Bull hammer, info needed

[ApprenticeMan]

Hello, I need any info anyone has on this hammer. It is the old Bull 75 hammer, internet and forum searches have proved fruitless. Any pictures, info on original company, builders, info from current or past owners would be greatly appreciated.

[ChrisB]

The guy that makes the Phoenix hammers used to make those. Blacksmiths depot had one for sale a few months ago that they rebuilt. They might be able to help with repair info.

[markh]

These hammers get mixed reviews. I almost bought one a few years ago but couldn't come up with the cash. A lot of people like them because they are so small. The Bulls have the same great control features offered from Phoenix, but the design has a problem area from what I've been told. The upright that the ram guide surrounds has come loose on some of them. I don't know if this is a welding or bolting issue. I would really examine the hammer and make sure you don't pay too much. How much is the seller asking? I think I have figured out the controls valving of the Phoenix/Bull. So, if the seller wants too much, you can just build one.

[Bentiron1946]

That looks something like that New Zealand hammer over at that other blacksmithing site. Look under "Catalog of User Built Power Hammers" or some such title or it will take you forever to find it.

[Fionnbharr (finn:-)]

I have a New style Bull75, I think that is the old style. If it works it is a nice hammer, if it has gotten out of whack it will break itself. Don't know about the guides issue on the old style Bull, the issue with the guides on the new style is if you miss adjust them you will ruin your air cyclinder. If it is in good running condition, it should have just marvelous control, you can get one light tap, or a medium blow, or one hard slap, or you can get the ram to start tuping and bring it down to the metal. On the newstyle 75s one of the things to watch for is how hard the hammer slams into the top, looks like that might be less of an issue with the older design? I imagine the guides are bolted on, with Locktite for permanenat assemblies, you could also switch the nuts for hex nuts with slots for cotter pins and drill the bolt to help keep it from shaking loose in use. If you can see it run, and its control is still great, I would take a chance on it, but you are on your own. Tom and Denise have lousy follow up support for their product. Nice people to talk to but too busy to help if you can even get ahold of them. Its a shame their business has gotten away from them, cause the hammers are really sweet when they run right. They have a bad rep for not responding to sales requests let alone any response for product support help...

Mine is broken again, last time the ram was slightly misadusted in the guides, and the control system was hitting the head stop too hard, and I broke the mounting bolt and the shaft of the air cyclinder just under the piston... This time the controls were out of whack and I lost two of the tie bolts that hold the cyclinder together, one air fitting, and the mounting bolt at the bottom of the cyclinder again... (and it is a custom turned special bolt...) Both times it was opperator error, I didn't have the machine adjust correctly, but I couldn't get the thing adjusted correctly to save my life it seems. I am about ready to redesign the controls to something I can adjust so that it works... Cause I can't work without a power hammer... If I had wanted to work on hammer to get it running I would have bought an old steam hammer!!! I would have gotten more hammer for my money. I had hoped by buying a new hammer I could work with my hammer, not on it... If I had it to do over, I would buy an old steam hammer, or one of Tom Clark's hammers. Live and learn or die trying... ;-)