Stitch

Typing it as we speak! Lol...

On to my next project. I needed a new 2 x 72 belt grinder. I found a really cheap treadmill and it's now a motor for my project... Stitch

Great advice Charles!

Will do! Thank you!

That is a brilliant idea! Will! I welded an "L" shaped piece of steel inside the hammer tube for now and yep, it stopped the movement. It was only moving about 3/8" until it hit the "V" shaped stop I had previously welded in so hopefully that will hold for a while. If I ever have to re-melt the lead, I am going to use your method. Thank you! I hammered out a fleshing fork last night from some 1/4 x 3/4 mild steel and it was fun and quick drawing it out on the standard tooling blocks! It went so quick, I forgot to make a video. I will make one today I hope.

Well, it's finally finished. I tore it down Saturday and the wife cleaned and painted it for me. Great gal that one! I ran out of grease zerks and will have to make a run to TSC. I believe the lead shrank a bit after I welded in a "V" shaped stop inside the hammer right after pouring the lead in. I have to figure that one out yet. It doesn't seem to affect the awesome striking power any. Here's the video I made right after re-assembly. I love the control ability. Now to make some specialized tooling for it. Stitch

Thank you! It does give a whallop for sure! The sand / rubber mat has it down to a much quieter hit however. I have had to re tighten the anchors twice now as it settles into the rubber mat. The isolation pad makes a big difference in the low noise level too. I was thinking of leaving it as made but the wife has offered to paint it a smoke/gray and black combination. Who am I to say no.. Lol!

Thank you for that! I bought a recycled rubber mat from the big box store and put it on the 24" thick reinforced concrete pad before bolting it down. Worked great! What a fantastic machine. It is very stable and controllable. I can hit as hard or soft as I want. I'm glad I took extra care in balancing the tire assembly and making sure it ran within .005 on total run out. I will be making a video soon. Thanks again all!

I hope to have it moved this afternoon! Can anyone tell me what they have used under their tire hammer to protect the concrete from cracking from the pounding? I was thinking maybe a small rubber mat from the big box stores. Thanks all!

Thank you!! I really appreciate that info!~ I got her running today. Super smooth and no wobble at all! Just a few more details to finish and then the move to the shop as soon as the new concrete pad finishes curing. Stitch..

Well it's almost done. I have a few more parts to make and some more welding to do. The column to slide housing will be welded in today and the motor wired. I am making my dies from 4140 to start with. The laser cut patterns I made helped a lot. I am curious, has anyone filled their columns with sand to help with the noise? Any noise reduction would be a bonus. The wife has offered to do the final clean up grinding and painting. Thanks all!

Now that is super handy!! Great job, thanks for sharing!

Now that's windy!! I will be making a couple of Blacksmith themed whirligigs this winter. The anemometer on my weathervane is just for the visual effect. Take care all.

I've made a couple of Blacksmith themed weathervanes. The 2nd one for my own shop has an anemometer I made from 2" stainless steel ladles. I made up a simple Delrin thrust bearing for the pivot so the anemometer would turn in the slightest breeze. I use the "two finger method" to find the balance point of the mass. I put two 5/16" ball bearings in the top tube so it can turn in any breeze easily. Stitch

I laser cut this template up for the bar placement layout. Should help.

Hi Tom, There you go! I plan on being there. Might save someone shipping cost.

Elyria here!

JHCC, Got a couple of options for you. ZIP METALS in Elyria, OH has a great selection of lead. Great prices too. It would save you some shipping money if you pick up instead of having it shipped. Also, a really nice in northern Ohio on C.L. at a good Meyers Mark in-line treadle hammer just came up for sale price. I hope this helps...

Great suggestion Dave. I might just do that! I might as well make copies of the laser cut patterns I made for the other parts too. Might help someone. Take care!

Well, I got it cast OK. Been a while since I've made a sand mold but it all came back to me! Now to pass on the pattern to the next builder that needs to cast a counter weight for their tire hammer project. Thanks again all!!

Hey thanks guys, all great suggestions! I went ahead and bought a used propane lead melting pot set up that came with 100 lbs of lead for $30 I also bought a full casting set for $20 off Craigslist. What a deal! I used this style of cope and drag 40 years ago in high school metal shop. I will laser cut the pattern in layers and finish the edges with air drying clay or Bondo. After it hardens, I will polish and wax the surfaces. Since I am going ahead and making one, I may as well do it right. Now to buy some play sand, oil dry and a couple of buckets to make the green sand. I will have to buy my wife a new blender after I use hers for the oil dry. Oh, I will probably have to replace her flour sifter too..... I will give the pattern away to some other builder when I am done with it. I'll take pictures as I go. Thanks again guys, I really like the Durabond 45 flasking idea Zadvorney!

I wear mine whenever I am grinding, welding Mig or Hammer welding. It saved me once for sure a couple of years ago when a 2x72 belt came apart while I was hollow grinding a knife blade on a 12" contact wheel. The belt exploded and the knife edge caught the contact wheel. It tore the knife blade from my hands and threw it instantly into my abdomen with a force that felt like a baseball bat hit. It put a deep 2" gash in the 10oz. thick leather apron. I had absolutely no time to react when it happened. Cut a good chunk of rubber off that wheel too! When I first made that apron, I was put off by the weight but I am very happy that I made it so thick. Other than that, It has saved countless shirts and pants from ruin from grinding sparks and the occasional hot nugget shooting off the work piece when hammering. I will never work without it on even in hot weather. I hope this helps explain why.

I really like your idea. I would use steel BB's sort of like the kind dead blow hammers use. I believe that it wouldn't take very long for the lead shot to nest and pack together. Please let us know if you go forward with your idea!