Is it worth it?

[Krown Kustoms]

I have been drawing/designing a small table top/pedistal mount hammer with about a 10# - 12# hammer.  

 

Is it worth the time or should I be in the 40-50# range to be effective?

 

I wont be forging anything big just want to stretch out stock easier.

 

 

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

Bigger moves more material faster. I would say to build as big as possible. Easier to hit lighter with a big hammer than hitting harder with a small hammer.

[macbruce]

In my opinion a power hammer shold not be near in scale to what you can swing with your arm, it should take you into another realm and beyond. Making a minature PH requires as much planing, fabrication and skill as making one (aside from the cost of steel) that will handle 1'' sq+ without any problem. Go bigger, you'll be glad you did.

[ThomasPowers]

I've seen powerhammers designed to use a regular anvil and mount on the hardy hole in 2# range---for a fellow who had medical problems where he wasn't able to hammer much but still wanted to keep on smithing.  I've seen powerhammers in the 15# range designed to work sheet metal cold.  I've used smithing powerhammers up to 200# 

 

The most "bang for the buck" is definitely in the larger than a sledge hammer and at least in the commercially made ones it's far easier to do small work on a large hammer than large work on a small one.

[Krown Kustoms]

Thanks guys. Im gunna try to stretch it out as big as I can.

 

Now that I think of it I have said before "Man I wish I built that a little bigger"

 

Ill post pics soon.

[VaughnT]

Funny you should bring it up because I just found a neat picture of a 9# hammer that appears to be built around the cast-iron frame of a press.

 

 

Farwest Forge did something neat there, didn't they!?  :D

 

I agree that you should always go as big as you can stand - time, money and materials allowing.  But there's also something to be said for making what you can with what you have.

[Eddie Mullins]

That defintely is a neat little hammer! I'd like to see it in use.

[Krown Kustoms]

I like it but I could never do that to my arbour press. Its worth its weight in gold.

 

I was thinking something on the lines of a powered treadle hammer.

[Steve Sells]

interesting, I bet the small mass would not be a problem in my restricted neighborhood,  .. now how to go about it with out getting caught by the wife... assuming it moves enough metal to justify the space it will take up.

[littlemilligan]

 this is just so sweat, would love to see more photo's if you have them ?

[MLMartin]

I think Anyang sells a 20lb power hammer. If you realy wanted something small that would fit the bill

[SJS]

Weren't the smallest sized Kerrihard hammers in the 12-15# range and they moved metal real nice. Jr Strausel made a real nice little helve hammer that move steel nice too.  It might also be easier to work the kinks out on a little hammer project and then up the scale later when more mass was available.

[VaughnT]

Lightweight hammers aren't anything new.  You could easily build something that uses a 12# sledge hammer, as that's really nothing more than a down-sized Hawkeye Helve hammer.

 

That little hammer I posted earlier is a neat gizmo (built by Paolo Scordia), and runs at 350bpm.  Would it work on lighter stock?  Hate that I haven't found any more images or video of it, but it would at least be good for sheet-metal work.  http://farwestforge.com/Forum/bsgview.php?photo=3311&cat=T&by=

 

Maybe something more like this Depew hammer.....

 

 

http://www.google.com/patents/US1485486?dq=power+hammer&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Zj4JU4H0M8PK0wGN8YDICQ&ved=0CF0Q6AEwBg

 

 

[Krown Kustoms]

I like the ideas. I have had no time to work on the design. I hope to get it going soon.

 

I got rail track yesterday. Gunna use it for the anvil surface and hammer surface. What do you guys use to cut it? I was going to use an abrasive wheel.

 

I have an old Model A leaf spring. I think (hope) that should do it.