LawnJockey

Who ever did the fix, thank you.

I could not resist this.  It was someone's air hammer project that he lost interest in.  That is a 1 3/4" 24 x 40 base.  It also came with the tup and guide as well as a couple pieces of forklift tine for tooling.  So this will be the start of my tire hammer.  Unfortunately I have to complete our move before doing any work on the project.  Until then, read, read and then read some more.

That looks like an interesting helve hammer, anymore pics of it?

I am also in the process of moving my shop and I have the same issues.  My neighbor has a forklift but it only works on smooth concrete surfaces thus it won't help on the gravel in front of my shop.  What I am doing is using the front end loader on my tractor to load and I have send emails to various rental agencies in the destination city regarding forklift rental options.  All the big and or heavy stuff is going on the first 18' trailer load of shop equipment.  That way it can all be unloaded at one and there should still be room to move the forklift around in the new shop.  I am going to try to do a Friday to Monday rental, often charged as one day, for the forklift.

Or maybe a hand held edge beading tool for sheet metal.

Do a google image search on "jig for bending tunnel hoops".

I saw a CL ad for a partially completed air hammer that the owner had lost interest in.  I traded emails with the owner and concluded that his price was fair but it wasn't practical with me being in the process of moving to a different state.  So I told the seller that and that if he didn't have any other takers I would be interested in it at a substantial discount.  A couple weeks go by and I get an email from the seller cutting the price in half.  I jumped on it.  What I got was the base (23 x 40 1 3/4 plate), the anvil and tower all welded up.  Also included was the tup and guides as well as two chunks of forklift time, enough to make two sets of dies.

Way cool.  I doubt he buys plans on the Internet.

Thank you Matthew, your hammer is beautiful.  I have exchanged emails with Clay and his plans will be purchased.

Iron Kiss is a possibility but that ups the cost a bit.  The largest stock I have been working with is 1 1/4 but mostly smaller stuff.  Control is an issue, I want to be able to use hand held tooling without a high likelihood of damaging the work.

From your name I assume you are a single shot guy, me too.  I have a nice CPA schuetzen that I am willing to trade toward a hammer, all regs followed.

This seems to be a popular topic lately.  I have been preoccupied lately getting our home here in the Bay Area ready to sell as part of our move to Phoenix and I have been passing the time thinking about a power hammer.  I love old machinery and a Little Giant would be fun but the prices out here are through the roof.  I have looked at the Big Blu 66 and the Anyang 33, both a bit pricey for a hobbyist such as myself but doable.  I have a monster compressor so that would not be an issue with the Big Blu.  However if I built my own those funds could be spent elsewhere like a good press.  I have also heard a few things about the Anyang that give me pause.  So building looks like a good option.  That is unless something really good comes along which brings me to my first question.

Are many power hammers available at the Quad State?  If so how are the prices?  I am trying to coordinate my yearly trip back east with the Quad State so that would be an option.

If I build I have pretty much settled on a Clay Spencer type tire hammer.  I would do one of his workshops in a heart beat but he doesn't have any scheduled.  Paul Matthew's elegant hammer has really sealed the deal for me on this design as opposed to an Appalachian style.  So here are some questions in that direction.

Has anyone used a trailer spindle set up rather than a rear wheel bearing from a front wheel drive car?  They are much more available and you can get any bolt pattern you want.  By coincidence my son just gave me the spare off his Jeep Cherokee and I could use that if I went the spindle route.

The unsupported roller design makes me wonder what that does to motor life.  It seems like if you are going to have a roller machined why not step it down and continue it so the shaft could be supported by a pillow block bearing at the far end.  Has anyone done this?

Do people who complain about using tooling with a tire hammer have one with a built in brake so that when the roller disengages the brake is applied?

Linkage flex seems to be a problem, has anyone used a securely fastened housed cable system like that used for steering on some larger outboard motors?  Or even simpler for a straight shot, use a rod in a fairly close fitting well lubed rigid pipe?  I imagine that there are probably some pretty good hydraulic steering systems for marine applications but I do not have personal familiarity with them.

Does anyone have a brand name and source for the "plastic" guide material?  What sort of cost should I expect?

Finding large diameter shaft for the anvil used looks like a bit of a challenge, what sort of luck have people had buying it new?  Sources and costs?

I have about 6 more weeks on the house project and then I am ready to dedicate full time to putting this together.

Thanks in advance.

Could it be your breath?

CBA is awesome.  I had a great time, learned a lot, met some great people and took full advantage of the tailgating.

Very nice.  Can you tell us more about it?

The California Blacksmith Association Spring Conference is this weekend and just across the valley from you near Hollister.  Lots of fun and a good learning opportunity.

"Looks to me like you need a new saw blade, that's one ragged cut."

I thought it was tooth marks.

I guess I better start hitting the ATM.

Np problem here.  Your fire restrictions point was good.  Seeing as Pinnacles has restrictions it is better safe than sorry.

On the firewood I don't care one way or the other.  The offer was made due to the discussion above.  Pinnacles National Park which is near by does have fire restrictions in place so it might be worth while to check with the local fire officials regarding fires.

Madwing, thanks for the info.  I am going to head down Thursday morning.  If there is a need for firewood I have a pile I was going to haul to the dump since I am getting ready to move.  The wood is a mix of unsplit chunks of tree trunk and constrution waste, pallets, etc.  If there is interest I can cut it down to useable sizes and load the back of my truck.

I would like camping info too so if get the info please share it.  I would also like to know when campers can arrive, like the afternoon before?

Our own Frank Turley's book on Southwestern Colonial Ironwork has quite a bit on what was going on up into Santa Fe.  Another source would be the Bent's Fort Historical Site.

AZ Guy,  Check you messages.

I am fairly new too and soon to be new to the Phoenix area. My wife just moved down there and is staying in a temporary rental while she looks for something more long term.  She is looking at a place today that has a separate shop building.  I should be there full time by the later part of June.  Strating in mid March I will be driving back and forth with an 18 foot flat trailer hauling furniture and shop equipment and I am looking for a couple of guys to hire to help unload if you know anyone let me know.  Anyway, I am looking forward to getting to know others in the Phoenix area and at some point I will have a shop available to share with others.

A great idea for those that have earned more than we can ever provide.

My current shop is about 1,500 sqft.  Most of it is taken up with woodworking equipment and the rest is metal work and blacksmithing.  I have to move things around at times but it is no big deal.  In the winter I hook up a wood burner and in the summer I disconnect it and move it aside.  It isn't a big deal.  I just move things around depending on what project I am working on.  Sometimes I have to push everything aside to lay out a large (for me) metal project on the slab.  I never thought of doing work in several trades was that unusual but I come from a boat working background where you do everything.