The plans for a chambersburg hammer calls for 3 layers of railroad ties for the footing. The plans could be 50 plus years old. So, would it be best to follow the plans or use an isolated cement footing?

What size and style of hammer? I would not be scared to install it like the factory wanted... If it says three thick tie base then I say thats the ticket... Must be a fairly small machine?

Seen things like that in 100+ year old books, but nothing in the last 75 years or so where I've seen anything but concrete.

If it's a 100 lb utility hammer or a 300 lb self contained. Or a drop hammer for that matter. Makes a big difference

What I know of the hammer is that I believe it is a 200 lb Chambersburg. I will know more on Sunday as I get a copy of the footing requirements.

Need to isolate the footing regardless of wood or no wood. My Niles had wood under it and I feel it gave a great amount of cushion although it still shook the earth!

I got the pamphlet and took some pictures of the first few pages to show the footing requirements. There are two diagrams, photo not included, of type 1 & 2 together and a diagram of a type 3. I included a photo of the packing list date 1/23/1958 when it was shipped I assume.

Makes more sense now. Timbers on top of a concrete foundation. Not instead of.

Looks like you have a 300lb. one piece from the packing slip? Don't think you "need" timbers but as mine has the same frame, the die is so low I will be pouring the concrete flush and raising the hammer with 8"-10" with timbers. Just depends if you want the concrete flush or not, still needs to be separated from your slab.

That bulletin is a nice bit of literature, any chance of getting a copy?

Thanks,

a one chunk CH is a score! Nice hammer!

And yeah what Dillon said.. You should put something down between the foundation and hammer... I used applecore hardwood ply... I know people who have used belting and things other than timbers... but it should have something to help isolate it from the concrete a bit..

Danger Dillon: What kind of copy would you want? I can take pictures of each page as I did for this website and post them. My printer scans but doesn't talk to my computer, so I don't think that way will help. Let me know. It is an interesting document and to see the packing list takes you back in time. The packing list has another date on it that is the "compiled date 11/23/54 with signatures of "packed by, shipped by, and checked by" The hammer has an interesting history. It belongs to a City Fire Dept, and the welder remembers it being started 35 years ago when he first started his job. He said it was started a few years later, but hasn't been touched since then. A friend started it up recently and it ran like they used it yesterday.

No problems, I hadn't seen it before. When you pick up the hammer take lots of pics.