Welcome to Little Dipper Forge!!!

The shop is completed.  I intended to post photos as the construction progressed, but......  It is 42 feet by 45 feet in area with a 12 foot eave line, one 12 foot door, one 10 foot door, one man-door, a concrete floor all around and three flues through the roof for forge ventillation (smoke stacks).  I have installed an automobile hoist (seven foot long hydraulic cylinder) in the floor on one side of the shop since I do all my own mechanic work (virtually), and have added several heavy duty storage racks for lots and lots of storage.  Most everything I use is heavy, therfore the sturdy storage.  The electricians I asked for quotes would not give one - I guess it isn't a big enough job.  So a very good friend, Lonnie Farmer, and I completed it.  The stacks are through the roof.  The hoods are completed.  I am in the planning stages for the three forges, stands for the post vices and a concrete slab for the power hammer.  I plan on three forges (one gas and two coal/charcoal) and one power hammer for now.   I made a steel rack and uploaded (ha! ha!) all the steel onto it.  I have a huge layout table (I bought that from a fellow blacksmith).  The landscaping is coming along slowly.  Jane recently added a path, a swing for meditation and a blacksmith whirl-a-gig she got me for Christmas one year.  It is supposed to inspire me to hammer that fast and hard!  I will have to get her to help me organize all my tools.  I am on my way!!!