Dillon Sculpture

Thanks Owen, It defiantly looks like the cats meow. Im hoping to find a bit but if not I'll have extra for the next hammer :D

Anybody installed or installing Fabreeka fabsorb? I know they sell the 2'x9' and 4'x9' sheet but I only need 2'x2' Thanks,

I never did get a fair weight on mine but it was close to 500. Much different looking than yours though, even the anvil. Its surprising they would change such large casting... Thanks for the literature, you up and running yet?

The short stroke and lack of any mass in the anvil seems to suggest its not a hammer, maybe its some kind of swage.

Thats a beast Ian, what kind weight is the tup? Alan, the lift rolled in the shop for a slight modification. After pulling it around to the front of the steam hammer I see no other way than to build a manipulator! It is power drive, 2 ton capacity with tilt. Even if it doesn't stay in the shop a rental is right down the road. The quick and dirty would be manual rotation with a weld on receiver. I have three 4' sections of 6" to forge approaching 500 lbs. each! Will try and knock one out this week... The Johnson has a manifold with 4- 1/8" slits around 4" long that deliver the forge the mix. The larger blower is stronger but I think it is still restricted by the slits. I may have to open them up. It took about an 80 min. to get 20" billet hot starting a dead cold forge. After the brick soaked in, I figure about 40 min. I will be making a different top from fiber board and lining the inside which should help with the soak out. This pic is hard to see but the bottom ports come from the side the full length of the forge. "Get away from her you @#$%&" -Ripley :ph34r:

Definitely need more space between the dies for the power punch. Crosshead ears up

Billet, Billet, Billet... My favorite words :D Making progress, super sized the forge blower, cutting some heat time. Fullers worked great, hammer driver is getting better and I had a surprise visiter dress in green.

Ah yes Clifton, I had his videos when they were on cassette! I got a couple on cd but loan them out and they never returned, I guess I need to order another set. It is interesting that when he entered the trade it was very secretive and he felt excluded. His dedication to the work and his sharing of that knowledge makes him for sure the #1 source fro industrial smithing in my book. I look forward to more of your post on hammer tooling and the work that you produce Alan, thanks again.

A bunch of lovely bits there, nicely done Alan. I am armed with the J.W. Lillico book and some u-tube videos but have not been in a big shop, do you have any other research material you could pass on? Um, thats a pretty large bottom die! Whats is the hammer?

Thanks again Alan, I am very lucky to have the advice here in these pages! I had the feeling that may happen but couldn't figure a way to make it work? Springs, cams, toothpaste... Got fed up and ant straight for the direct approach. I should have plenty of room to bore the holes for the 7/8" bolt and some hose, great idea. Patrick, I am really not comfortable with holding a tool of that size (near 100lbs.) as well have had spring tooling move offset under the hammer which could mess up the work or myself :unsure: But my inexperience with industrial forging may be my worst enemy I also think it shepherds invention and creativity. I would love to hang out at Scot Forge for a week or two, I would bring all my own safety gear including the plaid jacket!

Well now, that's a modification, can't wait to give it a go!

Will, not sure what type but they have medium carbon from spark test. Started as 28" of 3" round. Benton, it appears to be from East Germany, Austria maybe? It is cast steel same as the anvils that Otto Schmirler worked on, pictures in the book The Smithy's Craft and Tools by Wasmuth.

Thanks Alan for those pics, they look rather stout for sure. I think we did forge a bit more than we should between the rivet and jaws but we were just having to much fun! They are adjustable for bigger material I suppose :o We are working on a public sculpture I will post some shots soon.

Well that was fun, now we have to use them!

I get humming birds stuck up by the skylights, they usually don't make it due to exhaustion...

Ooooo, thats some work John! Was it 6.5" billet or 12"? You have any pics of the finished piece yet?

I won't hold it against you B) Not sure if you noticed in my earlier post the wedge method of mounting and the other pic is of a bottom table die to strike from the top only. The reasoning for the top strike was to forge some smallish skulls. I felt it to be a waste of material to dedicate for such a small die like this eye tool. So my idea (unrealized as of yet) is to graft in a piece of 1" dom with a set screw to accept 1/2" rod for small tooling. You could easily weld on or tap on a 1/2" shank to about anything for a top tool.

Great insight, please keep up the post Rockstar. Thanks,

I'd say we were on the same vibration Frog but I might be taken as a hippy :D My wife says she between the hippy and punk so she's a Pippy! I just got my G2 from Mike, I wanted to demonstrate the difference between hand hammering and power hammering. Made a couple changes to the set up, hope it doesn't void my warranty... I really enjoy seeing pics of your shop JIm, keep posting.

I have a die with both eyes on one tool, it keeps them centered on the mass and won't let it rock to one side. You can also flip the tool to tilt the other way and make a "poor me" looking skull. You will need a bit more power to punch both at once, the advantage of power hammering. I have made around 50 and they all defiantly have their own personality!

It will defiantly suck! I was pleasantly surprised to get a special fill rate of $2.50 a gal. last time before I think it was close to 4 bucks! If I were to use the whole tank you know I would done some work :D I had a sculptor over the other day and we had been discussing the new sculpture, he asked why I just wouldn't hollow form it? I had been asked this before, about Aileron. Considering the amount of time to cut, weld and finish all the pieces in a sculpture like this I can see no way to come out ahead. Also the longevity of the work would be severely diminished, plus I just like to beat on stuff!

Yea Man! Looking good, not sure how you work that small though :blink: You might shape your eye die less round, like a squashed ball and angle them in. Gives em a sinister look.

Ha, you'll fit right in with the (how did you say?) coke headed addles that clean my shop :P

Thanks Matt, your welcome to stop in if your ever down south! I will post up a bit about my next sculpture when it gets rolling, 12' tall but less than a ton :D here's a pic. Not gonna make the conference, was but I have been invited to demo at The High Museum of Art in Atlanta.

Nice work, it looks to be in a gallery setting? Do you build other sculptures?