Foot Helve sketch, design finalised

[rfb343]

Sam,
So heres my question, what exactly is the difference between this and a tredle? I've dont want a power hammer as I try and have all my tooling availible if I aint got no power so I like human powered stuff... Most tredle designs I've seen wont do anything I cant do with a big hammer(yeah I know I'll regret it as I get older, but I've got lotsa those issues already) by myself as I dont have any access to a striker but once in a blue moon... so yer plan seems to be the answer as I'd like to starting making some sledges, broad axes and the like.

[ApprenticeMan]

Mark, most treadles are designed for using tooling, not for strictly forging. As you say yourself most treadles you have seen won't do anything you can't with a big hammer, as they are not really made for forging. Hopefully this one will be able to move metal good enough to make it viable over just using a larger hammer. I built the treadle in hopes that it would do that, but alas it is better for tooling and stuff than forging.

[rfb343]

Sam,
Sounds great I cant wait for the updates!!! MORE POWERS!!! WOOT!!

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by ApprenticeMan

Thanks for the input guys.

Frosty, cause I already built one of those. I have the treadle for the more advanced tooling work, just want this one to do one thing, basic hard forging. Draw tapers, draw length IE tong reins, work down larger bars, stuff like that.

Uh. . . That's right, you even posted pictures.

Have you considered building an Oliver that backs to your regular anvil? The arm either swings to the side or up and locks when you don't need it.

Frosty

[ApprenticeMan]

I thought about making one for right there at the anvil, I would weld it right to my farrier's stand and make the whole thing one big peice of equipment, but I like to move all around my anvils. Though lately I have been favoring my larger anvil lately I might just do that, with that height screw adjustment you guys were talking about too. May as well build it while I am at this one too.

[rfb343]

Originally Posted by Frosty

Uh. . . That's right, you even posted pictures.

Have you considered building an Oliver that backs to your regular anvil? The arm either swings to the side or up and locks when you don't need it.

Frosty

Whats an Oliver?

[Glenn]

BP0186 Oliver, the Hammer

[ApprenticeMan]

My friend Lee advised me the pillow blocks might wear out due to not making a full rotation, so I was thinking of replacing them with blocks of steel with the shaft set in riding in brass bearings with grease fittings, is that overkill?

[tetnum]

if i may borrow one from glen
"If someone questions your standards, they are not high enough. " -glen
they questioned the pillow blocks so this plan dosent sound like over kill

[Frosty]

There's a big difference between questioning the suitability of one device or another in an application and questioning a person's standards.

Using bushings instead of bearings will be fine, what you propose isn't overkill at all. On the other hand you can change bearings out of a set of pillow blocks a couple times much faster than you could make the bushing setup.

I'd use the bearings myself, it's not like you're hanging half a ton off them, with a little grease now and then they'll last a couple decades anyway.

Frosty