Astro_Al Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Hi guys, as my quest for a powerhammer continues, I have been offered this hammer. I'm told it is a 1/2 cwt Massey hammer, running on 3 phase - that's all I know. I can't find any info on the net about them - I didn't even know Massey ever made mechanical hammers. Has anyone got any experience of these - any info on how they perform? I was anticipating finding a 1 or 2 cwt pneumatic hammer somewhere & that is all I have experience of - is this hammer a big step backwards? Any info much appreciated! Al. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Size depends on what type of work you do. For ornamental work 1/2 CWT is a good size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basher Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 that is a very old hammer! from what I understand these are fast hammers and more for drawing out quickly than fine controle , a lot of these type of hammer were used in the cutlery trade. you can do a lot of work with a half hundred weight but it depends on what you want to do ? I would see it working and have a go . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro_Al Posted September 1, 2011 Author Share Posted September 1, 2011 Thanks guys. So it is similar in operation to a little giant, for example? I was using a Sahinler 50kg hammer the other day and thinking how I wouldn't want anything much smaller... I probably better pass I think. Interesting hammer though. Cheers, Al. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 I hope John N hears about this hammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro_Al Posted September 1, 2011 Author Share Posted September 1, 2011 So tell him. I can't get a reply out of him. Maybe he's on holiday, or busy. Al. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macbruce Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Looks like it has very limited pass through capability but it looks like a beauty and is built like a brick outhouse......... if the price is right....GRAB!! Doh, I just made out the pass through hole, every outhouse gotta have a hole........ :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nonjic Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Looks cool! was on holiday last week, repairing 20 ton clutchs this week! shoot me a pm or email with the serial number and Ill look her up in the records if I get chance. Massey made a lot of spring hammers, very usefull tools. I would bet you can draw out 1" dia much faster on that than a 2 cwt ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Hammer Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 It may be a good hammer, but if it's not what you want, it's not a good hammer for you. If you are patient, you will find what you are looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro_Al Posted September 2, 2011 Author Share Posted September 2, 2011 Thanks guys. Yes Dave, exactly right. Although I've been looking for quite a while now and I really need to find something. The price is ok on it, but even with some negotiation its not exactly a steal. I'd rather put it into a larger hammer - it may be fast at drawing down smallish stock, but it can't cope with the variety of materials I want to work. It is located in the south of England, if anyone is interested, let me know. Cheers, Al. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lamey Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Those are similar to the Pattinson hammer, they are quite a bit more robust then the Champions are, and in my view better designed frame clearance, guides etc. Not a "knock" on the CHampion, as im very fond of them, but those Massey and Pattinsons are beasts, sure wish there were some here in the USA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DClaville Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 i want one :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro_Al Posted January 9, 2012 Author Share Posted January 9, 2012 Sorry to drag this up again. After some further thought and planning, I decided to go for it and buy the hammer. I have a much larger one coming in a few months, so I figured this would bridge the gap between my hand-hammer and a 'big' hammer (Massey 3 cwt). I bought it along with several boxes of tooling and a cone mandrel & good size swage block and stand. It says 250 BPM on the plate. I'm just in the process of installing it on about 9" of wood to jack the anvil height right up - it'll be mostly used on modest stock sizes I guess, so I wanted it at a pretty comfortable height (will be 32"). Hopefully it will be happy on a regular concrete floor, just bolted down - no fancy hammer base. John N - if you read this: Do you know if there is a particular main shaft rotation direction I should aim for when I wire it up? Do you have any literature on these - instructions / maintenance etc etc? Does the serial number mean anything to you - G 141 I think? While I have you - how much for the Massey manual for the 3 cwt installation & use (etc) - I need to grab one off you - PM me if you like? (I am braced for impact)! The previous owner bought it from a forge in Sheffield, but doesn't know any more than that. I've never seen another one of these, nor can I find anything on the on the net - anyone ever come across one? Should have it up and running in a couple of days - looking forward to it! Cheers, Al. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iron woodrow Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 someones boot has worn halfway through the treadle..... looks like a lovely beast....... heavy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro_Al Posted January 9, 2012 Author Share Posted January 9, 2012 Yup - both the left and right side are worn through. There is a pedal mechanism that came with it which mounts to the wooden base - more of a heel rest for when it is raised off the ground. Weighs just over a tonne I think. Not sure exactly, be surprised if it was less. About the same as a Bridgeport milling machine I think. I have a forklift so shifting etc is no problem (had to load it by hand when I picked it up though - ramps, hand winch, rollers, blocks, grunting, Cheers, Al. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan P. Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 I love it! I love the way the motor sits inside the frame, very tidy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro_Al Posted January 9, 2012 Author Share Posted January 9, 2012 Yes, its nice and compact. Nothing too high up / sticking out. There is a cover for the pulleys too. It has a leather cone-type clutch I think. the treadle just moves the inner cone fore-aft into the outer cone. Not sure what state it is in nowadays - this thing has seen a lot of use! Also came with some spare tool-steel tapered blocks which fit into the ram / anvil so I can make my own tooling easily. I think what made it a good deal was mostly the useful tooling I got thrown in with it. Cheers, Al. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celt Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 That's a really nice looking old hammer, and best of luck to you with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro_Al Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 Thanks! I just got it wired in and fired it up. It isn't bolted down yet so I was going easy - I'm totally amazed at how smooth, quiet and controllable this hammer is. It is whisper quiet when running, and has a really nice gradual blow-energy increase with the pedal. Goes from a light hit at a rate of about 1 every two seconds up to some pretty convincingly solid blows (didn't get to full throttle yet). I'm really delighted with this little hammer so far. I reckon its going to do a lot of work! Just deciding where to put it - I want it within 1 step (ish) distance from the forge - don't want to lose a lot of heat walking to and fro with hot stock. Everywhere I think of seems to be in the way of something else. Is it completely stupid to put it against a wall, given that I'll have a larger hammer with free space all round it in a short while? Anyway - what a great little machine - now I'm convinced I did the right thing. Cheers, Al. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan P. Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Running yet? Video? Please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro_Al Posted January 31, 2012 Author Share Posted January 31, 2012 Hi Dan, yup. all installed and tested. Er... Not sure about a video - might be beyond my technical know-how. Sure does speed up the work rate. I'm just using it to do the bulk of any larger stuff, which I finish up by hand as I've yet to acquire any significant skill with the machine(!) and really I need to sort out a heel support at the new pedal height (I put it on a 9" tall wooden plinth). Still need to route a cable to it in a channel in the floor, rather than tripping over an extension, and put the pulley covers etc back on. Its an incredibly simple machine - might rebuild it in a couple of years, runs fine, but it is obviously well used. I'm off to visit the next one in a weeks time... Cheers, Al. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Salvati Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 What a sweet cool hammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan P. Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Thanks for the pics. What speed does she go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro_Al Posted January 31, 2012 Author Share Posted January 31, 2012 The plate on it says 250 bpm, I haven't measured it, but that seems about right. I was concerned it might be a bit too fast, but it responds pretty swiftly if you back off the throttle, and actually it's a good rate for moving metal on a small hammer like this. I'm still experimenting really, there is loads of tooling I haven't tried yet. Didn't I see a thread somewhere about you acquiring/installing a mechanical hammer Dan? Got any updates? Cheers, Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan P. Posted February 2, 2012 Share Posted February 2, 2012 My update is the chuffing spring is broken, which makes little odds, as the electrician who is meant to be wiring the motor appears to be second cousin to Houdini, or was it Lord Lucan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.