25# Little Giant trip hammer

[Leah]

Thanks Cory,

The serial number is H-8063. I was told that it is a 1948 model but would like it if you double checked for me. Any information will help me a lot because I don't know anything about power hammers. Sid's site is a lot of help. I have sent him an email and may try to talk to him on the phone. I called the owner today and may go up this weekend and look it over and take some pictures of it. I asked the owner more about where and why he is using boards to change the way it ran. He said it was running too fast so he wedged two oak boards against the ram to slow it down. I don't know how long he ran it like this but I am sure going to look for wear on the guides.

[Cory]

Leah, The book I have shows 1949 numbers ran from 8018- 8288 that year. Sid had the original owners name and the delivery destination on my hammer in records they have. I can't imagine what this guy is doing with the wood wedged in that hammer, its would be nice if you had someone that could go with you to look that hammer over, not trying to discourage you here but it sounds like it warrants a good going over. Its hard telling what else he has riggged or what maintenance he has or has not done.

[Leah]

Thanks Cory,

I am not going to take a trailer or a checkbook with me when I go. All I am going to take is a camera and a flashlight. I'm sure the trip will be a bust, but you never know. I don't know a soul who lives near me that would know what they were looking at.

[ThomasPowers]

IIRC these hammers used a slower motor (900rpm comes to mind) and so a 1725 motor would be considerably faster if you didn't change the pulleys or use a jack shaft to slow it down.

Thomas

[Leah]

Thanks you Thomas, I will check the rpm's on the motor.

[irnsrgn]

My LG Spring guard, I was there when a toggle broke when I was young, spring almost got me.

[Leah]

Thanks Jr.,

I had already figured out that spring looked like a widowermaker. I guess OSHA was not around when these things were designed. I had made up my mind that the spring and toggle arms were going to be the first thing I looked at before I tried to run it. You guys don't know how much help you have been.

[irnsrgn]

Leah, if OSHA had been around back then, we might just be at the Model T stage of development right now, no puters and who knows what else would have never gotten developed.

I have seen what happens when a complete wrap around cage made out of expanded metal does when a toggle link breaks.

#1 think about light expanded metal and flying power hammer arms.

#2 think of mangled expanded metal ripping your hide off like a big mountain cat would.

#3 think of getting a face transplant, and

#4 think of bending at the waist to try and see what you are doing.

In this particulat instance, 8 months and many skin grafts and several reconstructive surgeries on a face that would scare a teenager out of 15 years of life.

No maam, if it has one of those death trap, so called safety cages on it, I will not get near it.

Just one thing to remember , don't stand off to the side of one and work.

[Leah]

One more question.

My shop is on a 4" slab. If I do end up with this thing, will I need to dig up the floor and pour a special foundation for it, or can I place some kind of boards or rubber mat under it? Boy, all this sure does give an old gal a lot to think about.

[HWooldridge]

A 25 lb will work fine on a normal slab but you should put some wood and a rubber mat under the hammer. This tends to cushion the shock and reduces bounce on the dies. Tractor Supply makes a cushion intended as a stall mat for horses that works well.