Dan Seaver

Are your torch hoses grade R or grade T? You need grade T for propane since propane corrodes grade R hoses.

The only way to get dies for a Fairbanks E is to have them custom made and its not cheap since they are so big. The quotes I've gotten were $800-$2000 for a pair. If you want I can get die measurements on the my hammers dies. I don't remember the dovetail measurements but the metal block needed for each is 6"x8"x4" (or maybe 4.5", not sure.) Heck I can even make a CAD drawing for you with all the measurements.

Thats the point. we cant all play with every hammer, and A larger head weight does not mean that the hammer hits harder. The force with which any hammer hits is directly prportional to its velocity. This means that a fast 85 pound hammer can easily hit harder than a slow 100 pounder. Unless I am mistaken that is why Mr Hofi was interested in gathering more information about the ammount of "daylight" between the dies on my hammer when the test was performed. Because if you know the Hammer weight, how many blows per minute, and the total lenth of stroke you can calculate the speed of the hammer, and therefore, total kinetic energy. The formula for this if I recall correctly is Kinetic energy = 1/2 of mass times velosity squared. The fact that you sqare the velocity is what makes it possible for a smaller faster hammer to actually transfer more energy to the workpieces than a heavier slower hammer. Hense the purpose of this test, to measure the actual effectivness of the particular hammer under full load, and to give those infamiliar with power hammers a little bit of an idea of what these machines are capable of.