In some ways we started in a similar manor. I was living in an apartment but wanted to make things. I had a construction job that paid well and I managed to save up $6K. Bought a trash house for $7500. Rented the 2nd floor and sort of fixed up part of the first. I was broke and it was Xmas. So made some wooden toys for my sisters little kids. They were crude! But people saw them and wanted some. So I turned my living room into a work shop. 1950 ShopSmith, new bandsaw, used drill press and a Sears 6x48 sander. Later a 2hp compressor and spray gun. For 7 years my girl friend and I traveled the art & craft fair circuit. Sort of made a living. It was fun, met a lot of interesting people. Had a van setup to sleep in. Needed to make more $ and moved into a commercial building, bought more tools. Tried making custom furniture, that failed. Bought some tools that were less common and started making parts for remodelers, & other shops. Several moves later had my own metal building and was making store fixtures. Two more additions and I had 25,000 sq. ft. lots of CNC equipment & 24 employees. I was selling to chain stores and flying all over the country to meet people and measure jobs. It totally wore me out. I'm retired, hobby machining, good income from my leased building and really happy to no longer have employees. Reason for this long winded story, be careful where your new business takes you. Thanks for the interesting videos.
One thing you are going to need mate is a clip on mic, in that huge space it’s like you are way down the far end of a cave! It’s a great space, just don’t get carried away with benches and things or you will be wishing it was twice as big too soon! Looking forward to seeing you working again!
When a man sets a goal and don't bend or break before he reaches a part of his dream it's a great day, Congratulations Sir. Looks like enough for to grow Hope you happyness , Next get a fire built. Always on your team Beautiful day it is
Looking awesome. Lots of great space and I am happy for you to be able to expand. Just wanted to say. I have talked to my local propane guy about hooking up a 500 tank myself. I was told you can do it but it can't be into a system that pulls propane from the tank unless it is hard connected. So for a forge if you want to be able to disconnect the lines to replace or move the forge you just need to have the tank set up like a 100 pound tank. So your only pressure really is the natural pressure the tank has. So because your 500 gallon tank is already hard lined to your house you can't connect a forge to it. But if you were to get a separate 500 tank and only have it set up for the forge the same way as your 100s then it should be legal. At least where I live it is. Just throwing some info out there for you. Keep up the amazing work!!!
Suggestion for you. Around the forging area, put a frame of 2X4 on the floor and dump a layer of crush&run stone in it. Easier on the feet and protects the concrete from damage.
Hi John, Thanks for the tour of your new shop looking good. I noticed your new Yukon tool chest right off the bat, I have my eye on one myself. 👍Best of luck on your new shop.⚒⚒
That's a very nice shop you've got there. I hope you're taking measures to protect your investments inside. Just one dark night and a crack head with a pickup, and your best tools go out the door. It happens more than you want to acknowledge. I admire your work and especially your ability to swing that massive striking hammer! Those days are long gone for me! Cheers! Whipple
Yep. All the doors have locks. The area is pretty rural in a secluded neighborhood on a very curvy mountain road. I do plan to put in some motion sensor lights and a camera system as well.
@@OldHickoryForge Good plan. We’ve had some unsavory characters skulking behind our place and motion lights and strong doors/locks have been a deterrent, but one SOB jacked up my quad trying to steal it a few years ago. Didn’t get it out of the garage, but cost me some good coin to repair. We’ve got cameras now. Cheers! Whipple.
Congrats on the new shop. Here's to a brand new chapter in ur blacksmithing journey. Very nice shop setup. Can't wait to see more videos in your new shop. Keep up the great craftsmanship and hard work my friend. Forge on. Keep making. God bless.
John, I have to say, I am very happy for you. It has been a pleasure and an inspiration to watch you on this journey. And, frankly, seeing this video, seeing where you are now, compared to where you were when I first started following you, really goes a long way to keeping my own fires lit. Thank you for sharing this journey with us and hopefully, someday in the not to distant future, I can shake your hand and repeat all this, face to face. Congratulations and best of luck.
John, super happy for you sirSir! Without the constraints of the old place, I feel sure your going to bennifit exponentially. You've now got room to expand your horizons. What an exciting and excellent move for you. Blessed days sirSir and well wishes Crawford out 🙏🧙♂️
Man, I am seriously glad that you got that closing of the new house sorted out. I was really wondering if you'd be able to get that place or not after all that time. Nonetheless though, I'm really looking forward to seeing more videos and new stuff being pumped out of the shop, I've learned a lot from your channel (smithing has become an obsession for me over the last year) and I cant wait to learn more. Congratulations John
Congrats on the new shop. I will admit I'd probably be terrified if you came charging at me as a bondsman. Good to see you're still busy, but for someone like me who doesn't have instagram I wait patiently for new build uploads.
I wish you all the best fortune and safety in the new shop. This channel is particularly terrific with your explanations and projects. Thank you John. Enjoy the shop. Make great things!
Man that is awesome congrat's on the new shop and yeah those toolbox's can be a big cost mine from Mac total cost was 3 grand but i was a BMW mechanic at the time.
I never knew a early rising hardworking prudent man, careful of his earnings and strictly honest, who complained of hard luck. A good character, good habits and iron industry are impregnable to the assaults of ill-luck The fools ever dreamed. -Joseph Addison Hard work is paying off keep it up
Congrats man! I wish you all the best for you and for your family, keep on hammering that hot metal, you really do a great Job! I am extremely happy for you. From personal experience, I know that feeling....working into your new shop, being happy of what you accomplished... one of the best feelings ever! Cheers from Romania!
Right on! Shop is great! Are you in the same area? I'm just up the hill from you in Tennessee. I'm still working on my blacksmith shop which is an old tobacco barn. Its coming along pretty good though.
