frankyluckman

When I started I did it all! Paint...Fab...Built my own motors & Trannys.....Basically because I had no money and wanted Cool stuff so I had to make it myself......

Now I Just make everything Ha!......No Paint or Motors.....My guys at the shop are way better than me than that!...

Hey Jesse if you need any help with the foundation for that monster don't be shy. I have access to tons of rebar. I could reinforce the xxxx out of a pad for that thing. I've always wanted to see a really big power hammer in action. I just started smithing a few months ago, but have been an ironworker for almost fifteen years.

Hey Jesse if you need any help with the foundation for that monster don't be shy. I have access to tons of rebar. I could reinforce the crap out of a pad for that thing. I've always wanted to see a really big power hammer in action. I just started smithing a few months ago, but have been an ironworker for almost fifteen years.

Merry X-Mas to Me!!...

Hey Jesse, you really should quit playing with gas for your work. Check out the Induction Forges I sell: YouTube - Flat coil playing around

There are a number of videos under "induction forge".

My shop is "Monster Metal" The Monster part originated from the two monsters I have tattoo'ed on the back of my hands... They are there to remind me that If I dont keep them in check, They might just take over... Most people think I ripped the name off from your show.. Which is fine too....

Larry

Crud.... I should really read all of a thread before I start running off at the neck.. First off a little self serving... I have a Pettingell sheet metal hammer that I have been tripping over for a few years that I really need get put together.. You think it would be possible to help out my shop mate Joe with a little feedback as to how it should be assembled? He is really the sheet metal guy between us... The numbers on the hammer are EE-70 and If I remember right Fay said it was a #3? it has an adjustable lower die (cranks up and down) and is fairly small.... If it would be ok I'll have him shoot you a pm and tell you his ideas... Here is a slide show of our two current projects, both low buck builds Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket Both bikes have a handful of hand forged parts....

As far as you and your hammer quest.... Yes... , you need a big hammer... but you also need a little hammer... and probably a hydraulic or fly press... Just as in sheet metal work there is no "end all be all" tool.... I own a 110lb Say Mak, (basically the same as the small Sahinler) a 200lb Chambersberg and a 300lb Nazel... All will do something that warrants there spot on the floor. And yeah, the old hammers are kinda like a marriage... They dont always just "work" You have to love them, care for them and listen to what they have to say... My Nazel I bought as a basket case.. the ram was busted in two when I got her and it took several years and a lot of help but now she runs like a watch, the Chambersberg I have apart now but she is a really sweet machine with very little use.... They may not work any diffrent than a new Striker or other import hammer but there is something magical about old iron.. My Nazel is about 5 tons of 4140... not much else that is as "real" as that....I could go into a lengthy bit about why each has its place but my guess is you already have a pretty good idea...

One thing to keep in mind is that a well tuned "big" hammer (200-500lb) will move material in that fluid way that makes big iron cool. You can pound away all freaking day on a 50 lb hammer, or even a 100lb hammer and never get the same affect as a handfull of blows under a 300+ machine... Its about the displacement of mass and the energy absorbed... Im sure you have seen work that shows what Im talking about but Im not really sure how to label it. Something else that I myself really screwed up is there is a lot to be said for learning your hand skills and putting time in standing at a anvil... I think one of the biggest ways I cheated myself is as soon as I caught the blacksmith 'bug" I bought a powerhammer, and then a second.... Ive been at this about 7 years and have now had no less than 20 that I have bought, sold, used or traded.... (there are 5 total at my shop now, Six if you counted the Pettingell..) And I am just now getting to the point that I am having to go back and really learn my handwork in order to progress.... I skipped big sections of the learning curve because I had the ability to buy a bunch of equipment.. and now Im paying the price. It seemed like I was moving forward really fast when I didn't know better then all of a sudden I learned enough to realize how little I knew.... Anyway... swinging that hammer is important, nothing will improve your understanding of how that hot iron moves more than throwing that hammer at it....

All that said there is a Nazel 4N for sale locally ( Seattle area ) The 4N is whats considered a "heavy duty" open die hammer in that it has external guides for the ram. The downside to that is there is not as much room for tooling because the of it... Mike has been trying to sell it for some time, Last I heard he was down to $6000 which is a give away price... I have been to see the hammer in person and ran it a bit, Its not perfect but its a runner and it wouldnt take much to make it 100% The worst part about the hammer is its set out back behind his house and there is no road that will support heavy equipment. I moved a 100lb Fairbanks hammer out of the shop and we had to skid it with chains and a winch at least a hundred yards before we could get at it with a forklift. I suppose a RT crane would have no trouble but my guess is it would take at least a grand to get it set on a truck, maybe $1500.... If you are at all interested I would be happy to do the work on this end gratis just to say i did it.

Oh yea I think I'm gonna get a Sahinler.....But I also need a BIG one!..Not sure if I even really need a big hammer? I doubt if I will ever make anything that Heavy. Spent the last 20 years trying to make everything smaller and lighter.....Now Heavy Steel! ....

Hello Jesse,

What type of work are you planning to do?

The Steam would be super cool! but a total novelty.....I'm all about just hitting a switch and getting stuff done! Let me know if you find any mechanical hammers for sale.....Thanks Man!

Cool when I find one I might have to pick your brain!...

I talked to that dude with those 2 hammers....He wants a little more that $200......

I want one, but I want to run it on Steam! I have a nice large boiler just waiting for it!

Cool! Is that hammer run on Steam or Air??

ESAB or Miller...

I have Both machines and they both work well with Heavy use.

Haven't had good luck with Lincolns. Seem to break down a lot. Contact points and foot pedals seem to be a weekness.

Buy the Best Machine you can afford....

"Probably" !! that's the understatement of the year!.....

click..
HAMMERTIME! on Vimeo

Hello
My name is Jesse
I'm from Long Beach Ca.
I build custom motorcycles and cars for a living.
I am just starting out in Blacksmithing.


Some of my work.......

Howdy,
I'm happy to see you got the gas burner fired up! is it what you'd hoped it would be? Did you get the coal burner squared away? I'd love to here the stories of the class with Hofi.

Steve

Karen here...
My husband Brian has been standing in front of his forge nearly every day for almost 30 years now. We are on a road trip that started in Ca last Sept. and are in MD tonight and headed back to MS on Monday. I could get an address there if you would like Brian to try your clothes.
He is a traditional blacksmith and prefers a coal or coke fire and doesn't know much about gas forges but he knows how to heat up metal and move it.
Thanks, let me know if you need a shipping address.. :cool:

Well, it says on the spec plate shwn in pic #1, 6-8 in h2O pres. The air pressure is also listed on the plate next to it. There is also a listing F1,000 I believe (recent traumatic brain injury from being attacked by a Great White . . . Birch might have caused me to writ the wrong number so take a look at the top right of the spec plate for the accurate info)

Anyway, the air and gas pressure should be more than enough info for an experienced gas burner guy (check with a furnace or heating and mechanical company near you) to set it up and tune it for you.

Frosty

Thanks Man!...

I don't know about "Amazing" anyone in Blacksmithing...There is so many Talented people doing it that are decades into it..
I'm just barely learning how to hold and swing the hammer. It is way more difficult than I thought.
I have a long road of learning ahead of me, But I'm up for it!.....
Guess time will tell..

OK. I revisited this thread just now, and recognized the tank, and shop fotos.
Had to go to the first post to verify the name.

I am honored to be on a forum with the likes of you.

My wife is lucky that there is so much distance between me and your shop. Else I would never be home.

We have a couple builders in my town, but none like you.

My daughter used to go to school in Long Beach, and everytime we went to visit, I always threatened to to stop by, but never did.

Just making sure you Ol' Timers are awake!

This place is Great!.....

Got the Gas Forge up and Running! Thanks to the couple of Good Eggs that PM'd me with some help..........

HaHa!

This is Neat!!