So the theme of Alicia is a wuss may be becoming apparent. I just moved from a country property we were renting to a neighborhood where we bought a house. Love the area, proximity to everything, city water supply and much more reliable hydro with trees not downing lines twice a month.... however I feel very guilty going out and forging for any significant length of time. Dang it's quiet around here and people are so close I worry I am disturbing peoples peace and quiet. My husband thinks I am being overly considerate and as long as it is "day time" it should be fair game. So to any of you that have close neighbors what do you consider a reasonable amount of noise either duration or frequency. We have only been here two months and so far I have limited it to work that is necessary for a horse not just general forge practice. I am actually considering going to a rural park setting up and bashing away where I wont bother anyone.
Alicia, I'm on a small acreage with a barn, etc, but do have close neighbors... I can see three other houses from my shop... I bang and clang all I want, I just limit it to daytime hours..... I figure if I would mow the lawn, than it's OK to work some metal........ Dave
lol I know but I drive by some parks that are always completely empty. Who need a park when everyone in the area has a farm.
Very true, and honestly my neighborhood has lots of people renovating older homes so table saws and such are not unusual noises. I just don't want to be someones version of Chinese water torture, and I keep thinking "what if they work nights". Maybe I should just run the mower while I forge. lol
I lived in a housing estate in a semi detatched and I used limit myself to an hour any time I practiced and even then felt guilty any time I did and it put me off.
It has actually always been apparent, just not a bad as it has been in the past. I believe our abuse here has helped a lot. I remember neighbors calling my Mom and asking her to tell my Dad to quit with the table saw at 10:30 pm, so I've inherited the trait. What I do sometimes it to get to a stable early or stay after the horse is done, and work iron for a while. Anyway, when some irate neighbor comes over to chew you out about the noise, they'll turn right around when they see those arms.
That sounds fair, and honestly I am glad to hear I am not the only one who considers this a potential issue. Thanks
I was doing up some shoes a week or two ago, and the 20 something son of our neighboor who had previously been "too cool" to even make eye contact was headed to his car and started to wave and said hello. Next day we had a blizard and while I was shoveling he came over to snowblow the drive way. lol Not sure it was my fine hammer control, the cool anvil or the fact I was hammering glowing hot steel but he has been very friendy since that day.
I have never liked doing that, if there's no one around or I am making a set to nail on then and there fair enough but I have always felt its unprofessional to hang around a yard making shoes. I know most of my clients wouldn't have had any problem with it but I have always thought i'm on their premises to do their work not to hang around practicing my hobby/trade. Having said that almost all my work was in livery barns, riding schools, producing yards or studs I only did three private yards.
How about introducing yourself to the folks around you; maybe offering a trinket or two. My rule is not running the power hammer after 9pm(it's been known to make dvds skip) UNLESS I'm working on something for a neighbor.
I make them for the horse in front of me David Thats what I meant. I dont spin out stock shoes at customers.
Set up at any horseshow and build shoes while waiting on work...do it all the time...build my barshoes and sliders. I just punch nailholes when I get to the horse they are going on..
Its a good excuse though but I have no excuse for not taking you up on your offers of coming out to your forge! I regret it now though.
