johnnie Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 A problem has arisen on my Beaudry's Peerless and kinda answered my previous problem I have been making a new set of dies and with the originals removed I've noticed the ram isn't level with the top of the anvil. There is a 7mm difference between left to right. This is obviously why work pieces are getting twisted whilst forging and getting pushed away from the dies The top of the anvil is off level. It is sat on a level base of concrete on 18mm exterior grade ply. My guess is the base is not a good cast. I could level the anvil but it weighs 500kg and think the front which is the lowest side would cut into the ply. I've no access to a milling machine to mill the dies. Here are the photos with the problem. Anyone with any solutions will recive a big kiss in the post!!! The only thing I can come up with is to shim the bottom die to level but is this a good idea?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Greetings John, I think if it was mine I would release the sow block , Install a 14mm flat plate on the bottom than shim fit to the hammer frame and bottom plate. You could do this with a pry bar and a little oomph. Good luck.. Forge on and make beautiful things Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forgemaster Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 9" angle grinder is your friend, just checker board to the depth you need then remove the checkers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kehler Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 a cupstone in the 9" grinder mentioned above works quite well to get a flat surface (in my experience). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vapremac Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Personally....my suggestion would to investigate things a little more in depth before attacking it with a handheld grinder. There are alot of unknown variables as to why your having the problems.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLMartin Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 Just shim under the anvil. Should not be much trouble to loosen the large anvil bolts and hammer steel or wood wedges under the low end. I do not recommend that you grind on the hammer. Remember that some one used that hammer just fine for years how it sits now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianinsa Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 Just a thought, have you tried rotating the anvil 180 deg? Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yahoo2 Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 no, no, no, NO. Johnnie, you are not done checking and measuring yet. You need to systematically work through the machine and accurately compare measurements. Are the dies symmetrical, if they are not, then can they be swapped top to bottom or reversed? try each combination and compare the gap. making sure they are securely fitted before measuring. While you are at it, look at the vertical alignment of the dies and jaws with a set square. Can the anvil block be fitted turned the other way? Just because that is the way it was when you picked it up doesn't make it correct. get a torch and some feeler gauges and make sure it is hard up against the back plate. if the anvil can be spun around, then bring the ram down and measure and mark the milled surfaces of the jaws, walk the anvil out and have a good look at the mating surfaces that the clamping bolts are holding together for anything wedging it out, spin it around and fit it and clamp it back in (making sure it is hard against the back plate) and remeasure the jaws. Make sure that the ram jaws are 90o to the travel of the ram. if not, can that be on backwards or perhaps it was replaced during its life and not milled to match. Is it bent? Once you know exactly what you are dealing with and feel sure you have pinpointed the problem correctly, you can decide if shimming the anvil away from the upright is the right option or a compromise solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnie Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 Hi again guys,OK the anvil/ sow block is definatly the original as it slides into the mainbody of the hammer. No way of turning it around.The ram is bang on level and the dies are not running parallel to each otheralthough they are both individually spot on......it has to be the anvil.I've removed the anvil bolts and with a 5mm x 50mm flat bar packedunderneath and behind the anvil where it meets the hammer casting.Unfortunately I cannot remove the anvil now as I have resined 20mmrag bolts into the concrete. Not good as I wanted to see exactly what the problem was.I am now 2mm off level, I am using her tomorrow and really hope tosee an improvement.Thank you all for your time to advise on whats best. I shall keep you posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Larson Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 Your original post said you were making a new set of dies. Make them to mate and see how they perform. Your originals won't be molested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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