After spending 6 months rehabilitation after shoulder surgery, I was really itching to get back in-front of my anvil/an anvil/any anvil and start forging again. With the current world-wide medical issue and shutdowns, using one of the local blacksmith forges that offers shop time rental was out of the question and I REALLY didn’t want to set up my anvil and tools under a popup tent in the back yard again. I decided to add on o my shop – a small 8’X12’ space and forge indoors from then on.
Plans were drawn up, permits were applied for and the city of Seattle said… “NOPE, too much percentage of lot already covered by structure, no additions allowed.” OK, fine. I put my thinking cap on and researched city codes and BLAM! I could build a temporary structure and not be beholden to the lot coverage and setback rules.
I found a small temporary (not anchored to a slab, footings, or existing building) metal-framed, open sided shed sold by VersaTube that fit the bill. It was ordered and 6 weeks later construction began. I figure it took me a total of 50 man-hours to put it up, working solely at night after work and on a couple of weekends, and finish it out by myself. The total cost for the building and all the material was around $1600 – not bad for a 120 sq’ for usable shop addition.
I am currently kitting out the interior, with most of my blacksmith tools already in, and building up a new medium sized propane forge for use the new building.