I live in an apartment complex with my lady and our two best friends. Due to the fact that our walls are paper thin and any kind of noise will surely reverberate through the building, I have decided not to make any armour whatsoever, except chainmaille, inside.

Luckily, there is a small grassy knoll across the way from me where my roomie and I job occassionally. I've been eyeing a particular spot because it is cemented and would be good for a small work station.

But all my tools belong to my dad, and since moving out onto my own recently, all I have is a claw hammer and a screwdriver. Neither of which are as useful as I'd like them to be.

I can't very well lug a forge and 200 lb anvil around, but I would like to set up a sufficient and easily transportable shop that would fit into my extremely large duffel bag. Here's what I had in mind:

Rawhide mallet
3lb sledge (with face ground into dome)
soft dish (denim pant leg from knee down filled with sand)
small lead block for peening rivets and such (still haven't found one yet)
piece of railroad tie (already have it)
ball pein hammer
hand punch

If I need to cut or grind a piece, I am usually at my parent's house for a few hours on the weekends, so I can take advantage of the many sheets of steel and power tools I was thinking I could cut and grind pieces there, take them home and dish them at my leisure out in the grassy area.

The noise factor won't be a problem because of how far the houses are from this spot.

Any suggesions on a portable, efficient work station? Thanks!

One of our guys had the same problem- he and his family live in an apartment complex and he had nowhere to make "stuff".

From what I could gather, he used to do woodworking in the living room and the neighbors got used to the sound of hammering and drilling, as long as he didn't do it past 9:30PM (they live in a family building). The real loud stuff he did out on the balcony, and not past 9PM.

The neighbors all knew about the family's "odd" hobbies and they just thought he was weird but harmless, and the noise wasn't any worse than a loud stereo.

My only thought about your idea of working in the park is that you're likely to draw a crowd, and then you won't be able to get any real work done.

As for portability, what about storing everything in one of those garden carts with the big wheels? It would simplify moving things around and give you a place to keep it between times.

You might not be able to move a 200lb anvil, but you might be able to get a smaller one or a series of smaller anvils. As I am not an armourer, I know not the cost of said anvils, though I hear they can be pricey.

Another option similar to the garden cart might be:

(1) metal framed luggage/computer cart. We use on of these for hauling an armour trunk around. It supports up to 350lbs and is collapsible for easy storage when not in use.

(1) Custom made wooden, or store bought tack box. (this can be locked and is more durable than the duffle bag and will protect your stuff). You can add shelves/drawers to it if it doesn't already have them for small parts and tools. If the top is flat enough, you can also use it as a work surface.

To see what I am talking about in regard to a tack box/trunk:

http://www.statelinetack.com/

When the site loads, select the WESTERN tab, select barn/stable tab, click Tack Trunks.

The one I am thinking of is the weather resistant duralite tack trunk. Colors are red, blue, or green, but it might fit the bill. A little pricey at $189.00.

Recently, I have been getting posterboard to make patterns with and putting together sets of patterns. Then I try to visualize what rivets need to go where, what kind of articulation, and all that stuff, so that by the time the weekend rolls around and I go to my dad's shop, I can just lay down the patterns and go to it. I recently made some splinted arms and am currently working on a set of splinted legs. My hauberk is almost completed too.

If you make a wood box, you'll have something period looking you can schlepp your gear to an event in, and even lock if necessary. I don't know if it's relevant for your group, but it may be if you start playing with the SCA.