Steve McCarthy

Phil the flat pully needs to be about 3 1/2" OD right? I'll have to see what Orscheln has. I looked in our pile of hubs and sprockets at work but couldn't find anything to fit a 5/8" shaft. I didn't have to raise the crank sahft like we thought. The 175x70x15 spare has almost an inch of clearance at the base.

Got the spare tire mounted to the crank shaft tonight. Still need to fab a flat pully for the motor. Even though the motor still has the v-belt pully on it, I had to hinge it forward and see the hammer run under power. It is a long ways from ready to forge on, but seeing it move was exciting.

Andrew the center pole is 5 1/2" diameter and 3/8" thick. Stewart those are interesting connecting arms. What makes the layered belting hit harder than a solid rod? The original mounting point on both sides of my ram are broken off and the stubs that are left have been drilled to accept 3/8 round that connects it to the spring. I would have to think long and hard before milling out a slot in the head.

Stewart, Francis, thanks for your advice. I have very little experience with power hammers. I appreciate the help.

Thanks for the offer Stewart. I didn't weigh the head, but Pounding out the Profits lists them as 35lbs. The linkage between crankshaft and pivot arm has a series of holes that allows stroke adjustment. Peacock suggested replacing that with a tractor top link. That is something I will probably do. It was also suggested to replace the belt pully with a tire drive. I may do that in the future, but first I think I will get it to run like it is and see what it does before I change too much. There is only one set of adjustment holes that allows the dies to touch each other. Turning the pully by hand it don't seem like it had enough stroke to hit very hard. I may be quite surprised with it under power. It may be a day or two before I get to work on it again.

Camera was facing the sunlight so the pics didn't turn out real good. Still need to put spacers between sow block and frame, and..... well, there is a lot still needs doing. Shop is a complete mess. Hand to move half of it outside to get the hammer in.

Thanks Bernie. Can always count on you to salt the wound. I wasn't even one of the front row hecklers on Saturday!!! Anyhow, got it set in with out major incident. Sure am glad it comes apart though. The base and frame was all my 8N and jib pole wanted.

Yesterday I finally got my hammer home. I traded for it at BAM confrence four weeks ago. It is a Modern Power Hammer made in Grinnell, Ia. It's had lots of modifications done over the years, and I need to sort out a drive for it and have a set of dies made. Today I made a 4" Oak base, got it put together and set in the shop. Peacock had a lot of helpful suggestions for getting it into running shape. Pounding Out the Profits has quite a bit of information about the company. From it's descriptions, this hammer had to have been made between July, 1904 and September 1905. Anybody have pictures of a running Modern? Maybe tomorrow I'll get some pics posted. Right now I've only got $425 in the hammer. Needless to say, I'm pretty excited.

Now that's funny. Thanks Frank

Gee thanks Phill. Now I'll be awake nights for a week just wondering. <_<

I'll be there.

I made a trip to the scrape yard today. Haven't been in about 3 months. It was rainy and cold, and after about 1/2 an hour wondering around I was on my way out empty handed. Then I made one last look at a pile about 2 foot deep and saw the words "Acorn Iron & Supply". A little bit of digging by hand and then the help of a forklift revieled a perfect 4x4 Acorn table. The scrape yard guys thought it was a grate cover for a manhole. 980lbs at scrape price was a pretty good buy. Not sure if I'll build a stand and set it up or try to sell it. Anyhow, it's mine now.

That's about the funniest thing I've heard all day. Thanks for the smile Forsty. That little wack on the head hasn't dimmed the lights any has it?

It was a treat to see this hammer in person. Phil posted lots of pictures during his anvil/sowblock reapir to this hammer. The pictures looked great, but man you ought to see this hammer!!!! Very professional job.

Go to Bamstie.org and open the news letters. Im not sure which issue maybe last November. Anyhow one of them has a pretty good how to on forging afrog

Bummer. I'll be at the in-laws next weekend so may try to stop by Saturday to look if you are going to be home.

So did you descide to go with the purple and green?

Check out http://www.bamsite.org/ click on "Coal Map". These are the BAM coal deposites around the State. Bob Alexaner is in DeSoto and Bob Maes in Millersville. Are you a BAM member? Our next meeting is March 17th in Cedar Hill. you ought to try and make it.

There is a very good tutorial here. http://www.incandescent-iron.com/

Where are you at Wayne?

And you are who, the anvil police? I'm sure for the right price you can rescue them all.

The March BAM meeting is in Cedar Hill. Be sure and try to make it. Good to have ya.

Nathan sure gets around. I took this class Dec. 3rd at Mark Hemmer's shop in Pacific, Mo. I made a 2 1/2 lb rounding hammer. I also would recomend taking his class. Nathan is a great guy, and excellant teacher.

I saw Frank demo this in St.Louis in 2009. Great demo, great smith, great story teller.

You really been busy John. Good looking hammer.