Stone Foundation

Join us for a new build series as we construct a timber frame blacksmith forge! In this episode we build the stone foundation. Locally sourced bluestone salvaged from a railroad bridge being decommissioned was split to size with a home forged cape chisel and wedges. These stones rest on a gravel trench which takes all water off downhill. This regional variant of stone laying uses stone to stone contact, in that the stones are not supported by mortar for their structure and position, mortar is only used to “fill in the spaces“. This is sometimes called “wet laid“ as opposed to “dry laid“ stone. The mortar is a blend of natural clay subsoil, lime putty, and sand. It important to keep the mortar covered and moist for a long curing time to make it the strongest it can be.