Aeneas61 Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 Have a small shop and was considering a treadle hammer that would attach to a wall post and be used on my working anvil (300lb) rather than having its own anvil separately. I was considering a treadle hammer design which could swing up out of the way when not in use to free up the anvil for hand work. I would love to hear ideas and comments from people if this is a good idea, or is it may actually damage the anvil if used in this way, or really if there would be some other downside to this set up Im not seeing. I feel it might be tough to make an anvil base from scrap that would be as large or solid as my current anvil anyway, so it made sense to me in that regard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kozzy Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 There are some vids of old school chain making on that most common video site which show pretty much exactly what you are describing. Worked for them in a commercial operation so I suspect you could find a way to make it work for your use. My take though from seeing those vids is that the smith in charge must permanently walk funny. Doing that treadle thing more than here or there has gotta rip one's hip joint to bits over time..and since that's a joint which has a high failure rate in people anyway, it's definitely a process to take special care with. Don't go with super heavy just because it seems like the right thing to do--consider that sweet spot where it gets the job done but isn't like kicking a raging bull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 My treadle hammer has a steel frame that holds it the proper distance from the anvil and a chain linkage that can be disengaged to allow the head to swing up and out of the way: Note that since this photo was taken, I have modified the linkage to incorporate a shock-absorbing spring: And the shortening/lengthening mechanism described here: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 A sort of self contained "When I nod my head, HIT IT!" Over the sweet spot it should be fine, if it's a hefty one I might not use it over the hardy hole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 My basic recommendation for this kind of setup is DO IT!!! This radically changed what I'm able to accomplish in the shop, and I don't regret it at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc1 Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 I can't help but associating this hammers with Wile E. Coyote constructions ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 Except mine works! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 You are right; I don't recall ever seeing any roadrunners when I lived in Ohio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc1 Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 35 minutes ago, JHCC said: Except mine works! Ha ha, I am sure it does. Hot steel usually does not run away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 10, 2020 Share Posted January 10, 2020 True it usually jumps or flies away in my experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aeneas61 Posted January 11, 2020 Author Share Posted January 11, 2020 OK sounds like the votes are in and no issues to the anvil, just better not on a hardy hole. Ive seen old anvils with big saddle going on, but perhaps this was just due to HEAVY striking over 100 years or more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted January 11, 2020 Share Posted January 11, 2020 Scale is abrasive, so an anvil seeing 50+ hours a day 300+ days a year would show wear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted January 11, 2020 Share Posted January 11, 2020 an anvil seeing seeing 50+ hours a day 300+ days a year Charles, an anvil seeing 50+ hours a day? You must be in a different time zone than the rest of us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted January 11, 2020 Share Posted January 11, 2020 The earth spins slower in Oklahoma. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C Posted January 11, 2020 Share Posted January 11, 2020 Indeed it does. When we works, we works hard. When we plays, we plays hard. When we sits down................well, we falls asleep. Oklahoma is different than many other places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anachronist58 Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 Time always seemed to stand still when we visited the farm in Mangum..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 Hey, I was into my second sip of coffee when Glenn called to harangue me, I almost drown... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Griffin Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 I don't know about y'all but I could use 50+ hours a day. I might get my shop finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 "Such was the enchantment of Lornadoon that although they had spent only a night in that magic land, it seemed like a week" Bored of the Rings Actually if you have two smiths sharing the same anvil then 50 hours a week wear on it would be a pretty light week... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzzkill Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 Only off by a factor of 7. Now, 4 smiths working 12.5 hours per day on the same anvil ........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 I should not post till after my second cup of coffee... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arftist Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 Or have one of your grandchildren proof read for You. You don't think the compressive force of impact is involved in anvil sway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 Perhaps you could buy shirts from Glenn that don't show coffee stains? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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