Kevin K

Macbruce: How did you figure your numbers? When I use the formula in Batson's book, I get 18 HP required for 11 GPM @ 2500 psi. Thanks, Kevin

$4500 sounds very reasonable and I'd think the demand would be there- from small working shops, if not so much from hobbyists. Something I think might work in addition to turnkey presses would be to offer a "kit" option, where you could sell the power, hydraulics and controls, and let the buyer fabricate their own frame. As far as desirable features... quiet operation would be nice, but I'm not sure its possible...

Thanks for the info. Looks like at least a 150HP screw compressor then. They had a receiver that looked like it was around 1000 gallons, but it was scrapped... There were a couple of other hammers plumbed to it, so it may have been sized to allow more than one to run simultaneously. This hammer is set up for a driver.

The hammer in question is a Chambersburg steam hammer. Was converted to air, but the compressor is gone now. Anyone have a ballpark guess at the size (hp) rotary screw compressor that would be needed to run it? I'm assuming it would also need to have a large storage tank plumbed in. Thanks

I got my 860lb bridge anvil from a classified ad in the newspaper. Also wound up buying a large camelback drill press and a rolling cabinet full of Morse taper 4 drills the guy wanted to get rid of... $750 for everything.

Nice machine, and looks well cared for. As a Myford owner, a couple of books to look out for are "The Amateur's Lathe" and "A Man and His Lathe", both by L.H. Sparey. Out of print, but still findable. Have fun!

Tumblers do remove scale pretty quickly- which you can do by other means, as has been pointed out; however, I really like the "burnished" finish they leave on the work. As far as space requirements, I mounted my made from an air compressor tank tumbler underneath a table I already was using, so it doesn't take up any extra room in my small shop. As far as noise, it seems that the size media used makes a big difference. When I ran it with smaller stuff, mainly little bolts and spring pins, it kind of went "slush-slush"... not super quiet, but you could hold a normal conversation in the same room. Last week, I sorted out the small stuff and now am running mainly 3/4" - 1" punch slugs, and its really, really loud. I suspect that the full-er it is, the quieter it will run, too. Just turn it on when you leave the shop and let it run when you're not there.

Good Luck, Thomas. My wife and I are also moving into that season in life with both sets of our parents. Love and help them, and take care of yourself, too. Kevin

Larry, I really feel for you- would like to to add my sincere well wishes for you and your family. Kevin

I don't have personal experience, but I once saw the contents of a big blacksmith shop moved on pallets. They just piled the tongs, dies, tooling, etc. on pallets and stretch-wrapped them. Google "plastic pallet wrap".

Thanks- sounds like a neat setup.

Backwoods, I'm keeping this one "stock" for now, because I still need to split wood with it, but what size & speed electric motor did you use?

Notthing new or amazing, but I thought I'd share some pics of my log splitter conversion. This splitter came with a hinge to swing it upright so I don't have to forge sideways. The ram & anvil are pieces of 3X5" mild steel I had. I may weld tool steel faces on them someday. I don't know if I really needed guides on the ram, but the splitter wedge has guides, so I copied them, more or less.

Got my kids involved making hard candy for their mom & grandmother (my wife & mom). Rigged my log splitter as a press to do the squishing. All at the last minute as usual, so we were up late the night before Mothers' Day, however they had a lot of fun. This is one of the bowls.

Thanks, I understand- should have read the post more carefully.