Bristol workshop [Archive] - British Blades

puzo

28-08-07, 02:21 PM

Been chatting to a fellow bb'er in bristol about setting up a workshop/group/association.

I am fed-up with my bedroom looking like a workshop, seriously impeeding on my pulling power now i'm single. I am desperate for a workshop or small area to set up shop and am seeing if there are like-minded bristolians interested in a small workshop where we can do flatstock removal, metalwork and general knife making. Depending on the set up and/or location i dont see why we couldnt get a little gas forge too.

So I am putting out the feelers for anyone in the bristol area that would like to catch up and discuss how to move forward. Obviously there is a bit to talk about: rental, electricity, tool sharing, dymamics, and of course a name is needed. I am a little wary of just going ahead with planning, dont want to it to get messy, being lumped with bills or tools going missing. Seen it happen before.

I know there have been talks about a southwest group but really want somewhere local to work, plus i would quite like my bedroom back to tell the truth. Plus southwest meetups n hammerins would be good too.

Well if there is anyone interested pm me or scribble your thoughts on this thread.

wanderingblade

28-08-07, 02:33 PM

Sounds like a greast idea. I'd certainly try and manage a few visits per month (bit of a distance)

richard ball

28-08-07, 04:30 PM

Thats a cool idea shame I am a damm northerner saying that there is nothing to stop people making a northern group work shop thu

puzo

28-08-07, 05:40 PM

oi you, set up own thread befoer you hijack this:P

N.di Mambro

28-08-07, 07:18 PM

oi you, set up own thread befoer you hijack this:P

Right!
Good idea,but I do enjoy my trips to Nottingham!
Nick.
PS You have managed to add a tongue rather than a smile!

BanjoBill

28-08-07, 10:35 PM

I live about 50 miles out of Bristol, but I'd be up for it, say on a week-end.

I have a small home-made fire extinguisher forge I could bring, plus I'll see if I can grab some steel for playing with :D

puzo

29-08-07, 12:10 AM

and so it begins...

:D

BanjoBill

29-08-07, 09:21 AM

and so it begins...

:D

It might be a good idea to have a meet-up in a pub somewhere. I have looked into arranging a meeting around my area, but couldn't find a venue that would allow us :(

If you can find somewhere, then those interested could meet up to discuss the details. Obviously the prime descision is the location, renting anywhere will be out on cost grounds.

puzo

29-08-07, 04:07 PM

BanjoBill

29-08-07, 04:38 PM

I'm up for renting somewhere, i cant go on doing this in my bedroom, just thinking of a small workshop, garage or bit of space in a yard?

Gona have a bit of a task finding somewhere cheap, but the i will persist

Do you not have a garden? A small shed will be much better than the financial committment of taking on a rental.

puzo

29-08-07, 05:12 PM

Thats the root of the problem i'm afraid. I dont have anywhere to do it. No graden, shed, garage ro any space apart from my bedroom, which is not good.

I live in rental accomodation and would like somewhere where i can grind some metal, bash some steel and rasp some wood. I dont mind renting a garage or workspace nearby.

Elma

29-08-07, 09:48 PM

sounds great, I'm about 40 miles away in newport, would'nt mind regular visits

Ian

puzo

29-10-08, 09:59 PM

I know this is a old thread, but its like disease, eating away at you. I now have a shed and a garden, small mind but suitable for some small time fun. ruitimiximosis is also up for trying to move this ahead so if anyone is stil up for a meet up and small hammerin/mashup lets hope we can move this forward.

Of course we're gona discuss this over copious amounts of beverages to ensure we know what were doing first

cheers

rcs

29-10-08, 10:06 PM

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66458&highlight=bristol

i'm up for it:D

sleepygonzales

21-05-09, 09:19 AM

so

whats goin on ere then my babbers?

I would really like to get away from the missus EHEM, I mean do a bit of tinkering for an afternoon or 2.

I want to get into knife making. I keep buying blades with the intention of putting handles on them, but I dont have any materials, tools, machinery, or skills. My small garage is full of broken motorbikes EHEM, I mean projects, so no room to do it either. Any loverly Bristol based folk with some tools and some space want to show a noob the ropes?

Theres a box of jaffa cakes in it for ya...

jungle_re

21-05-09, 11:10 AM

would love to be able to make some sort of hammerinng after havig to miss jacks, id be up for it can bring a grinder or 2

Mark1

11-01-10, 08:47 PM

I'm in Bristol and would be well up for a shared space, where to find space is a problem. Industrial estates??Lockups?? Wot about trying to rent a corner of engineering workshop?? Avonmouth?? Any body got any contacts or any inital solid ideas???
Mark

salad

21-10-10, 12:16 PM

Hello there

I am just 20 miles outside bristol and would be intreested in Joining in. I could meet regulary

puzo

08-11-10, 01:15 PM

Cool, sounds like theres some interest here. Craig (ruitmexi) and I have been talking about this and a local group for ages, come up with the Bristol Cutlers Association as a group name, have done a facebook page if anyone is interested. Craig wanted something like cutlers-leathermaking-fabrication-jewelrymaking-casting-metalworking association, but it didnt have the same ring to it!!!

We've been talking about a meet for ages but in typical bristol fashion, end up drinking cider instead. So, eventually we have decided to make a proper start and arrange a meetup in bristol. I live in a house in bristol with a garden, some tools, could make some food, bash some metal, and have a tipple if anyone is interested.

bobw

27-11-10, 03:55 PM

I would be up for this Puzo, are you any nearer sorting out a date yet?

Regards
Bob

salad

22-12-10, 08:33 PM

Me to mate :)

polemat

18-07-11, 01:50 PM

Old thread, but anyone get a Bristol thing sorted?

RACK

04-08-11, 10:35 PM

i'd be interested in any meets or anything :)

puzo

12-08-11, 01:32 PM

Its been a while since i posted up on BB, been busy moving house, more than a few times - pain in the ***, and started up my own business but the bristol workshop has always been a high priority for me. Had to move the shed workshop so again no where to tinker.

the bristol workshop space has been a recurring theme, and am putting it out there again. Looking into getting a large garage/workshop set up as a cooporative style arrangement. For tool makers, jewellery smithing, turning etc.. plus a big sofa to drink copious amounts of tea

For example i'm heading out on tues to look at a 800sqft garage on tues on gloucester rd, bristol, its £500 a month and that includes business rates too, so if split between say 5 people that would only be approx £23 a week. plus elecy on top. Thats like a massive 15 x10 shed each. Other considerations need to be made such as H&S and insurance

http://www.gumtree.com/p/flats-houses/units-to-let-gloucester-road-bristol-400pm-inclusive-plus-electricity/66363628

I know times are tight but putting it out there for consideration.

Got a few power tools and a lathe shall soon be added, I have:

sml Bandsaw
med bandsaw
Anvil (at last)
pillar drill
4x6 sander
1x4 sander
50x2000 very long platen, approx a meter, linisher
half an ali style grinder, with 2hp 3ph motor and 3hp phase converter all ready to go
haggis has jewelery smelting stuff like crucibles, which isnt going down too well in his bedroom!

anyone with experience in setting up an artist collective or similar, advice on pitfalls and positives welcome, off to business ink and business support agencies next week.

There have been few workshops coming up locally in bristol recently and have high hope for the future

puzo

01-09-11, 01:03 PM

guessing pople feel times are too tough to justify a workshop at the mo. Cant afford or use that much space on my own, if there is any future interest let me know and we'll sort something out. shame, its a wicked space

puzo

05-10-11, 07:12 PM

its been a long time coming, but we have a work shop Oh yeeeeeer

We have joined a community project that has taken over a closed college in south Bristol. It has various class rooms, a big gym, gardens and also various huge workshops that were used to teach mechanics. So far they have a skate park, various artists studios, shoalin martia arts, bike doctors, a blacksmith, and community gardening projects, and now they have us :)

We have a small space in the large worshop, approx 170sqft to do 'dirty work' such as grinding, casting and forging, and a classroom next door approx 370sqft for 'clean work' like leather work, jellewery, woodwork and the such.

As part of the community we have to volunteer 10 hours a month towards the project, Plus we'll put on some skill sharing workshops and facilitate other group learning sessions. we'll get some pics up soon

I must say we're pretty chuffed

johnt1102

06-10-11, 08:24 AM

Arclightuk

06-10-11, 09:40 AM

Hi chaps - I am in Bristol and have been looking into the idea of learning to make knives etc - if I am guilty of not reading this properly I apologise. Is there anyone at the workshop willing to share the dark secrets of the craft, or is it more a space for people to do their own thing??

Thanks
Gav

puzo

06-10-11, 09:54 AM

the hub? haha, proberbly not, but we'll have a go :)

Its not really about money or personal space but more of an enviroment for learning and exploring. Haggis and I met at JackJacks hammerin and we both have respect and interest in cutting tools and I wish to develop it into a sustainable way to support the workshop. But foremost its a place to tinker, learn, co-produce, and skill share.

We have a diverse range of interests and wish to share with others and while building a network of craftspeople and as such would be happy for you to come down and chat and a play. at the moments its empty but are building benchs and desk for working at, drop me a pm and we'll chat

puzo

30-10-11, 01:10 PM

The new workshop can only e described as heaven. We Moved in about a month ago and much potterig has been done. There is a massive amount of knowledge and skills around the workshop, metal fabrication of all types alongside bike modifications, graffitti and screenprinting, woodurner makings, metal sculptures. I see it as the future of community projects, utilising empty council buildings and charging 10% of the retail rate for space, bringing together people for real coproduction and cooporation. should be fun :)

entrance to the main open plan workshop area
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g85/iangrieve/workshop/IMG_1404.jpg

Lillith the blacksmith's area, friendly, a great source of knowledge and toolsif needed
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g85/iangrieve/workshop/IMG_1405.jpg

We have two seporate areas, one for dirty work, forging, casting, grinding etc... this is the dirty area, about 4mx 5m, with 3 phase socket. The 3 phase wiring was stolen last year so needs to be hooked up again, another taks to add to the list
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g85/iangrieve/workshop/IMG_1419.jpg

with a single phase 50mmx2000mm linisher with a nice selection of belts from john
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g85/iangrieve/workshop/IMG_1423.jpg

and a beast of a 4hp 3 phase 150mmx24000ishmm, the rubber contact wheel has deteriorated, very squigy and mushy to touch, not good, not sure what will happen to this, maybe sold to buy other machines, maybe modified or taken to bits, undecided as yet
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g85/iangrieve/workshop/IMG_1422.jpg

The entrance to an old classroom we callthe clean area, wood, leather and basic pottering about
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g85/iangrieve/workshop/IMG_1403.jpg

notice the main feature inthe room, a wacking great big white board
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g85/iangrieve/workshop/IMG_1402.jpg

we've done a load of car runs and have started filling it up, what have we been working out in the black board?
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g85/iangrieve/workshop/IMG_1410.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g85/iangrieve/workshop/IMG_1409.jpg

hasnt taken long to fill it up with projects and bits and bobs
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g85/iangrieve/workshop/IMG_1416.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g85/iangrieve/workshop/bench.jpg

Its allcoming along nicley, and hope to be able to forge soon, and finish decking out the clean area, then start thinking about puttingon some classes: basic leather work, jewellery, tool making, any ideas on simple projects to teach always welcome.

Talking to the caretaking team to see when we can arrange a hammer-in

scandi nut

30-10-11, 02:13 PM

can i get in on this as i am in bristol?
cheers.

puzo

30-10-11, 04:56 PM

pm me and we'll meet to make a start

Sowulo

25-03-13, 06:08 PM

Hello Puzo. Is your workshop still going? I have couple of Japanese higo knives for projects and I need some help with drilling. I only have dremel at home an drill bits I need are too big for it.
Regards
Sowulo

puzo

31-03-13, 04:14 AM

hi

the workshop has come to an end, the building is being demolished, looking for a new home and will update when we have more news

Sowulo

31-03-13, 12:50 PM

Oh, thats really sad news then. I hope you will reopen soon.
Anybody else could help me with drilling in Bristol?
Thank you.