Hello folks,
Does anyone here have experience smithing in a (rural) residential zone WRT noise levels?
I’m talking the 2-5 acre lot size “country residential” type area, not shoulder to shoulder subdivision.
Do you find you’re generally able to smith indoors/outdoors during the daytime or did you need to do any special modifications for noise reduction to keep good relations with the neighbours? Soundproofing required?
I was originally planning on having a (covered) outdoor area for a forge. But we were looking at 20+ acres originally. An interesting lot has come up but its smaller (4 acres) and closer to neighbours so I’m trying to figure out if we’d need to change our blacksmithing plans. If outdoor isn’t possible on these lot sizes without complaints then I’d need to pull permits for a structure which would be a bear to get approved for noise reasons I’d reckon
I think this article will help
https://www.anvilfire.com/21st-century-blacksmithing/getting-started/blacksmithing-law/
No real advice but the smoke from the coal was my main concern when I was trying to do it in my backyard. Your local laws will be what you need to look at, but sound is not going to be your main issue imo.
I’m basically in a suburb. Silence the crap out of your anvil (chains magnets big stump etc.) and only work during your local noise ordinance hours. Running a gas forge as others have suggested will make your setup less of a nuisance. I don’t smith every day but I have been working weekly for about two years without any complaints.
