Being a blacksmith and having the shop near grumpy neighbors can be very frustrating. While that may not be a problem for those who live outside the city, it certainly is for others who live in an urban area. Since many blacksmiths have many issues with their neighbors during work, we decided to help you with these three effective solutions.
Problems with neighbors during blacksmithing work typically include coal smoke coming out of the forge and the ringing noise of the anvil. Both of them can be very irritating to the people around you. That is why silencing the anvil, soundproofing your workshop, and using a gas forge instead of a coal forge are essential for dealing with neighbors.
However, there is one more effective solution than all of them, and that is to move outside the city where you can do your work in peace. If that is not possible for you, we suggest you keep reading.
Solution Number 1- Silencing the Anvil
Not only that, it isn’t very pleasant to hear a ringing anvil constantly, but it can also be dangerous, especially for you. Anvil often produces a much higher noise level than 85 Db, which is known to be a harmful noise level for humans. So, it is no wonder that there are so many blacksmiths dealing with hearing problems.
A ringing anvil is primarily the problem for neighbors in the summer when all doors and windows are open. I remember my first summer as a blacksmith. Since complaining neighbors surrounded my workshop, you can guess how it went.
One guy is bothered by the coal smell. The other one complains about the noise. The third one can’t even think of me because he rents out apartments in the summer. As you can see, doing blacksmithing work among such neighbors was a nightmare.
Besides having happy neighbors and protecting your hearing, silencing the anvil allows you to work more efficiently by having better concentration. I mean, no blacksmith likes the extreme ringing noise of the anvil. The same way is with your neighbors. Before we go on, note that it is impossible to silence the anvil completely. However, you can still reduce it to a significant amount.
Generally, there are three simple and effective methods of silencing the ringing anvil, including:
- Placing the magnets
- Gluing it with Silicon
- Placing a rubber sheet below the anvil
Method Number One- Placing the Magnets
One of the cheapest and easiest methods of silencing the anvil is by placing the magnets on it. The bigger the magnets are, typically the better impact it has. I see some people saying that this method is absolutely useless. That is mostly because they had too small magnets, or they placed them on the wrong parts of the anvil.
Keep in mind that it is not the magnet itself that lowers the noise, but it is the absorption of the vibration, which further reduces the noise level. Try putting magnets on the various anvils parts and see what has the best effect. Generally, placing the magnets under the horn and under the heel does the job. Depending on the size and thickness, you may put one or more magnets to achieve the desired result.
Method Number Two- Glueing it With Silicon
Since iron and steel typically have minimal internal damping, they are considered excellent sound radiators. Again, bad news for your neighbors. But when materials like these are in contact with some other highly damped material, you can easily reduce the vibration and, therefore, the noise level.
Since we need something easily available and cheap, there is no such material as silicon. So, when you glue the anvil and stand with silicon, you get an efficient method of reducing vibration frequency. For smaller anvils, we recommend applying silicone directly on the anvil, whereas for the large ones, apply it on the stand directly. I see many people having success by using silicone caulk.
One more thing, don’t go crazy with the silicone. You don’t need to empty the whole tube for this purpose. After everything is done, simply cut off silicone peeping. If you look at this from the stability perspective, you realize that this method also improves stability, especially on smaller anvils.
Method Number Three- Placing Rubber Sheet Below the Anvil
While this may not be the most efficient method of silencing the ringing anvil, it does reduce a decent amount of noise by absorbing sound vibrations. That, in turn, distributes vibrations evenly throughout the material. A simple rubber sheet will get the job done. Just place it between the stand and the anvil.
This method works even better when combined with the other two methods. Generally, two layers of at least a 3mm rubber sheet are sufficient for silencing the anvil. If that is not enough, add more. As you can see, this method is so easy to do and also extremely cheap. If it happens that you don’t have a rubber sheet, try to experiment with wet sand and see how it goes.
If you are interested in finding more about this topic, check How to Silence the Anvil (5 Proven Ways That Actually Work), where you can find more info and proven methods.
Solution Number 2- Soundproofing the Shop
Soundproofing the blacksmithing shop is a great way of silencing both the noise and your grouchy neighbors. If you somehow can’t manage to silence the anvil, soundproofing the workshop is your last chance, in regards to the noise of course.
However, in the summertime, this may not be so efficient as you will open all your doors and windows to make good ventilation. Even if you open just one window and if your neighbors are close enough they are gonna hear it. Also, since the ringing sound of the anvil is high-pitched noise, it makes it easier to dissipate compared to lower frequencies.
I don’t know a lot of blacksmiths who soundproofed their shops, mainly because silencing the anvil usually does the trick. But what if you have a power hammer or something else that produces a lot of noise? If soundproofing the shop seems like a convenient idea for you, do it. It may cost some effort and money, but the results will be satisfying.
Another great benefit of soundproofing your shop is the fact that you can work in complete peace, without any interruption. In the end, being able to work alone in peace inspires a lot of people to create their own shops. So, why not take full advantage of it?
Let’s start.
First, fill in all the cracks and empty spaces in the workshop. You can use green glue, weatherstrip, or some other similar substance for this matter. If you already have insulation in form of foam, rolls, or blankets, your workshop should already be silent enough. Adding rubber mats may only be recommended to almost completely minimize the noise.
On the other hand, if you don’t have any type of insulation in the shop, consider one of the following:
- Drywall
- MLV (Mass Loaded Vinyl)
- Rubber Mats
Drywall This is by far, one of the best ways of soundproofing the shop. However, it may be hard to install, so keep in mind that it often requires the handling of some professionals. Drywall is also more expensive than other options. Again, before installation, make sure there are no holes and cracks in the walls.
MLV (Mass Loaded Vinyl) is Another effective method of reducing blacksmithing noise. It is a simple vinyl product made under very high pressure and temperature. The benefit of MLV is that it isn’t hard to install. You can install it with green glue.
Rubber Mats Since rubber is a great dampening material, it is often recommended for soundproofing various rooms and workshops. Rubber mats are extremely useful in that regard and are also very affordable.
In the end, if you successfully silence your anvil, there would be almost no need for this step in most cases. But, if you want to work in total peace without any interruptions, by all means, go for it.
Solution Number 3- Using Gas Forge
A gas forge is slowly replacing coal forges, especially among beginners. Every blacksmith just starting out knows how much there is to learn about forging, quenching, tempering, various techniques, etc. For most of them, blacksmithing becomes overwhelmingly hard if you add the proper coal fire management to all that.
A gas forge is so easy to light and use, which makes it beginner-friendly. As far as neighbors are concerned, the greatest benefit of a gas forge is that it doesn’t produce any smoke. Imagine using a coal forge and doing your work on Saturday when you have more time. Just over the fence, your neighbors have a family gathering.
For beginners, I highly recommend any of these Gas Forges. Just a month ago, my friend bought it and he cannot be more satisfied.
On the other hand, if you are one of the more experienced smiths working on some advanced project, a double burner propane forge is the best way to go.
If the wind blows towards them, it brings all the stinky coal smoke straight at them. I mean, you can guess what their reaction is going to be. Nobody wants to inhale sulfur dioxide, especially in their house and yard. Sulfur dioxide is linked with various health illnesses like bronchitis, asthma, smog, and many others.
Other Tips For Dealing With Neighbours
While these three are one of the most important ones, a few more things come to my mind.
- Before starting your blacksmithing work, try to talk with your neighbors and explain to them what you will be doing. Be kind and friendly and see whether they will understand or not.
- Every once in and while making them some little gift to make up for the noise. That could be like a hook, bracket, or some other items they could use. With some luck, they may become supporters.
- Don’t do your work at the anvil early in the morning and late at night. Depending on where you live, hours may be different. For example, in my case, every neighbor is up at 6 am so I can start my work at 7.
