Lamey Posted November 1, 2010 Share Posted November 1, 2010 Hey Matthew, quite working so hard at your "real" job and get us some more progress on this hammer!! Cant wait to see it alive again, that major feeling of accomplishment should be creeping toward you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacock Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Whats up with the 40? Weather maybe a factor, just don't forget us when you have some progress to report. Don't lose your enthusiasm they are great hammers. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Gregory Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 Whats up with the 40? Weather maybe a factor, just don't forget us when you have some progress to report. Don't lose your enthusiasm they are great hammers. Phil No chance of my enthusiasm waning, Phil - just got a bit thick and nippy here! We're expecting another 6 inches tonight, and it's been a balmy 15 or 20 degrees for a while now. Spring will commence this project once again, although I hope to have a chance to get the helve started before then. Time has been in short supply of late... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrismetalsmith Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 Just read this entire thread, and I wanted to say good job! Keep it up, I hope you have it running soon. I have restored a few hammers, and I can honestly say there's nothing like using it after all that hard work. Really nice documentation on the restoration as well, invaluable information for others. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Gregory Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share Posted February 20, 2011 I've been thinking abut this project all winter, and have even started feeling around for someone to make me these: I'm missing one of the helve husk screws, and need to get a machinist to make me one. Thought about have 4 made, that way they could all be the same and I could change the nut size to a more common size (preferably one I already own!). My forge area was nothing more than a tarp covered spot next to the garage, and a massive snowfall early this winter decided it needed to eat my forge and stuff, so I can't even go out and bang on stuff! No biggie, it'll force me to make a commitment to a REAL forging station, complete with a pad for this pig! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hammer Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Would heavy (appropriate sized) treaded rod (SS or grade 5 or 8) with bolts locked together in the center work for that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fosterob Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I do not know what that bolt is for but it looks like you could weld the heads together on a two bolts. Are they right and left threads? It would not be a good idea if it is a critical part. Any small machine shop should be able to make those, just be sure of the material you want them from. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob S Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 It looks like a purpose made turnbuckle to me. If I needed one I would post the picture over at http://www.practicalmachinist.com There are guys over there just looking for something to do...just like here. Good chance you could make a trade for something from your forge. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ishoe Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I love the video of the helve hammer in operation, especially the "swing seat". "Give a lazy man a job and he'll find an easier way to do it!" Troy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacock Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Hi Matthew Glad your back on it I may have some extras. If you have some made don't change size. just get the bolt made to fit the nuts you have they fit into pockets to keep them from turning. They are left and right hand threads, turning center nut pulls both halves together kepping them even. Make sure when they are tight that the trunions are straight with each other. When you assemble everything if the hevle assembly binds in the husk you may have to loosen some and tighten others to get it freed up. That bolt is not hard to make if you need 1 let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Gregory Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share Posted February 20, 2011 Hi Matthew Glad your back on it I may have some extras. If you have some made don't change size. just get the bolt made to fit the nuts you have they fit into pockets to keep them from turning. They are left and right hand threads, turning center nut pulls both halves together kepping them even. Make sure when they are tight that the trunions are straight with each other. When you assemble everything if the hevle assembly binds in the husk you may have to loosen some and tighten others to get it freed up. That bolt is not hard to make if you need 1 let me know. Hey Phil! I need one! I'm missing the bolt as well as the nuts on both ends... that's why I was going to pay a machine shop to make me a complete set. In fact, I was going to have all four made new so that the wrench required would match. If you have a bolt and 2 nuts, I'd be thrilled to buy them from you!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Gregory Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 Once again Phil has come to the rescue!! Here's a shot of the nuts and tensioning bolt I received from Mr. Cox - perfect!! ...now if it'll just warm up for a while and let me get to the darn contraption I can get fiddling with it again. It hasn't risen above the high twenties here yet in weeks - cold even for us this time of year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old N Rusty Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 you call them striking wrenches we pipefitters called them hammer wrenches safety departments in plants ( to justify their existance, no doubt) called them DANGEROUS with the slightest sign of mushrooming on handle to the dumpster! so we were forced to use box end wrenches doubled up to break big nuts (of course when no one was looking) or go through the hassle to set up for impact wrenches i am seriously glad to NOT be there anymore. a fellow ask me if i wanted to forge some hammer wrenches for sale to plants, i tried to explain how a production line could be set up with induction heat and hydraulic robots to make them but it would be very difficult to break into the market to sell them. and there is no way a single hand smith could do it. dont power hammers cause us to get wrenches that an average joe dont have in his proto red cabinet? really who but a smith would have a 2" box end wrench? good luck with that big brute. and great pictures! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bajajoaquin Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Here's a youtube video of a similar hammer in action, although I think one of the comments is correct under it... isn't the drive belt supposed to go in front of the idler pulley? That was my comment, one of the first things I look at on a slack belt drive. The motor pulls the belt tight on one side so the idler needs to be on the other. Otherwise, as the belt gets tight it pushes the idler away. That's the hammer in the blacksmith shop at Vista Forge our San Diego chapter of the CBA. I've used it, and thought that it was a bit difficult to get to engage. I wonder if that's the reason for it. Now that I know, I'll have to take a look when I'm out there next. It's a 200lb version, and I understand that there's a nice 100lb hammer at the Henry Ford museum, as well. I don't know how much commonality there is in parts or designs across models, but I'd be happy to take some pictures if you want. You can let me know by reply or PM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacock Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 If you want to fix that hammer all you need to do is change the rotation of the motor. I'm guessing it's 3 phase so all you need to do is switch any 2 of the wires going to the motor from the motor starting switch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bajajoaquin Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 If you want to fix that hammer all you need to do is change the rotation of the motor. I'm guessing it's 3 phase so all you need to do is switch any 2 of the wires going to the motor from the motor starting switch. I'm assuming you're replying to my post (I haven't read the whole thread, and don't know if he's having direction issues). It doesn't run on 3-phase power, or even electricity. It runs on kerosene . It's driven by a line shaft off of a 15hp stationary engine (Fegeral Mogul comes to mind, but I don't think that's right). There's a bunch of other equipment on that same line shaft, from mills to drill presses to lathes, as well as a couple Little Giants. So I don't know what would be affected by reversing something. The facilities are run out of the Antique Gas and Stationary Engine Museum (Clicky!) which is a pretty cool place in Vista, CA. There's lots of old tractors, gas, diesel, steam, as well as some neat old stationary machinery. If anyone wants to offer more advice or tips, maybe we could get Glenn to move these posts to another thread, so we're not hijacking this one too much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacock Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 I'm assuming you're replying to my post (I haven't read the whole thread, and don't know if he's having direction issues). It doesn't run on 3-phase power, or even electricity. It runs on kerosene . It's driven by a line shaft off of a 15hp stationary engine (Fegeral Mogul comes to mind, but I don't think that's right). There's a bunch of other equipment on that same line shaft, from mills to drill presses to lathes, as well as a couple Little Giants. So I don't know what would be affected by reversing something. The facilities are run out of the Antique Gas and Stationary Engine Museum (Clicky!) which is a pretty cool place in Vista, CA. There's lots of old tractors, gas, diesel, steam, as well as some neat old stationary machinery If anyone wants to offer more advice or tips, maybe we could get Glenn to move these posts to another thread, so we're not hijacking this one too much? You assumed right. The line shaft is great wished I could see it. If the shaft is high enough just take the belt off the lower pulley, give 1/2 twist and put it back on if the belt is long enough now the hammer will turn the correct direction. If the belt don't want to stay on the pulley take it off and twist the other direction. If it still won't track you will have to move the pulley on the line shaft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 As Peacock said, you'll have to reverse a belt. When done the belt forms a figure-eight. Easier to do if there is a jackshaft for the hammer, then you just reverse the belt going from the mainshaft to the jackshaft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Gregory Posted April 12, 2011 Author Share Posted April 12, 2011 Well, I got a bit of time to work on the ol' girl today. I power washed it to get the crud off, loosened the helve husk to see if I could work it free so when I have a helve I can spread it open... then had it slip off the pivot on the left side! Thought for sure the entire upper half of the hammer was coming down. I managed to jury rig a platform and got my floor jack under it, propped it back into place, and tried to tighten it in place with the fulcrum pivot screw. The bolt moved freely, but I can see the threads next to the husk, and they ain't budging. Removed the bolt to find that it's sheared, with the pivot point of it in place. Now I gotta find a bolt, and find a way to get the sheared end out. I'm guessing I'll to have to build a chainfall cradle in order to keep the upper assembly from collapsing. Oh well, she's over 100 years old. I guess this stuff is bound to happen! Phil, you got any more of these old bolts laying around? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacock Posted April 14, 2011 Share Posted April 14, 2011 Matthew I don't have any of those bolts extra. I guess I could make you one. Please donot try to install the helve with the helve brackets in the machine. take the top caps off the trunions and lift the complete helve assembly out of the machine then put it together out of the machine then install it as a unit. When finished you will still have your sanity and all your fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Gregory Posted April 14, 2011 Author Share Posted April 14, 2011 It's funny, Phil... I had posted earlier on a different forum that I needed to find a way to make a cradle or something to pull the entire helve assembly out - it'll make extracting the sheared bolt easier, too. Your words are the one I was hearing in my head, even before you said them! How much do you reckon that assembly weighs? I'm guessing around 400 pounds or so... Matthew I don't have any of those bolts extra. I guess I could make you one. Please donot try to install the helve with the helve brackets in the machine. take the top caps off the trunions and lift the complete helve assembly out of the machine then put it together out of the machine then install it as a unit. When finished you will still have your sanity and all your fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacock Posted July 18, 2011 Share Posted July 18, 2011 Matt haven't heard from this rebuild in 3 months hope all is OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Gregory Posted July 18, 2011 Author Share Posted July 18, 2011 Matt haven't heard from this rebuild in 3 months hope all is OK. Hey Phil! Aside from being out of money, and yet too busy at work, everything is fine! This project has kind of been back-burnered until I can amass a bit more dough to buy the stuff I need fixed, and I've still got plans to build a legitimate building for my forge area, as the tarp I used to shelter me got obliterated this winter. Heck, I don't even have my forge running, as there's no where to put it!!!! Pretty sad, really... I can't remember ever saying this was going to be a six week project, and I guess it's a good thing I didn't, eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Gregory Posted September 17, 2011 Author Share Posted September 17, 2011 Finally, something to update!! Cool story first... The guy I buy my firewood from decided to retire this year. He stopped by the house early this summer to tell me, and also to refer a friend of his as a new source. "You'll get along swell - he collects antique tractors and stuff". So the long, hot summer goes by, with nary a thought passing through my brain regarding firewood. Sure as you're born, the mercury finally starts to drop and I manage to crawl out from under my rock and commence prepping my wood shelter for the next batch. I remember to call the new guy, and Joe (the new guy) says that five cords won't be an issue. "It's all cherry, though..." (you can just sense my heartbreak after hearing this) "...and it's cut a bit oversize. I have a big fireplace. Is this okay?" (you've gotta be kidding me - is this guy for real?) Cut to his delivery. Overlooking that the wood is nothing short of superb (really - almost a shame it ended up as firewood rather than a piece of furniture. THAT good!). I remember to ask him about his old tractors, and that leads to his obsession with all sorts of old machinery. Lathes, mills, drills - you name it. Of course, I have to show him my own monstrosity, and I mention to him that I'm in a bit of a quandary. After examining the machine, he asks to see the sheared bolt. "How soon do you need it?" says Joe. Here it is, just a few days later. How's it look? Now to finally start to disassemble the helve husk, clean everything up, and remove the broken stub for the pivot!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bajajoaquin Posted September 17, 2011 Share Posted September 17, 2011 That's really great. I'm jealous. My own Bradley project is kind of stalled, too. In my case, it's because I'm buying a house, and it's a fixer, so I don't really have much time to be working on the club's hammer. But I'll get to it, and when I do, I'll update my thread. Really, really glad to hear you're making progress again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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