So a little while ago i posted a thread here: http://www.iforgeiron.com/topic/25285-power-hammer/page__fromsearch__1 and i got lots of nice feedback, so now i am working out what i am going to need to pay for a power hamer (very general i know )... so let me narrow it down.. i am looking for prices on 25-50lb LGs in ontario so that i know how much i need to save... so what should i expect to pay???
thanks
Josh

What does the folks at the Local blacksmith's group say?

the other way to think about it is to take the price of it new (back in the day) and times it by 19 will give you estimated price for today market. I did that and took some off and he felt it was a fair price that I offered when I bought mine.

("back in the day") Just when do you mean back in the day 1920 or 1970 LG was in business for quite along while !

I have mostly seen them in the $2,500-3,500 range. For a working hammer. I would guess one just rebuilt and perfect would be more and one that needs rebuilding would be less. I was looking at a 250# last summer for $2,500, it was in need of serious restoration. Not long after I saw a 50# running for the same price. Look around the forums, anvilfire, craigslist etc... And don't forget moving it will cost a bit, figure in cost of travel, loading and unloading(renting forklift or tractor). For me with the 250# I was looking at over a grand, but I needed to rent a truck too. Good luck, -Justin

I get $3.800 for a newly rebuilt 25# complete with new dies and motor. $4.800 for a 50#. I have paid from $300 to $1,500 depending on condition for "cores" to rebuild. Not trying to sell you a hammer just a reference from here in Missouri.

I have seen some of Peacock's hammers run and they are sweet and worth the money. Watched him forge a small anvil with a LG

Depending on your welding/mechanical ability you might look into making an air hammer or tire hammer. You would not get 100 years out of either like a LG has but how much are you planning to use it. Hobby or full time ect. I know several people who have one or the other and are very happy.

early 1900's should have been a little my 1902 champion sold for $130 x 19= $2500. about not what I payed but I start the offer low. and he took it.

i do not have much welding ability (seeing as im 15 and dont own a welder) but i feel that to get to the next stage in my shop i need an easyer way to move metal and do not want to damage my soulder by hammering too much, i would much rather buy a nice small LG to start. so i am looking domwhere in he area of 4 grand for a nice 25-50lb right? not as bad as i thaught

Learn to weld first, then build your own hammer and save 3 grand.

I agree with Countryforge. I wish I learned to weld when I was in school, but I am now just teaching myself with an arc welder.

One thing I neglected to try while in school was machine shop. If your school offers a machine class as an elective I would sign up when you get the chance. This will give you the basics I am sure and give you some tools to play with. Not to mention you'll gain the knowledge of welding and fabricating. With this I think you'd be able to put together a nice hammer together within a year and probably at a very low cost.

I am always on the lookout for hammers.
put the word out with your local blacksmithing groups . I would reckon that a 15 year old will get a fair price.
its worth remembering that you will get your money back on a LG should you move away or upward from it. not so much so on a home made hammer.

I am always on the lookout for hammers.
put the word out with your local blacksmithing groups . I would reckon that a 15 year old will get a fair price.
its worth remembering that you will get your money back on a LG should you move away or upward from it. not so much so on a home made hammer.

that was what i was thinking, i want to be able to flip it for a better oe in a moments notice.

There was a 50 Lb little Giant for sale in Ontario a few days back 3000. It went on the first call and the first one I have seen on sale in a decade. It was in poor shape so parts and bushings ( babbit ) would be needed, costly if you have to get it from the States. I agree with Basher but there are few hammers around here. I look at Europe Ebay there must be 10 on sale at all times great prices too.

TIRE HAMMER. I think it will be the wave of the future, once the LG's run out or the fanatics price them into oblivion, only tire hammers will be left (of that hammer style). probably will show they're worth in 50 years when they are still running strong too.

at least with a tyre hammer you would know the ins and outs, and not be too scared to make necessary modifications. i am a bit of a trditionalist when it comes to restoration, and am loth to make changes to original designs, especially on things that are over 100 years old.....

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/743961-Tire-Hammer-Plans-by-Clay-Spencer

I built a small tire hammer 30 lb just for fun cost about $350 to date, works great. Next one a little bigger and so on, parts are easy to make, very little down time, and things can be adjusted as needed.

i think for now i am going to build a helve hammer cheap+quick, then upgrade as i go
p.s the suggestions are great, keep them coming!

What helve design are you planning?

What helve design are you planning?

Before you start on the helve. I think I heard at the last OABA meeting that there are plans for a group build of tire hammers. You might want to look into that. A group build like that has the advantage that it ends up taking much less time per hammer than if the hammers are built individually. As well there will be tools used that you may not own and there will also be savings in bulk steel purchases.

Before you start on the helve. I think I heard at the last OABA meeting that there are plans for a group build of tire hammers. You might want to look into that. A group build like that has the advantage that it ends up taking much less time per hammer than if the hammers are built individually. As well there will be tools used that you may not own and there will also be savings in bulk steel purchases.

that sounds cool! i will look for it

that sounds cool! i will look for it

Get a hold of Dan Linkenheld sooner rather than later, from talking to him yesterday, they are getting pretty close to starting. Hard to argue with $1000, give or take a couple hundred, for a power hammer, though.

Get a hold of Dan Linkenheld sooner rather than later, from talking to him yesterday, they are getting pretty close to starting. Hard to argue with $1000, give or take a couple hundred, for a power hammer, though.

that price is hard to argue with... but way too much for me or my family at this point.