There are LOTs of variables to consider in determining "Best" not the least is taste and personal preferance. For a given weight of power hammer: A steam hammer running on steam hits hardest, then a mechanical hammer, then an air hammer. As far as speed goes: a mechanical hammer will generally run faster, then a self contained air hammer, then a utility hammer, then a steam hammer... When you are drawing material out you want harder/faster/more;-) Within reason and the starting thickness of your stock;-) There is a HUGE variety of mechanical hammers, some work very well indeed and have very nice control, others a rude and crude and make more mashed potatoes than useful work... Sadly LGs are on both ends of that spectrum, I have seen well mannered LGs and rude dogs, other less common mechanicals were actualy beter designed and were easier to control. With a LG if you are a good mechanic and know how to keep it adjusted to the work you are doing and it has a brake, you can get some excellent work out of it, but it won't have the control of a selfcontained air hammer, ever...
It takes a lot of skill to make a mechanical hammer a versitile as an air or a steam hammer, but if we are comparing hammers all in the same weight class the mechinical will likely out draw the air or steam hammers, and do it CHEAPER!!! Compare the size of motor on a mechinical hammer, verses the selfcontained air hammer, or the compressor to run a utility style air hammer or a converted Steam hammer, and don't even think about running a steam boiler;-)
Personally I prefer air hammers and steam hammers, I really like the control you get (I love the raw power of a Steam hammer, but in the right hands you have wonderful control as well;-) but don't knock the mechanicals they have their place. They were always cheaper, and more plentiful, and still are. Look at what you pay for a used LG, compared to a new air hammer (unless you build your own...)
The trick is to know what each tool is good at, and to use it to it's full potential.
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the rest just gets in the way:-)
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