u/jillywacker

Hi guys.

I just had an incident occur. It's left me quite rattled and anxious.

So backstory: i started blacksmithing a few years ago, i put my shop in a gazebo on my back boundary line and made some doors and a wall. It backs onto a fence and the tall as fuck brick of my back neighbours shed.

About a year or more ago, I was grinding into the night. At about 9pm, my back neighbour came out and yelled at me (fair), and i stopped. A few days later, I was contacted by my council, and they wanted to come in and see what I was doing. The council was under the impression I was running a business as I have an active registered business number.

A rep from the council came. He was super nice and said, "As far as I'm concerned, you're just doing hobby things in a shed, so I have no issues with this. Just keep within the noise regulations."

So I have, I've never gone past 6 pm, which is the strict noise cutoff time. I also since then have been hyper concious of the noise. Generally, i won't start until midday and 99% of the time finish by 4.30. Keep in mind I have a job and a kid, so I'm not out there super often.

CURRENT DAY:

So, I have been given a spot at an upcoming market on the 11th of July. The owner is super keen to get me in, this kinda just fell in my lap through conversation with him from my work.

I'm keen to do it, get my name out, make some cash etc etc. So for the last week and a half, I have been going crazy, i upgraded a bunch of stuff in my shop, streamlined my process, and have forged as much stuff as I can so far and plan to keep going gun ho because I don't want to show up with 10 J hooks and a shit eating grin.

All the while being well within the noise time regulations, today, i finished work at 1pm, started forging at 1.45pm, had to come in and look after my kid from 3pm-4.15pm then hopped back out.

From 4.15pm to 5pm, I cut up some rivet stock, then at 4.20, started making rivets with a hardy hole monkey tool and a butane torch.

At 5 pm on the dot, there was a huge bang, my workshop shook, my lights were flickering and swinging. I had my 3m worktunes on (earmuffs with bluetooth). I thought a propane tank or rattle can of paint had blown up, maybe a electrical short or surge just magnetised something and pulsed violently. I switched everything off, pulled my phone torch, and started inspecting. Nothing was hot. Nothing smelled like burning or ozone. I inspected more and realised my back neighbour had used a 2x4 and smashed it into the fence where I was working.

I have taken photos, and am now keeping a log of times, etc. The fence has shifted, and the base rail has separated from the metal post.

Considering I am still an hour before noise regulations kick in, he has caused property damage, and any confrontation would likely result in a physical fight what should I do from here?

My first thought is to just continue as I need to forge more stock for this stall, and as long as I'm in the regulation noise time limits, I'm covered (legally speaking). Keeping a log of the times I start and stop and of any of my back neighbours hijinks.

But also, I'm not an overly confrontational person, so my adrenalin was pumped, and I have a lot of anxiety about causing an issue with someone who lives right behind me.

Suggestions, ideas, experiences all appreciated.

If you read this far, you're a gem, thankyou.

Hi guys, i need access to a metal lathe for a project.

Is there a maker space with one, or do you know of anywhere like a workshop that would let someone utilise their equipment for a few hours around hobart/northern suburbs?

Happy to pay for access to said metal lathe.