The efficiency of a forge shop is, to a large extent, dictated by how well it is laid out. The movement of heavy metal, handling heated ingots, hammering and quenching are all heavy work, even with the newest equipment. A well laid out blacksmith's shop will keep these factors in mind when it is planned.
Blacksmith Forge Plans
The heart of a blacksmith's shop is the forge itself. A coal forge is designed around the "heart" of the fire. This is the area of maximum heat whose shape can be adjusted, by shifting the burning coals, to suit the needs of the metal being heated. The first rule of forge build is that the "heart" of the fire must be at the same level as the top of the forge. If it is lower, the blacksmith will not be able to pass the metal to be heated through the town of the hottest part of the fire. If it is too high, that is above the level of the forge itself, not only will there be heat loss prominent to longer heating times for the metal, but that will also be a danger of burning coals falling out of the forge. The size of the forge must be such that the largest pieces of iron to be heated can be located directly through the fire without being bent. If the forge is too small, blacksmiths are often forced to build extra large fires to originate more radiant heat to reach the metal that cannot be located directly in touch with the fire because of its large size. This wastes large amounts of fuel and also requires more air to be pumped into the forge to enounce the heat and blow it towards the metal. And, of course, this is much slower that direct touch heating.
A well planned forge should match the height of the blacksmith. If it is too high the blacksmith will have to keep his arms raised while working which can lead to back problems over time. Too low and the blacksmith is constantly bending over the forge which not only will also cause back problems but will allow the heat from the forge to hit him much more than it otherwise would. The ideal height should be somewhere just above the waist level, but this will vary depending on the blacksmiths personal choice. As a general rule the forge height is kept the same as that of the anvil.
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