New Tire hammer

[larrynjr]

I have sent an email to Clay. Mo. is a bit of distance from me.

[larrynjr]

Is there any video of one of these in action?

[skunkriv]

Tape 105 in the UMBA video library UMBA Library

The tire hammer operates like a Little Giant hammer but with a different clutch system. There are many videos of LG's in action.

[bipolarandy]

larry, i'll take a quick movie of mine tonight and see if i can upload it

[larrynjr]

That would be great, I'll keep checking back.

Thanks! Larry

[tirehammerman]

Ray Clontz Tire Hammer by Clay Spencer
Ray Clontz invented the drive for a power hammer and allowed me to use it to lead workshops to build hammers for blacksmithing groups and sell plans.
It is a 50 lb. power hammer that uses the rear axle and hub from a front drive car and emergency spare tire and weighs about 700 lbs. It is powered by a 1 hp, 1750 rpm electric motor, 120 or 240 volts, runs about 250 blows per minute and uses a spring toggle mechanism similar to Little Giant hammers. The anvil is 6" solid round (minimum size) by 36" high and the frame is 5" square tubing. We usually put flat dies on the hammers so tools may be used. Over 300 of these hammers have been built in workshops. I sell detailed plans including list of materials for $30 including postage.

In the workshops, we get a group of 15 to 20 blacksmiths together to build hammers as a group. The shop owner, a coordinator and I get a free hammer and all the others divide all the costs. I send plans and jigs for the subassemblies. The coordinator has the toughest job-signing up people, collecting money, purchasing all parts and material, scheduling prework sessions to get all the subassemblies built. Most workshops have built hammers for $1000, depending on how much free or cheap stock they can get. Workshops over 1 day drive from my place in north Alabama are more expensive because of my travel costs.

I sell hammers for $2000 (8" diameter anvils are $2500). I don't have any for sale just now but Ned Digh in Fulton, MO (npdigh@ktis.net) has a hammer for sale. There is a class at new England School of Metalwork in early May (don't know if it is full) and a workshop in Elgin, SC in early October is full.
I learned just this afternoon that John Wayne Taylor (334-514-2254)will be scheduling a workshop in his Wetumpka, AL shop, probably late spring 2008.

[bipolarandy]

Video of hammer - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Video of hammer 2 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

The video is kinda dark, but you can still get the jist of it.

[haw_thrn]

is it the pink one?

[larrynjr]

That was great, thanks bipolarandy!

[cwilliams]

I was fortunate enough to get in Clays power hammer class about a year ago or so. I am very very happy with my tire hammer. I have used two different 50lb Little giants and my hammer hits much harder than they did, I am very impressed with this design.
I just last night forged 2" round to square for making a blacksmith hammer, I had to take off the lower die is all as 2" was alittle bit much for the hammer but it handled that size stock no problem once I removed the lower die, just used the lower anvil as a die. I probably push the design far more than I should but it keeps on running strong.
I have been meaning to make shorter lower dies to accomodate thicker stock. One of these days. Attached a link of our build
Blindhogg custom gunworks