GobblerForge

I'm not claiming to be the first but frankly I have to say that I have never seen a power hammer with a round hammer. Nor have I seen a tire hammer with a round hammer. So yes, I will say it is my idea because I didn't get the idea from looking at someone else's hammer. Thomas, you use the word "tup", I've not heard that before. Could you give some history to it. Gobbler

I'm sure that is part of it. The round cylinder, as opposed to a square hammer seams to spread its side pressure out more evenly. And it doesn't slam back and forth or have much friction due to a close running fit, dissimilar metals, grease and the fact that a longer distance from top of hammer to pivot point on the tire give it less side to side motion. I wish I could take full credit but the idea came from a very smart friend of mine. When I was showing different power hammer designs to him, he looked at the hammers and said "That should be round". It's amazing how some folks have a gift. At the risk of sounding prideful, I was thinking, since this concept of using a round hammer is not the standard way of hammer building, maybe this could be named the "Gobbler Forge Hammer Design" or some such. Lots of folks have their name attached to different designs of tools. Maybe this can be mine. Gobbler

Thanks. Next saturday, it will be filled with folks for a hammer-in from northern Ohio,WRABA, and Pittsburg, PAABA. Gobbler

Well, since this thread got brought back up I thought I would do an update. It's been three years now since I built the tire hammer and it has performed flawlessly. I have made some various bottom dies as the need required but that's it. The tire shows no signs of wear nor any of the pivot points. I mean really, the design of this thing puts very little pressure or tension on anything. The spring was covered by an inner-tube that was pulled snugly over the end to cover the whole spring. Still there. Just for giggles, I clocked the top speed at about 200 rpm or 14 mph. I recently got my web site up and running, Gobblerforge.com, and took a few shop photos so I have a current one of the hammer. Gobbler

If you really feel that way, consider making the inspector an iron gift, candle holder, dinner bell or something. It sounds as though he did you a favor. You gotta work at building good karma. Gobbler

I've forged a couple traps. If you have a small trap, it's simple to copy the parts. Just scale up. Word of warning. These things work. My bear trap will bite off a 1x2. The long springs are from an International semi. Gobbler

I too, use jack hammer bits. My latest one is a hot hardy. It replaced my first that was really ugly. The temper was just right. Good enough for a photo. Gobbler

I should be there from Thursday untill Sunday, barring earth quakes and locust. Gobbler

I new there would be some 2112 fans out there. Good job boys. Gobbler

I remember hearing that there were only two rock songs ever written that mention a blacksmith. One is by Rush. I don't remember the title. The other eludes me completely. Gobbler

Thanks. The shop is always clean. Every day that I make a mess, I clean at the end of the day. Tools get put away and the floor gets cleaned. I can open the whole east wall with garage doors and I "LOVE" my leaf blowers. start at the back wall and blow towards the doors. Less than a minute and the shop is clean. It keeps from tracking dirt and grinder dust and scale, by me or the "consultants", towards the house. Sorry man. Been that way my whole life. As for the consultants, there is a coffee can with "cookies" under the bench at all times. Gobbler

I finally added some new photos in the gallery. Here is the forge as it is today with the bottom mounted bellows. Compact and efficient. Gobbler shop - Blacksmith Photo Gallery

Quite well, thanks. I need to update my photos as I see they are way out dated. I don't want to hyjack though. I'll do a thread. Gobbler

Thanks Welder. The whole unit is on wheels as well. Coal, tongs, fire, bellows and hood are portable if I want to work outside for some reason. Gobbler

Portable Forges - Blacksmith Photo Gallery The concept that bellows use too much space is not correct if given the time to work out a solution. Gobbler

Thanks Thomas. I would agree with your assessment, but it still doesn't answer my question. Any thoughts on the actual type of steel? I'm thinking of incorporating into some Damascus but I really want to know what it is first. Gobbler

As the title suggests, I am looking to identify the steel in some scarifier teeth from a road grader I have access to. Most of the teeth have carbide tips also. They are discarded when the carbide is gone or mostly gone. I figure the teeth have to be pretty good steel but I have had no luck finding info. Anyone know what they're made of? Gobbler