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Nice hammer. Ready for fun. What size dies? How heavy is the ram?

Most people seem to be mig centered. Man, I just don't like it. The big thing for me is it's too smokey, too hard on the lungs. I tig 99% of the daily stuff and will usually only mig a job if there's a lot of tacking. I'm not being a prima dona either. Well maybe a little, but I find mig to be a harder process. Maybe I don't want to be good at it cause of the smoke. And all those globs are a bummer if you don't have it dialed. With tig you can bridge gaps, weld thick to thin, have teeny little beautiful laser welds all with only the sweet smell of argon. Anyway, I use a Thermal Arc 185 tig machine.

man, get it! freight's probably 300$. its the right one.

O.K., so maybe you only have to wait days. :) Somebody gonna jump on that one, that's a deal.

Another vote for a #6. That's about the biggest size one man can comfortably operate. And, if you are only going to have one it should be a big guy. Save up and buy a new one. You can wait years and years for the one you want to show up on the used market and they hold their value well so yer not going to save that much. Get the one you want and don't look back. Best tool ever!

Looks like a good gathering. I really like the fact that weaponry isn't highlighted at all. I go see family down there once a year and would think the #1 thing preparedness wise would be "don't live in phoenix" . No offense, it's a swell place. But (almost)no surface water, 3-4 day food supply on the shelves for all those millions and tons 'o' guns.

Good luck "apprenticing" under any of the guys mentioned. Some of them you can pay to teach you, some you can watch demo but to land a spot in any of the workshops would be a tough go. To learn and get paid yer going to have to work in big shops that pump out work. Most likely you will have to journey as a lot of the traditional hand work is feast or famine, meaning you can work big jobs if you can contribute. Better that way anyway, being tied down to one "teacher" for too long is limiting. I think you want as many good teachers as you can get.

Cool project. Thanks for the progress pics. Is that a KTM parked over there?

Sarcasm no come across? Didn't I say I was going to make a few whips with the aforementioned improper part? I'd like to make all my propane gear quick change, being hardwired in everywherere blows. It will be great to have leads out to a few differernt places and be more mobile. can't wait til I can get at it.

Hey, thats dangerous. (I think I've got a few around here somwhere, gonna make me some whips).

I have stall mats' all over my shop (one under the Striker). My concrete is not too thick and it seems to help with the destruction. A 4x8 made frome recycled tires is about 30 bucks at the ranch supply. They really help with foot fatigue. I split them all into 2'x8' and that makes them way more manageable for cleaning etc... If you are working on concrete, don't wait until your feet hurt.

Nice. What kind and where did you source the quick coupler?

Arrowmont Craft School is just off the strip in d'town Gatlinburg. No blacksmithing but general metalworking,woodtuning,clay, etc. They have a gallery and maybe you could get a tour. It's a pretty cool place.

I bet its the start of some sort of raised vessel. Looks similar to the Mexican coppersmiths routine, except they stand and the hammers are bigger.

I would get the 1" ocp chain tongs. They are probably a more useful size in the long run and you can stand to have them a tad big in the hand. They also tend to loosen up over time.

That 200 is the boss. Those vids are a bit quiet, I wanna hear some of that carnage! Amazing. And thanks for your blog.

I like the op's idea, let me know how it works out. Most all of my power hammer tools have welds whether they are handheld, spring, bottom, whatever. My big trick is to make two. I still produce them to the best of my ability but with all that shock they are gonna break at some point and it's nice to keep rockin' when it happens. Then the broken one goes into the to be "to be redressed" pile, then to the "to be rewelded pile".

Here is what I have going. I was all psyched about the dc motor with the speed control from the treadmill. Originally I had it hooked up to a 6.5 inch pulley but it was spinning too fast and bogging. Using the drum as a sheave works, the rpms are good at 30, but still not enough power. I am learning that maybe the motor does not have enough torque. Badge says 25 in/lbs. I am still trying to find some real world values for those numbers. I understand the bolt tightening aspect but don't really have a good feel for what kind of a value would be suitable for this, or other, applications. Do you all think a jack shaft would make 'er go? Might have to source a better power source. On the gear reduction devices. So, if i have a 1/3 h.p. motor and a 40:1 reducer I am increasing the torque (and h.p.) by 40 times? I see gear boxes all over ebay, seems like a clean way to go and I wouldn't have to use as big of a motor.

I have my tumbelina built and hooked up a 1 h.p. d.c treadmill motor. Not enough oomph, even with a .106 drive pulley ratio. So I need some schooling on gear reducers. How are they rated? For example, here's a badge off a 15:1. Do I have to be within a horsepower value to match a particular reducer? How much torque would one expect to gain? Any other tips for the uninformed?

Really great things can come from people who have learned to be creative and have yet to learn process. Process can be a trap. Play is good.

Nice, I like the round end thingy. How did you make that part? Good photo.

The thing with wire wheels in a grinder is that they don't need to be anywhere near that fast. With angle grinders its great to have a router speed control and turn it down. Doesn't keep you totally safe from the big grab but at least you aren't dealing with all that force. Highly recommended. Glad you are o.k.

I want what Jaques wants, a decorative girl. I guess a crane as well.

those are good, make 20 more, you'll notice the little things. have fun

+1 for bar/chain oil