oakwoodironworks

Good Job! I really enjoyed your pictures and how to information.

Thanks for the responses. I'll try to secure the timbers to the ground with spikes and see how that works. If it don't work, I'll pour a concrete foundation for the hammer. Grant, I know what you mean about burying the timbers! I'm 6'5" and the Little Giant is short enough already. I know that people weren't as tall back then when the Little Giant was first built. Sure would hate to run one all day bent over. I'm getting to old for that. Mike

I am in the beginning stages of building me a blacksmith shop and was wondering how well bolting down a Little Giant power hammer to some 8x8 pressure treated timbers works. I plan on having a dirt floor in my shop. I could pour a concrete foundation for the hammer, but don't really want to. I was told that using timbers would work but don't know anyone that has done it. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Mike

Good. I worked on one when I took a class at Campbell. Must be pretty good to take the daily use. As a side note, a friend bought me one of the coal forge set ups. Pretty good deal. Got a vise stand, some tongs, stainless steel side draft hood and a few sections of flue pipe along with a flue cap. Now I just need to finish my shop.

I assume that you were talking about the anvils that were sold at J.C. Campbell? Did you win one?

Grant, I really like the OC tongs that I have and I like them even better now that I know about your warranty. I don't plan on tearing them up, but it's good to know that in this throw away world in which we live, there is someone willing to stand behind the products that they make. Thanks, Mike

Great Job! I love good iron work and you have done an excellent job. Thanks for sharing! Mike

You can contact Sid Suedmeier at littlegianthammer.com for plans that he has for a brake on the Little Giant hammer. I know that he puts brakes on the hammers that he rebuilds. He dosen't sell brake kits but will give you plans to build your own. Hope this helps. Mike

I have the 1st. Manzer video and find it to have a lot of useful info for tuning up a Little Giant power hammer. I would like to have Sid's Rebuilding the Little Giant Power Hammer Video, but it costs $95 for the 2 dvd set. I guess I'll have to save my money. Check the info www.littlegianthammer.com

I would try to use my abrasive cutoff saw outside if possible. They tend to make a mess and put a lot of stuff in the air. Good looking shop design! Mike

I have a friend who has the Hofi draft system and it draws real well. It is the type of system that I plan on putting in my shop for my coal forge.

The new dies that Little Giant sells are made out of 4140 tool steel.

Has anyone been to see the new post and beam addition going up behind the old blacksmith shop at Campbell? They were to start on May 29th and work for two weeks. Was thinking about riding up this weekend and checking it out. They were expecting over 200 timber framers and helpers to show up to work. Sounds like an old time barn building to me and would be fun to see. Thanks, Mike

Look around in your area for auctions, equipment sales , etc. I've seen a lot of shop built steel tables sold recently for what I consider good prices ( tables made with 4x8 3/8 inch thick steel plate tops for $50 to $125 ). They are heavy but make good layout/work tables.

looper567, This dosen't have anything to do with the forge question, but that is a great cartoon you have posted at your website. Seems like some things never change and history repeats itself. Mike

The only problem I've had with the toggle arms on my 50lb. Little Giant was that the toggle arms were striking the guide on the downward stroke. It had worn a 1/4 inch grove in the arm before I noticed it. It was caused because the dies were worn way down from years of use ( that is why you often see notches cut in the guide in an attempt to give more clearance to the toggle arms on the downward stroke ). A new set of dies fixed the problem. I agree with Frosty about the idea of a guard for the spring area. I to like to be able to see what is going on with my hammer and head off potential problems. Mike

Great Job! I'm looking forward to trying some of your ideas. Looks like a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing.

Dave, You wouldn't recognize Eddie's shop now. He has doubled the size of his original shop and looks like he doubled his tool collection. It sure is nice!

Look up Blacksmith Supply on the internet and go to their web page. They have a picture of a vine texturing spring swage that gives you a bark-like look to your forging. Gives you an idea of what to do if you want to make your own or buy one. I use a large chunk of metal ( has a rounded depression lake a swage block ) that has some lines cut into it. I simply place my hot steel in it and rotate it as I hammer the metal. It comes out looking pretty much like bark on a limb. Hope this helps.

If the second post vise is in good shape and cheap enough, go ahead and buy it. Its often helpful to have more than one vise in your shop to hold things.

Iron-in-the -Hat is a great fund raiser for our guild. We probably average $200-300 per meeting x 12 meetings per year so it brings in a lot of money which is used to fund scholarships, etc. You never know what will show up. Makes it interesting. Forged items are always well received.

Jimbob, It won't be long before you can fill up a rack with your collection of Hofi hammers. Mike

Dale, Good hammer set up. Also, I really like your shop. Thanks for the photos. Mike

I have always wanted one to hang on the wall as a conversation piece but have been unwilling to pay the $500-700 that I've seen them selling for. After reading this thread, maybe I'll try to make myself one. Sounds like an interesting project!

Most of the bear traps you see today are used as decorations in restaurants, sporting good stores, etc. I don't know if they were ever used here in the South, but do know that they were used out West to trap grizzly bears. Remember this was in the 1800's when the West was being settled. They are illegal to use today.