John Larson Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 Iron Kiss hammers are no longer sold by Blacksmiths Depot. I have gone back to my proven method of direct marketing. The IK website will be changed next week. Meanwhile I post daily here on my blog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monstermetal Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 mmmm Well I hope there are no bad feelings involved. Can you share any more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Furrer Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 John, I am pleased to hear this. I like you, your product and how you market. Ric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prokopto Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 I was at BD two weeks ago and the fella there was telling me that they are the exclusive dealer of IK Hammers. So this changed pretty quickly I guess. I'd love to get one some day. Maybe a few side jobs and it will happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tate Roth Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 I am also glad to hear this. I've been wanting one, and will get on eventually (was planning on getting one this summer until Blacksmith Depot became the dealer, then my work shut down). Once I'm done playing catchup, I'll be contacting you John. I'm more than happy to deal with you directly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacock Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 John don't know what happened , don't need to know. I do know no one blows you own horn like the person who created it. I read your blog everyday. The hours of sweat and time you put in makes a great hammer. I hope all goes well for you & the Depot. You never know till you try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 1, 2011 Share Posted August 1, 2011 Does this mean you will be at Quad-State with one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Larson Posted August 1, 2011 Author Share Posted August 1, 2011 I may take a hammer to quad states. It remains uncertain right now. There are no hard feelings on my part about this needed change. It was an experiment that I've monitored carefully and it hasn't worked as I'd hoped it would. BD felt the same way, so we went our separate ways. It is really simple to do when all it takes is one conversation and there is no litigation-type stuff involved. One of my strengths that is now back in effect is the ability to talk sensibly and sensitively to customers, sometimes over an extended period of time. For example, I'm shipping a hammer this week that has been a 9-month wait for the customer, but he spent far more than a year asking for information and videos and local-to-him references. Every customer is unique. Every customer needs to believe in the product and the producer. It will be a week or so before my web guy can do anything for me. His first job will be simple, After that the whole site needs some TLC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Furrer Posted August 2, 2011 Share Posted August 2, 2011 John, My website is not one to hold up as an example, but the iWeb I use on my iMac is just fine for what I do. Your may wish to have a look at the basic Apple package. So far I am OK with it...nothing is perfect though. I recently altered every page..took 40 minutes. I can add video links to uploaded youtube videos in minutes and re-arrange the page from standard settings. All the basic stuff ones needs. Ric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith Johnny Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 Good Luck John Looking foward to the new site changes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Larson Posted December 25, 2011 Author Share Posted December 25, 2011 I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year! :-) It has been an enormously busy and productive year, with a strong promise of that continuing through the new year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainely,Bob Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 Happy holidays to you too John. May the new year be prosperous and happy as well as peaceful for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith Johnny Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 Same to you and yours John Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yesteryearforge Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 I have an IRON KISS and it is one fine hammer. I also looked at and asked a lot of questions of John and others from proffesional to hobbiest. Then I looked closely to how it was made ( fit and finish and quality of construction and component parts ) I am a machinist and probally examined it closer that most would. If you are in the market for a hammer you might want to add this one to your list for comparision. I think it will meet and or exceed most expectations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Larson Posted January 21, 2012 Author Share Posted January 21, 2012 I have posted several pictures of the new Octagon 200, one shows it relative to an Octagon 50. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 That is a robust looking hammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blacksmith Johnny Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Wow sure makes the 50 look small - very nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dillon Sculpture Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 My favorite color! Can't wait to see her action, have you built one that large before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 John always does a great job at everything that he puts his hands to. Thank you for posting John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Larson Posted January 22, 2012 Author Share Posted January 22, 2012 Thanks, Dave. Danger Dillon, this is the first 200. I've built them up to 160 before, but without the 20:1 mass ratio and without the 5" custom cylinder. The color was requested, or it would be gray. :-) I'm still in testing/refinement mode. I'm using a Versa 5-port, 2-position valve that is solid brass construction including the spool. It is a beautiful piece of machining and design, but it has a lot of inertia and I am planning to change to a valve with an aluminum spool from Bosch Rexroth that my friend Jeff Reinhart just steered to my attention. The inertia problem reduces some of the snappiness I like to put into my machines for light treadle planishing. I really don't expect to exactly mimic my smaller machines' snap, but I designed the 200 to get a bit closer than I am. In a utility hammer the mass of the spool when it is air actuated evidently dominates the behavior just like F=MA says. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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