I love to silversmith and was wonder if anyone out there was able to continue such a hobby in a rv.
GENECOP said
10:15 AM Jun 28, 2014
I don't see why not...just consider the supplies you would need and the space.....maybe a nice Toyhauler with a garage .....people persue all types of crafts and hobbies on the road...
Judy L said
02:47 PM Jun 28, 2014
Hi Leila. It's definitely doable. I'm an amateur silversmith and have a small jewelers bench with many of my tools set up in our 5th wheel. We eliminated the couch and just have our two recliners and the dining set. That way Bill has his desk and I have my workbench. I anchored the bench to the floor of the slide using L brackets. It's a cheap bench but I like having it because it has a curved drawer that pulls out to catch filings when you're sawing or sanding. It doesn't have a lot of storage space so I use a set of plastic drawers on the floor next to the bench to house most of my pliers, hammers, supplies, etc. I use a small powerful fan to exhaust fumes from soldering and particles from polishing out the window. I use a hanging flex shaft for polishing which limits me to small projects but works just fine for most jewelry. I keep a small crockpot with pickle in its own small plastic tub when not in use. I just make sure to brace it with other objects when we're traveling so it doesn't spill. So far it's worked just fine.
Let me know if you have any questions. I'm happy to help with anything that I can. Judy
-- Edited by Judy L on Saturday 28th of June 2014 08:09:52 PM
Judy L said
02:58 PM Jun 28, 2014
Gene, I love your toy hauler idea. New Horizons has a used toy hauler with a 6' garage that would be perfect for a work shop but it's beyond our towing capacity and our budget. Oh well, we can keep on dreaming :) Judy
Leee said
05:25 PM Jun 30, 2014
Judy
Thanks for telling me how you keep silversmithing on the road. It helps me figure out how I may be able to keep doing what I love. I have only been doing it about 2 years but really love the craft. My set up at home is very tiny. I have a plastic tower for my supplies as well. I only have a small torch that seems to work well for my projects. All my tools seem to work really nicely in a small basket. I am hoping to be able to use a fold up table or picnic table to work on when we make it out on to the road. We really are looking at a diesel pusher for traveling but love the idea of a 5th wheel.
Thanks again Leila
NWescapee said
11:22 PM Jun 30, 2014
Yes it's "doable" but consider the "mess". Solder, silver dust from cutting, hammering, etc. can leave black marks where you didn't intend for them to be, don't ask me how I know this!! The whole house vac really has helped with this issue. I would advise good quality, heavy duty floor coverings to be brought out when it's time to work on your hobby.
Judy L said
07:48 AM Jul 1, 2014
Dale, you're right that it can create a mess and that commercial linoleum might be nice in my work area. Our carpeting is a sort of shaggy mottled stuff that doesn't show a lot of the dirt but also works very well to hide anything that I drop on it. So far I've lost a tiny moonstone, matching bezel cup and countless little bits of silver that have escaped my grasp. I thought about creating an exhaust system similar to the one I had in the basement of our S&B where I used an in-line fan and sheet metal ducts to create an exhaust system out a basement window. I've wondered about creating something similar using another in line fan, flexible duct work and the rectangular floor register "boots" as the intake on my bench and outlet at the window. But again, I agree with Gene that a Toy Hauler workshop would be nice to have.
I love to silversmith and was wonder if anyone out there was able to continue such a hobby in a rv.
Hi Leila. It's definitely doable. I'm an amateur silversmith and have a small jewelers bench with many of my tools set up in our 5th wheel. We eliminated the couch and just have our two recliners and the dining set. That way Bill has his desk and I have my workbench. I anchored the bench to the floor of the slide using L brackets. It's a cheap bench but I like having it because it has a curved drawer that pulls out to catch filings when you're sawing or sanding. It doesn't have a lot of storage space so I use a set of plastic drawers on the floor next to the bench to house most of my pliers, hammers, supplies, etc. I use a small powerful fan to exhaust fumes from soldering and particles from polishing out the window. I use a hanging flex shaft for polishing which limits me to small projects but works just fine for most jewelry. I keep a small crockpot with pickle in its own small plastic tub when not in use. I just make sure to brace it with other objects when we're traveling so it doesn't spill. So far it's worked just fine.
Let me know if you have any questions. I'm happy to help with anything that I can. Judy
-- Edited by Judy L on Saturday 28th of June 2014 08:09:52 PM
Thanks for telling me how you keep silversmithing on the road. It helps me figure out how I may be able to keep doing what I love. I have only been doing it about 2 years but really love the craft. My set up at home is very tiny. I have a plastic tower for my supplies as well. I only have a small torch that seems to work well for my projects. All my tools seem to work really nicely in a small basket. I am hoping to be able to use a fold up table or picnic table to work on when we make it out on to the road. We really are looking at a diesel pusher for traveling but love the idea of a 5th wheel.
Thanks again Leila
Dale, you're right that it can create a mess and that commercial linoleum might be nice in my work area. Our carpeting is a sort of shaggy mottled stuff that doesn't show a lot of the dirt but also works very well to hide anything that I drop on it. So far I've lost a tiny moonstone, matching bezel cup and countless little bits of silver that have escaped my grasp. I thought about creating an exhaust system similar to the one I had in the basement of our S&B where I used an in-line fan and sheet metal ducts to create an exhaust system out a basement window. I've wondered about creating something similar using another in line fan, flexible duct work and the rectangular floor register "boots" as the intake on my bench and outlet at the window. But again, I agree with Gene that a Toy Hauler workshop would be nice to have.