For me, it depends on what you do. Gravel for forging, concrete for storing, wood for walking. Me, I have a wood shop so concrete painted off white. Ever try to find the special screw you dropped on a chip epoxy floor? Off white baby.
my shop is dirt floor, i have pavers and such, but like you say, sawdust, scale and tailings just add to the floor; its softer to walk on and doesn't ding tools that fall. I have a vapor barrier underneath the dirt so it does not get wet and i'm so happy i saved the money for concrete for a place where i really need it.
Pro's and con's to everything. Dirt is cheaper and when leveled and pressed works just as good as concrete and metal tools don't get damaged if they fell on it. But it is overall more dirty, is dirt after all, so a lot more dust. More annoying to sweep or if you spill liquids on it, come in with wet shoes and such.
When I built my shop I did it in stages, I poured a curb to mount the walls on knowing that one day I would pour the floor too. just as you did, I poured in sections. I finally pulled the trigger because it was so uncomfortable in the winter time with a gravel floor that I needed to seal it up, it was not just the heat I was trying to preserve but the minimize the moisture too. Humidity was 80% all of the time shop. It was fine for a barn but not for a shop with all of my tools. I built a lot of project in that shop. I couldn't get a cement truck to the shop so I we wheelbarrowed it, It was surprising how quickly that went. I am pleased that I did the work in the fall when the weather was cooler, it made it easier on me and slowed the curing down enough to get the finish I wanted. Smooth enough to make it easy to sweep but not so smooth that it was slick under foot. It is amazing what you can do if you do it in stages.
I find so much peace when I watch your videos. It feels like Your calm voice while talking and educating us on the craft is the voice that I’ve always needed while growing up.
@@aarontracy5160 I'm just making a point about subscriber count vs channel views. You can easily compare the two yourself. I like the channel, and overall the channel is moderately successful -- but not the kind of success 1.4 million subscribers might lead you to believe.
I am the farthest thing from a machinist or blacksmith but hearing this man speak is just so reassuring and calming. I really enjoyed your wisdom and common sense approach. Thank you sir.
nothing but respect for this man: he lives in the real world; gives experienced, practical, and critically thought out advice; and does things correctly this is what a real , actually USED, barn/workshop looks like he's genuine - not one of those poseurs in their 'made for video' workshops with no dust, no dirt, no clutter, and a backdrop of several hundred immaculate ( but never used ) planes made by unicorns; a thousand double-folded Japanese left-handed inverted chisels made of unobtainium; and all their pretty little red Birdie-made overpriced measuring tools with which they show us how to build jigs yet never actually seem to do any work
I havent checked out one of your videos in a long while. You're looking strong and healthy. I always appreciate people living well. Its refreshing, considering the assault on our eyes most days.
Your comment on your age in relation to the cost/benefit hit home with me. I'm the same age as you and unlike a decade ago; now whenever I'm deciding about something where the benefit would be appreciated over a relatively long period of time- my age is a relevant factor. The wife and I were recently shopping relatively expensive mattresses to replace our well worn one that we've used probably 10 years longer than its customary lifetime. The salesman talking up its attributes; mentions that it could last 20 years and I laughed telling him we probably only needed about 15.
Awesomeness. The other benefit I have found to gravel is, during the winter, when equipment covered in snow is pulled into the warm shop, it doesn't make a huge puddle of water. With a concrete floor, that slushy puddle of slop becomes a slip and fall hazard. With a concrete floor, Murphy's Law dictates, that puddle of water will seek out and ruin anything haphazardly left sitting on the floor. Also in the wintertime, when your farm truck has a set of chains on it, there're no worries about driving it on gravel, but chains + a 6,500 lb truck = ruined concrete.
You are a treasure sir. Concentrate on what’s best for YOU. We want you broadcasting for another 10 years! Do whatever you can to make that happen. Not only for you, but your audience.
That was such a sober statement when you said it's a matter of how much time you have left. I have a lot of older friends and when I hear them say stuff like that it's a blast of cold water.
In the smithy shop I help build we used lime powder mixed with dirt then gave it a light spray with water. It made a nice solid surface and it was cheap.
thanks for telling me about the benefit of having gravel to walk on in your shop. I have had back trouble for years now and have gravel floors in my end shed. I have not realised about the floor, but now I do and I will be leaving it as gravel.
I know this guy. He is one hell of a guy. I worked at a business next door to him and his property and have had the pleasure of making a connection with him. He is non stop for real!
I have said the same thing about his voice, as well as his speaking tone. He could read for audio books or do commercials i think because his voice is just easy to listen to. At least to me, maybe to others it isnt as pleasant.
I did a lot of research before I built my shop. The suggestions I read were many, but 1) Build bigger than you think you need (twice as big if you can) 2)Do it all at once if you can. If you wait, you'll always put off things or have stuff in the way (shops/garages fill up fast) and make it twice as hard to do. 3) As noted here, if you have different materials, keeping them level could be a chore. I thought about pavers, gravel only, etc, but end the end decided that concrete would be best for me. I could have saved a lot by not doing it ($13,000), but I'm glad I did.
Spending less time working on the shop means more time working in the shop. I put down rubber horse mats in my wood shop. Concrete where I have the car shop with a lift and dirt everywhere else.
Ya got my vote. Your reason about slag and dropped metal slugs etc. far outweigh the concrete. My grandfather, a true Blacksmith back in the days of horse and buggy, was a clay man all the way (mainly because they didn't have a good supply of equal sized gravel back then I suppose). And standing on concrete DOES hurt your back. They offer "Balance" classes for old folks as "therapy" so consider the gravel therapy for you AND the cats. Make em work for it or find a better place.
The pragmatic approach shows deep wisdom. More work is simply more, if it doesn't come with strong benefits. This isn't maintenance, it's suitability. I've had problems finding lost parts on most floors(small, and/or dark colored parts), so I chose white linoleum to cover my work area. It's cheap, gives great visibility, and shows quickly when the shop needs cleaning. That part is a benefit too, as my work can be sensitive to dust.
Very interesting , the gravel for the flux and standing on for long periods .. I have done some of my floor with rubber matting ontop of concrete, cow mats to be precise.. thanks for your insight and new food for thought . . Keep up the great work .. Joe
I never considered gravel for work spaces. I do like my footing on it like you said - it's a bit more dynamic and natural and my body is comfortable with it. Thanks for the tip and opening my mind to it
I got lucky three years ago when I bought a farm in Sweden, four of the barns already had concrete floor, I turned one into an English pub 90 sq metres, another into a general workshop for framing, tractor repairs, boat work or whatever you can fit inside which is most things as it’s 128 sq meters with a 3.3 height to the beams, the old pig house had a really bad concrete floor so I took that out this year, next year I will pour a new floor with heated floor and rent that out over winter for classic car/bike storage and use it as an overspill workshop/storage during the spring and summer, also around 90 sq metres, I then have a machine hall with gravel floor that I intend to turn into a blacksmith/fabrication shop at 180 sq meters as well as some smaller buildings with a mix of concrete and gravel floors. I feel like I won life’s lottery with this place!
I worked a jobsite where I walked 15 miles a day to handle my tasks. It was originally base rock with fines compacted into a gravel road, with other areas had asphalt roadways. As the project progressed it became environmentally sensitive where there was likely hood of major fines for storm water, which the fix was to turn the main pathways and lay down areas into concrete or asphalt depending on type of equipment traversing the area. The point is on the dirt and rock roads I didn't feel the same fatigue, knees back hip pain as I did on the concrete and asphalt surfaces. This was a 30 year old man at the time doing all the same tasks different surfaces made a noticeable difference. Growing up on the farm we had a few sheds that were clay with hardwood planks on the bare ground, rough cut 2"-3" oak never had a fire either with hot work. Have a conversation with anyone who has worked their career in general industry on concrete floors, heavy price is paid on the body. I've thought about building a shop, gravel floor with crane matts on top for the majority, a separate room for hot work / grinding on a concrete slab.
A lot of military guys will road march on the shoulder of the road in dirt, gravel, and stone instead of the road asphalt for the same reason. I knew several older airborne guys with all sorts of leg and back problems that did this.
I am a builder, I now fill my yards with gravel and its always looking "clean" oil, paint, wood shavings, no problem! Also to avoid the dust use Flint! For example I use Newbury Flint - No dust!
My Dad had the privilege of being able to afford a money-is-no-object shop. After seeing that shop, and comparing it to mine, and my cousin's shop, I think he didn't come out the winner. It was big. That just meant it became a barn - and a barn that he had to keep climate controlled. My cousin's shop evolved as he had money for it, and, at present, he has basically 3 zones to it - one with a concrete floor that's climate-controlled, 1 that's for bigger projects that can be somewhat climate controlled, and one that's basically storage and there's no need to apologize for the gravel there. I feel like that's going to be the model for my "dream shop".
Nicely done. I poured concrete in one of my sheds to also keep down dampness. I found that moisture evaporates up through gravel or dirt more than concrete. Items laid down on my dirt floor developed rust and scale along the bottom.
Linda Gayle and I absolutely adore you, Kelly and your progeny. You [and Kelly] have provided much knowledge and joy into our lives. God bless you, et al. Scott, you are a marvelous man! 🤠
Gravel, but with steel plates and/or plywood (NOT OSB) around when you need a smoother surface (for jacks or crawling around under something). I've used ~3x8' strips of carpet quite a bit as well. Those are handy to keep in a service truck.
Use it up... Wear it out.. make it do.. or do without... love your videos sir and totally understand. We have partially a finished shop and barn that was moved into for the same reason. Every few years there's a project is done mostly just for convenience. Thank you for the practical videos and fighting the mainstream norm.
Good discussion. I've come to like gravel in a forge area. Red hot metal doesn't ricochet off into the distance, or under a work bench. And dropping tools like you say is a bonus. Apart from that, I love a concrete floor for most other work areas, much like you said. Thanks for the vids.
... And maybe I will. But in the meantime I've got a bench to build... ❤ I love how you evaluate all those things thoughts and what not if's, just to come back to what really is the task on hand. Keep up the good work! 🤝
Saw another one of your videos awhile back...saw the gravel, started considering it for my new shop, in some places, it just makes sense for some applications...
A fine sand and coarse gravel mix is good, similar properties you like, but the sand helps you find smaller objects you drop. Just mount a 3 brush boot cleaner by the exit so you don't track sand around.
This is good info. I'm planning out a new shop and devoted 0 seconds of thinking toward what kind of floor I'd want. I just assumed concrete. Maybe it doesn't make sense to do the entire thing in concrete. It would probably save a few dollars to do a half-and-half concrete and gravel.
I have the same issue in the garden except they’re not our cats. Can’t really take any drastic action as the kids adore them. All 7 that visit…… rest assured the poop gets flung over the fence to be reunited with the owners humans though.
@Martin52863 That's really unfortunate, try ammonia balls, or moth balls. I can't remember what I used, the rain takes them away after a few weeks but they don't like it. My cats (9 outdoor) i have trained to not poo in my garden, they have their own shed, I pick up their poop and stick it by their food bowl. After 24 hrs I'll take a shovel and throw it over the fence. After twice they stopped. I always find random new spots, I don't move it bc mostly idc but just not in my compost or garden. They typically use the woods. Hope that helps.
I was planning on concrete for my shed floor but went with gravel. A suggestion for people that have woodchucks (groundhogs) in the vicinity: bury wire mesh a couple inches (I used 2"x 4" mesh) below the gravel. Woodchucks dig through gravel, but not wire mesh. If your building has a dirt or gravel floor without mesh underneath, woodchucks might make your shop their new home. I found this out the hard way. I used smoke bombs to kill them and then bought some mesh and more gravel. The varmints will dig their new home when you go away for the weekend or are just away from your shop for a few days. If you have concrete... they can dig under that too! Don't stack anything close to your building next to the walls. They will dig under the pile and under your concrete.
Some anti-fatigue mats would do wonders on the concrete floor sections, in front of workbenches and at the positions you stand to control machinery. Very interesting video, good points to consider!
What a wonderful video I didnt know what to expect. Can you do a video of how you stay so fit at your age what are your tips, tricks that you have learned over the years
When you mentioned less pain with gravel, i can see that being the case as the gravel is more fluid than concrete allowing it to confom to your natural pressure points better than solid surface like concrete. The other benefit is that concrete can crack where rock will break into more rock which benefits the first point I mentioned. So I feel one could aruge that concrete will only degrade with use where rock degredation is an added benefit. The con being more dust as you mentioned.
The best floor I've seen in a Smithy shop was an earthen floor. It was packed clay mixed with linseed oil and fine sand for drainage. It was easy on your back and legs. The only downside is the high-traffic areas. He had a Vibratory Rammer that he would use to repair those areas.
Gravel makes perfect sense for forging and blacksmithing. One thing you didn't mention but when slag or hot flakes hit the gravel they're a lot less likely to stick to the soles of your shoes than they would be sitting proud on a hard, smooth concrete floor.
I don't do black smithing just a small double car garage work shop for some wood working and home repairs... BEST thing i ever put on the ground was carpet squares. It's warmer, its nicer to walk on bare foot, dropped tools don't chip or damage, spills..... well you either let it soak in or just put another carpet square down. cleaning is the same you just vacuum it. they're also VERY VERY cheap compared to options like epoxy. the ONLY down side is obviously hot work like grinding, welding etc can damage it fairly quickly. but if you only bust out the stick welder once every 6 months I HIGHLY suggest used carpet squares
The BEST shop floor I ever saw was in a very, very old blacksmith's shop. It was made of oak staves about 18" long hammered into the floor vertically leaving the end grain uppermost and was four hundred years old when I saw it, now sadly long gone.
Had Cats in the shop, their "excavation" is an issue, & no I will not shoot them. Biggest issue experienced w/ my crushed limestome, drop a nut, washer, spring, any small component, it is probably gone or a minimum half hour with a magnet, & then accept that it is gone. The machinery tools sir on a concrete slab, but the storage area where trucks, tractors live, where maintenance, repairs occur, concrete remains a wishlist item.🇺🇸
Love that...First concrete pad area is for the missus.. Wise man once say "Ensure Wife(Planning Officer) has workshop area for bees before further expansion is requested"
Another advantage of gravel is the fact that it's course, which reduces reverberation and thus reduces noise in the shop. The only thing that would have been making me mad about having a shop like this is the elevation difference. Mainly because I have arthrosis in my knees and sudden elevation change like stairs and steps is just evil to my joints. I actually made myself a small workshop recently and the floor is still grass so I definitely don't get to criticize anyone on their floor choice. :D
The litterbox factor is the reason I don't have barn cats. I wish I did to take care of all the mice. But i have gravel everywhere and mostly open buildings.
Most every woman that I've been around has been a cat lover... me not so much. An outside cat has provided some protection from those rodents and the destruction they cause. Plus my outside cat comes when I call him.😂
I never thought about, but we had gravel on all of our buildings as a kid. We didn't need that fancy concrete. Now, I know about the crazy cat thing. Thanks m8.
I had an uncle. With a giant corrugated building on a couple of acres. It. Had a gravel floor and often a dump truck and excavator inside. It was dingy light being the 70's, but the music played and when it was cold this giant vertical pipe with slits glowed red hot and roared as it consumed the 5 or 10 gallons of diesel poured into its base. ...good times!! Until his house on the same property mysteriously burned down.. it remained a cool property for years either way.
My grandfather was a blacksmith. He learned the trade the old fashion way, he lived with another blacksmith and started at the age of 15. He went into the US Navy in WW I and was a blacksmith aboard ship. Even though he had a low rank he was paid more because of his trade. After the war was over his dad and brother built his blacksmith shop and he ran it into his 80's, and passed away in his late 80's. His shop still stands and is located on rout 519 in Washington County, Eighty Four Pennsylvania. By the way his shop floor was concrete and after all the years it wasn't very level anymore and had a lot of dips and gouges and was totally black, even after sweeping it.
Yes! Old carpet for the win! I parked trucks on old carpet in a workshop for years, was awesome! No one cares how it looked, and once and a while you hose it down. Plus when you gotta get on the floor, it's kinda comfortable!
my grandfather on my dads side had a dirt floor it was like that as of 2001-2002 and if it is still a dirt floor today its most likely one of the last ones outside of Gosport shipyard and that is if any of the original shops still have a dirt floor.
another good thing about gravel is that the desperate seeker can sift it when looking for shy ball bearings and heirlooms and such like notions. Build a sluice box and find the gold things.
well this is reassuring because I am putting up a pole barn for storage and do not want to deal with a slab, at least not at the moment. money is the main reason in my case. I plan to do something similar so that in the future I can pour a slab in. the space is mainly to store things like ATV's and lawn equipment. I think it will be annoying moving around some things but not too bad. I live in Arizona and around here we have a type of rock that people often use in landscaping that is basically 1" minus, flat stones, kind of like broken up slate, that are naturally coated/mixed in clay , think its called Table Mesa Brown, comes from a very specific quarry. what is good about it is it isn't dusty at all, its quiet, like not crunchy when you walk on it, it also compacts down really nice so it is firm but still much softer feeling than concrete, people use it in driveways and when compacted it is very firm and it is a nice color. so thats my plan!
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
Everyone please, no matter your political position, please register to vote and vote on Nov 5! Have a great day!!
no..... fk off
I saw your blue vote sign 👍
Gotta put our country in a better place somehow man. Appreciate you pinning a comment not related to an ad or you 😉
@@flamekillerr5851C'mon man. It's ok to disagree but I don't think this guy deserves that.
@@mikuspalmis dont tell me how to live my life
So much of RUclips is aspirational and not practical. Thanks for a practical conversation and keeping us grounded to what matters
What matters? gravel size choices
Craftsmanship is dying out in this country.
.
Hearing you say "I've got swords to make for my grandkids." Just put the biggest smile on my face. I note the gravel floor will work for me just fine.
It's going to come down to this.
For me, it depends on what you do. Gravel for forging, concrete for storing, wood for walking. Me, I have a wood shop so concrete painted off white. Ever try to find the special screw you dropped on a chip epoxy floor? Off white baby.
That's what he said.
That's why you always buy extra special screws, or simply design your projects around standard screw sizes/styles.
What would recommend for and outdoor weld fab shop?
@@ravenbarsrepairs5594but when you drop a screw from something your repairing… 😢
Indeed. I've got gravel at the forge. Run a 12" subwoofer magnet over it when it needs cleaning.
my shop is dirt floor, i have pavers and such, but like you say, sawdust, scale and tailings just add to the floor; its softer to walk on and doesn't ding tools that fall. I have a vapor barrier underneath the dirt so it does not get wet and i'm so happy i saved the money for concrete for a place where i really need it.
That is great to hear! It's also an environmentally responsible decision to only use concrete where it has the most impact.
Pro's and con's to everything. Dirt is cheaper and when leveled and pressed works just as good as concrete and metal tools don't get damaged if they fell on it. But it is overall more dirty, is dirt after all, so a lot more dust. More annoying to sweep or if you spill liquids on it, come in with wet shoes and such.
When I built my shop I did it in stages, I poured a curb to mount the walls on knowing that one day I would pour the floor too. just as you did, I poured in sections. I finally pulled the trigger because it was so uncomfortable in the winter time with a gravel floor that I needed to seal it up, it was not just the heat I was trying to preserve but the minimize the moisture too. Humidity was 80% all of the time shop. It was fine for a barn but not for a shop with all of my tools. I built a lot of project in that shop. I couldn't get a cement truck to the shop so I we wheelbarrowed it, It was surprising how quickly that went. I am pleased that I did the work in the fall when the weather was cooler, it made it easier on me and slowed the curing down enough to get the finish I wanted. Smooth enough to make it easy to sweep but not so smooth that it was slick under foot. It is amazing what you can do if you do it in stages.
I find so much peace when I watch your videos. It feels like Your calm voice while talking and educating us on the craft is the voice that I’ve always needed while growing up.
Channel is at 1.4 Million ... Congratulations!!!! I appreciate all the fine content the past few years.
Subscriber count is impressive, but a very misleading metric that doesn't translate into actual views.
@@chrimony I watch very often. The Spec House build was excellent.
@@aarontracy5160 I'm just making a point about subscriber count vs channel views. You can easily compare the two yourself.
I like the channel, and overall the channel is moderately successful -- but not the kind of success 1.4 million subscribers might lead you to believe.
I am the farthest thing from a machinist or blacksmith but hearing this man speak is just so reassuring and calming. I really enjoyed your wisdom and common sense approach. Thank you sir.
nothing but respect for this man: he lives in the real world; gives experienced, practical, and critically thought out advice; and does things correctly
this is what a real , actually USED, barn/workshop looks like
he's genuine - not one of those poseurs in their 'made for video' workshops with no dust, no dirt, no clutter, and a backdrop of several hundred immaculate ( but never used ) planes made by unicorns; a thousand double-folded Japanese left-handed inverted chisels made of unobtainium; and all their pretty little red Birdie-made overpriced measuring tools with which they show us how to build jigs yet never actually seem to do any work
I havent checked out one of your videos in a long while. You're looking strong and healthy. I always appreciate people living well. Its refreshing, considering the assault on our eyes most days.
Your comment on your age in relation to the cost/benefit hit home with me. I'm the same age as you and unlike a decade ago; now whenever I'm deciding about something where the benefit would be appreciated over a relatively long period of time- my age is a relevant factor. The wife and I were recently shopping relatively expensive mattresses to replace our well worn one that we've used probably 10 years longer than its customary lifetime. The salesman talking up its attributes; mentions that it could last 20 years and I laughed telling him we probably only needed about 15.
15 years still means it's worth it. Especially since you will need a new matress anyways. No need to suffer more than you need in your "golden" years.
whatever you do put some anti-fatigue mats on the concrete by the machines or wherever you tend to stand a lot
Yup, I'm only 32 but I'm ending up with a fair collection of these mats. There's no cheaper way to protect your body.
@zacharybob4336 Get some 1" thick open cell foam in say 3' squares to lie on under a vehicle.
Awesomeness. The other benefit I have found to gravel is, during the winter, when equipment covered in snow is pulled into the warm shop, it doesn't make a huge puddle of water. With a concrete floor, that slushy puddle of slop becomes a slip and fall hazard. With a concrete floor, Murphy's Law dictates, that puddle of water will seek out and ruin anything haphazardly left sitting on the floor. Also in the wintertime, when your farm truck has a set of chains on it, there're no worries about driving it on gravel, but chains + a 6,500 lb truck = ruined concrete.
You are a treasure sir. Concentrate on what’s best for YOU. We want you broadcasting for another 10 years! Do whatever you can to make that happen. Not only for you, but your audience.
The integrity and honesty is one of the best parts of watching your videos. The best part is how you make it like a father to son conversation.
That was such a sober statement when you said it's a matter of how much time you have left. I have a lot of older friends and when I hear them say stuff like that it's a blast of cold water.
I fantasize about concreting my dirt floor shop. I love your thoughtful approach with concrete for machines, gravel everywhere else.
In the smithy shop I help build we used lime powder mixed with dirt then gave it a light spray with water. It made a nice solid surface and it was cheap.
This was refreshingly honest with valid reasons all around.
thanks for telling me about the benefit of having gravel to walk on in your shop. I have had back trouble for years now and have gravel floors in my end shed. I have not realised about the floor, but now I do and I will be leaving it as gravel.
The last 30 seconds is what I’m here for. Wish I could sit for a cup of coffee with this guy.
I know this guy. He is one hell of a guy. I worked at a business next door to him and his property and have had the pleasure of making a connection with him. He is non stop for real!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
It helps all of us think more clearly.
Working on gravel does wonders for one's voice and your voice is welcoming to say the least.
I have said the same thing about his voice, as well as his speaking tone. He could read for audio books or do commercials i think because his voice is just easy to listen to. At least to me, maybe to others it isnt as pleasant.
His voice reminds me of a young Billy Graham
Every time I watch one of your videos I'm struck by how everything you do is so well thought out.
Your practical logic is refreshing as heck. Thank you
I did a lot of research before I built my shop. The suggestions I read were many, but 1) Build bigger than you think you need (twice as big if you can) 2)Do it all at once if you can. If you wait, you'll always put off things or have stuff in the way (shops/garages fill up fast) and make it twice as hard to do. 3) As noted here, if you have different materials, keeping them level could be a chore. I thought about pavers, gravel only, etc, but end the end decided that concrete would be best for me. I could have saved a lot by not doing it ($13,000), but I'm glad I did.
Spending less time working on the shop means more time working in the shop. I put down rubber horse mats in my wood shop. Concrete where I have the car shop with a lift and dirt everywhere else.
I’ve had horse stall mats covering half the space in my garage/gym for about ten years now. The horse mats feel harder than the concrete. It’s odd.
You are a practical man, and weight the variables well.
Ya got my vote. Your reason about slag and dropped metal slugs etc. far outweigh the concrete. My grandfather, a true Blacksmith back in the days of horse and buggy, was a clay man all the way (mainly because they didn't have a good supply of equal sized gravel back then I suppose). And standing on concrete DOES hurt your back. They offer "Balance" classes for old folks as "therapy" so consider the gravel therapy for you AND the cats. Make em work for it or find a better place.
Hybrid sounds like it makes alot of sense for me. Thanks for sharing 😊
The pragmatic approach shows deep wisdom. More work is simply more, if it doesn't come with strong benefits. This isn't maintenance, it's suitability.
I've had problems finding lost parts on most floors(small, and/or dark colored parts), so I chose white linoleum to cover my work area. It's cheap, gives great visibility, and shows quickly when the shop needs cleaning. That part is a benefit too, as my work can be sensitive to dust.
Very interesting , the gravel for the flux and standing on for long periods .. I have done some of my floor with rubber matting ontop of concrete, cow mats to be precise.. thanks for your insight and new food for thought . . Keep up the great work .. Joe
I never considered gravel for work spaces. I do like my footing on it like you said - it's a bit more dynamic and natural and my body is comfortable with it. Thanks for the tip and opening my mind to it
I got lucky three years ago when I bought a farm in Sweden, four of the barns already had concrete floor, I turned one into an English pub 90 sq metres, another into a general workshop for framing, tractor repairs, boat work or whatever you can fit inside which is most things as it’s 128 sq meters with a 3.3 height to the beams, the old pig house had a really bad concrete floor so I took that out this year, next year I will pour a new floor with heated floor and rent that out over winter for classic car/bike storage and use it as an overspill workshop/storage during the spring and summer, also around 90 sq metres, I then have a machine hall with gravel floor that I intend to turn into a blacksmith/fabrication shop at 180 sq meters as well as some smaller buildings with a mix of concrete and gravel floors. I feel like I won life’s lottery with this place!
I worked a jobsite where I walked 15 miles a day to handle my tasks. It was originally base rock with fines compacted into a gravel road, with other areas had asphalt roadways. As the project progressed it became environmentally sensitive where there was likely hood of major fines for storm water, which the fix was to turn the main pathways and lay down areas into concrete or asphalt depending on type of equipment traversing the area. The point is on the dirt and rock roads I didn't feel the same fatigue, knees back hip pain as I did on the concrete and asphalt surfaces. This was a 30 year old man at the time doing all the same tasks different surfaces made a noticeable difference. Growing up on the farm we had a few sheds that were clay with hardwood planks on the bare ground, rough cut 2"-3" oak never had a fire either with hot work. Have a conversation with anyone who has worked their career in general industry on concrete floors, heavy price is paid on the body. I've thought about building a shop, gravel floor with crane matts on top for the majority, a separate room for hot work / grinding on a concrete slab.
A lot of military guys will road march on the shoulder of the road in dirt, gravel, and stone instead of the road asphalt for the same reason. I knew several older airborne guys with all sorts of leg and back problems that did this.
I am a builder, I now fill my yards with gravel and its always looking "clean" oil, paint, wood shavings, no problem! Also to avoid the dust use Flint! For example I use Newbury Flint - No dust!
My Dad had the privilege of being able to afford a money-is-no-object shop. After seeing that shop, and comparing it to mine, and my cousin's shop, I think he didn't come out the winner. It was big. That just meant it became a barn - and a barn that he had to keep climate controlled. My cousin's shop evolved as he had money for it, and, at present, he has basically 3 zones to it - one with a concrete floor that's climate-controlled, 1 that's for bigger projects that can be somewhat climate controlled, and one that's basically storage and there's no need to apologize for the gravel there. I feel like that's going to be the model for my "dream shop".
Nicely done. I poured concrete in one of my sheds to also keep down dampness. I found that moisture evaporates up through gravel or dirt more than concrete. Items laid down on my dirt floor developed rust and scale along the bottom.
Linda Gayle and I absolutely adore you, Kelly and your progeny. You [and Kelly] have provided much knowledge and joy into our lives. God bless you, et al. Scott, you are a marvelous man! 🤠
Thank you, Pete!
I saw your daughter on tiktok. I told her I watched all your videos. You're a mans man. Wish I had a dad like you! Take care!
I couldn't imagine having gravel in my shop. Thanks for confirming the only upside with gravel is you don't need to clean it.
Gravel, but with steel plates and/or plywood (NOT OSB) around when you need a smoother surface (for jacks or crawling around under something). I've used ~3x8' strips of carpet quite a bit as well. Those are handy to keep in a service truck.
Crushed concrete in my shop for all the same reasons. Thanks for the thoughts and opinions!
Use it up... Wear it out.. make it do.. or do without... love your videos sir and totally understand. We have partially a finished shop and barn that was moved into for the same reason. Every few years there's a project is done mostly just for convenience. Thank you for the practical videos and fighting the mainstream norm.
practical conversation in the man is grounded in what Matt that is very true my friend
What's the best beginner book on making things out of metal from scrap metal to sand casting and pounding away on anvil book?
Nice and "honest" discussion - something rare; Keep up the great work Essential Craftsman!
Good discussion. I've come to like gravel in a forge area. Red hot metal doesn't ricochet off into the distance, or under a work bench. And dropping tools like you say is a bonus.
Apart from that, I love a concrete floor for most other work areas, much like you said. Thanks for the vids.
... And maybe I will. But in the meantime I've got a bench to build... ❤
I love how you evaluate all those things thoughts and what not if's, just to come back to what really is the task on hand.
Keep up the good work! 🤝
Saw another one of your videos awhile back...saw the gravel, started considering it for my new shop, in some places, it just makes sense for some applications...
A fine sand and coarse gravel mix is good, similar properties you like, but the sand helps you find smaller objects you drop. Just mount a 3 brush boot cleaner by the exit so you don't track sand around.
You did a good job of breaking that down...gravel is the way a lot of times never go wrong that way.
I don't know how you did it, but you got me to listen to about the whole video even with my super short attention span from our stupid phones
This is good info. I'm planning out a new shop and devoted 0 seconds of thinking toward what kind of floor I'd want. I just assumed concrete. Maybe it doesn't make sense to do the entire thing in concrete. It would probably save a few dollars to do a half-and-half concrete and gravel.
I did gravel also in the back 1/3 for the forging area. A lot of people wondered. My reasons were better on my back and I hate sweeping! 😁
Liked the video for cat pooping in the shop
I have the same issue in the garden except they’re not our cats. Can’t really take any drastic action as the kids adore them. All 7 that visit…… rest assured the poop gets flung over the fence to be reunited with the owners humans though.
cat poop is so nasty! dog poop at least dries up after a while but a cat turd is a cat turd forever, or until you step in it and carry it elsewhere
My cats actually go out in the woods and cover it however my neighbors dam dogs 💩 in my drive and piss on everything😤
@Martin52863
That's really unfortunate, try ammonia balls, or moth balls. I can't remember what I used, the rain takes them away after a few weeks but they don't like it. My cats (9 outdoor) i have trained to not poo in my garden, they have their own shed, I pick up their poop and stick it by their food bowl. After 24 hrs I'll take a shovel and throw it over the fence. After twice they stopped. I always find random new spots, I don't move it bc mostly idc but just not in my compost or garden. They typically use the woods. Hope that helps.
I was planning on concrete for my shed floor but went with gravel. A suggestion for people that have woodchucks (groundhogs) in the vicinity: bury wire mesh a couple inches (I used 2"x 4" mesh) below the gravel. Woodchucks dig through gravel, but not wire mesh. If your building has a dirt or gravel floor without mesh underneath, woodchucks might make your shop their new home. I found this out the hard way. I used smoke bombs to kill them and then bought some mesh and more gravel. The varmints will dig their new home when you go away for the weekend or are just away from your shop for a few days. If you have concrete... they can dig under that too! Don't stack anything close to your building next to the walls. They will dig under the pile and under your concrete.
Thank you for going through this! Made me rethink my future shop
Gravel, dirt, or concrete, I too have. Knee pads save me so much anguish. Great video, thanks.
I've been in a bunch of blacksmith shops and never even heard of this. Very interesting video. 👍
Just found this page and I really it. A wise man and a honest one at that.
Some anti-fatigue mats would do wonders on the concrete floor sections, in front of workbenches and at the positions you stand to control machinery. Very interesting video, good points to consider!
Designed beautifully for the purpose intended
A very good way of explaining why
I like stone pavers. Lift and move by yourself. You can always level them after they move around.
You can oil the gravel to cut down on dust. I did that in my shop with a weed sprayer and oil mixed with diesel
what a blessing to have friends for so long that you have to worry about sure footing.
What a wonderful video I didnt know what to expect. Can you do a video of how you stay so fit at your age what are your tips, tricks that you have learned over the years
When you mentioned less pain with gravel, i can see that being the case as the gravel is more fluid than concrete allowing it to confom to your natural pressure points better than solid surface like concrete.
The other benefit is that concrete can crack where rock will break into more rock which benefits the first point I mentioned. So I feel one could aruge that concrete will only degrade with use where rock degredation is an added benefit. The con being more dust as you mentioned.
The best floor I've seen in a Smithy shop was an earthen floor. It was packed clay mixed with linseed oil and fine sand for drainage. It was easy on your back and legs. The only downside is the high-traffic areas. He had a Vibratory Rammer that he would use to repair those areas.
I glad to watch you, man. I was working blacksmith. Nikolay.
Wonderful content, this man is extremely likable.
I like your way of thinking!
Gravel makes perfect sense for forging and blacksmithing. One thing you didn't mention but when slag or hot flakes hit the gravel they're a lot less likely to stick to the soles of your shoes than they would be sitting proud on a hard, smooth concrete floor.
Great video. I've been watching you for years, your perspective and advice has made me a better craftsman. Thankyou
The cat challenge made my fall off my chair laughing! awesome shop!
I don't do black smithing just a small double car garage work shop for some wood working and home repairs... BEST thing i ever put on the ground was carpet squares. It's warmer, its nicer to walk on bare foot, dropped tools don't chip or damage, spills..... well you either let it soak in or just put another carpet square down. cleaning is the same you just vacuum it. they're also VERY VERY cheap compared to options like epoxy.
the ONLY down side is obviously hot work like grinding, welding etc can damage it fairly quickly. but if you only bust out the stick welder once every 6 months I HIGHLY suggest used carpet squares
This is a great video and I know nothing about owning a shop.
The BEST shop floor I ever saw was in a very, very old blacksmith's shop. It was made of oak staves about 18" long hammered into the floor vertically leaving the end grain uppermost and was four hundred years old when I saw it, now sadly long gone.
Had Cats in the shop, their "excavation" is an issue, & no I will not shoot them. Biggest issue experienced w/ my crushed limestome, drop a nut, washer, spring, any small component, it is probably gone or a minimum half hour with a magnet, & then accept that it is gone. The machinery tools sir on a concrete slab, but the storage area where trucks, tractors live, where maintenance, repairs occur, concrete remains a wishlist item.🇺🇸
Lovely video!
Thank you andgreetings from Portugal.
Love the explanation. Like your thought processes & the story sharing. great stuff thank you.
Love that...First concrete pad area is for the missus.. Wise man once say "Ensure Wife(Planning Officer) has workshop area for bees before further expansion is requested"
Another advantage of gravel is the fact that it's course, which reduces reverberation and thus reduces noise in the shop. The only thing that would have been making me mad about having a shop like this is the elevation difference. Mainly because I have arthrosis in my knees and sudden elevation change like stairs and steps is just evil to my joints. I actually made myself a small workshop recently and the floor is still grass so I definitely don't get to criticize anyone on their floor choice. :D
This man speaks words of wisdom.
The litterbox factor is the reason I don't have barn cats. I wish I did to take care of all the mice. But i have gravel everywhere and mostly open buildings.
Most every woman that I've been around has been a cat lover... me not so much.
An outside cat has provided some protection from those rodents and the destruction they cause.
Plus my outside cat comes when I call him.😂
Maybe you can find a small dog that's a good mouser.
@@creativecravingGreat option
I never thought about, but we had gravel on all of our buildings as a kid. We didn't need that fancy concrete. Now, I know about the crazy cat thing. Thanks m8.
I had an uncle.
With a giant corrugated building on a couple of acres. It.
Had a gravel floor and often a dump truck and excavator inside. It was dingy light being the 70's, but the music played and when it was cold this giant vertical pipe with slits glowed red hot and roared as it consumed the 5 or 10 gallons of diesel poured into its base.
...good times!!
Until his house on the same property mysteriously burned down.. it remained a cool property for years either way.
God, I love this channel.
My grandfather was a blacksmith. He learned the trade the old fashion way, he lived with another blacksmith and started at the age of 15. He went into the US Navy in WW I and was a blacksmith aboard ship. Even though he had a low rank he was paid more because of his trade. After the war was over his dad and brother built his blacksmith shop and he ran it into his 80's, and passed away in his late 80's. His shop still stands and is located on rout 519 in Washington County, Eighty Four Pennsylvania. By the way his shop floor was concrete and after all the years it wasn't very level anymore and had a lot of dips and gouges and was totally black, even after sweeping it.
The closed caption says "wood concrete and gravel". What is wood concrete?
Now i love my gravel shop way more great video for me.
3:33 "Natural Causes" is also what I call my .22 rifle. 😂
Old carpet is my favorite budget floor.
Yes! Old carpet for the win! I parked trucks on old carpet in a workshop for years, was awesome! No one cares how it looked, and once and a while you hose it down. Plus when you gotta get on the floor, it's kinda comfortable!
I have a dirt floor shop, will the carpet get moldy and smell ?
@@TimothyMcVay mine does not, but it’s not a tight building. Lot of air moving through
That is an alarming and unfortunate name you have friend.
@@andymink9606 it's just words, right?
my grandfather on my dads side had a dirt floor it was like that as of 2001-2002 and if it is still a dirt floor today its most likely one of the last ones outside of Gosport shipyard and that is if any of the original shops still have a dirt floor.
another good thing about gravel is that the desperate seeker can sift it when looking for shy ball bearings and heirlooms and such like notions. Build a sluice box and find the gold things.
Love your videos, your teaching and your words. Gravel is pretty smart for me!!! saludos desde Argentina
well this is reassuring because I am putting up a pole barn for storage and do not want to deal with a slab, at least not at the moment. money is the main reason in my case. I plan to do something similar so that in the future I can pour a slab in. the space is mainly to store things like ATV's and lawn equipment. I think it will be annoying moving around some things but not too bad. I live in Arizona and around here we have a type of rock that people often use in landscaping that is basically 1" minus, flat stones, kind of like broken up slate, that are naturally coated/mixed in clay , think its called Table Mesa Brown, comes from a very specific quarry. what is good about it is it isn't dusty at all, its quiet, like not crunchy when you walk on it, it also compacts down really nice so it is firm but still much softer feeling than concrete, people use it in driveways and when compacted it is very firm and it is a nice color. so thats my plan!
Amen 🙌🏼 keep doing those worth while things that you love ❤️ God will provide!