks1971 hah, thats right. This didnt age well, though. I have a 8x12 shop now with my forge inside.

Did you make the forge in your or did you buy? If you bought it what make and model?

As you were/are a firefighter what precautions do you take with having a wooden framed blacksmith shop. Great video and great tips. Thanks John.

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

There isn't a lot to worry about. Making sure the forge isn't against a wooden wall and making sure there are never hot cut offs near the base of the walls. Most old shops seem to be wooden. Fires are generally a result of carelessness and can destroy even stone or brick structures. I also keep a fire extinguisher on hand.

@strongsadventures

6 жыл бұрын

Black Bear Forge thank you for the answer sir. I didn’t know if you waited a certain amount of time after shut down the forges or last time using power hammers or using the anvil. When we do maintenance in plants we of course have to have a hot work permit for cutting welding or grinding. We have to have a fire watch after we are done for at least 30 min. Thanks again John.

@robertwhitney2232

4 жыл бұрын

At our blacksmith guild shop, we have a minimum cool down time before we go home for the night.

Greant

What direction does the horn sit for a right handed person?

@BlackBearForge

4 жыл бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/q2WIuMeTj7C5h5M.html

So you recomend that forge isn't against the wall ?

@BlackBearForge

5 жыл бұрын

Unless you have a completely non combustible wall.

@jakobpetrov1750

5 жыл бұрын

@@BlackBearForge no it's wooden so how much from the wall should the chimney be since i have limited space

Is you floor just a dirt floor? Im looking at building a workshop and dont know whether to build a building in my back yard with a dirt floor or a gravel floor or a wooden floor. I suppose concrete is best expensive. I dont want to spend a ton on the building.

@BlackBearForge

4 жыл бұрын

Its mostly brick by the benches and then dirt at the anvil. dirt is much easier on the back and legs during a longs days work.

@CCumby007

4 жыл бұрын

@@BlackBearForge i was considering a cinderblock building with dirt or rock floor. What are your thoughts?

Lots of good information in here, love it! You mentioned a couple of times that having a vice mounted on a post would be ideal - how large a shop would you need for that to be possible without it being in the way, a traffic hazard?

@BlackBearForge

6 жыл бұрын

For my shop and everything in it another 2 or 3 feet would work. But it really depends on what else you need to fit in the shop.

@Blazer02LS

6 жыл бұрын

Not hard to have a post vice that isn't in the way. I installed common 2" receiver tubes (trailer hitch sized) in the floor and into the benches in the shop. Mount a tool to a chunk of tubing or solid stock, set it in place and you're ready to work. Most are stored out of the way on a modified tool cart.