White Fox Forge Posted September 28, 2023 Share Posted September 28, 2023 Hey, I have an opportunity to purchase what seems to be a star power hammer. It is in extreme disrepair. It has a broken pulley and God knows what else is wrong with it. There is a chance I could buy a new cam (I think Is what its called) and pulley from the guy but it think it is a little giant. Is this worth it for me to buy? It costs me over 40 bucks to drive out there alone. I was thinking of asking scrap price for it so if i can't fix it I can scrap it and get my money out of it. I have all of the tools to restore it like a surface grinder, lathe belt grinder and stuff like that (no milling machine). Im not afraid of a lot of work but i dont want to pour money into it either. What is a good price, if I should get it at all? Also any advice for restoring a machine like that? Ps. Is the drill press behind any good? Thanks! WFF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted September 28, 2023 Share Posted September 28, 2023 Had you tried to post photos with that? I don't see any images at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Fox Forge Posted September 28, 2023 Author Share Posted September 28, 2023 Sorry. I forgot to upload pictures. Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latticino Posted September 28, 2023 Share Posted September 28, 2023 Have heard that Star hammers are decent, but nothing special. Hard to tell the extent of the damage from the photos. I'm not a big fan of the leaf spring style linkage where the exposed spring is level with your chest if it fails in use. Pulleys are typically easy enough to replace (and might be a good idea in any case if you are switching from flat belts to v-belts), but it looks like the shaft may also be damaged. If the castings aren't cracked, it might be worth repair, particularly if you get it cheap and are willing to do all the renovation work, but it wouldn't make my list. The drill press behind appears to be a camel-back style press. These are typically heavy duty and well suited for a metal shop, provided you have the space. I've seen them selling (in working condition with a useful motor) for anything from $350 to $500. Typical caveats on the quill and bearings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Fox Forge Posted September 28, 2023 Author Share Posted September 28, 2023 Alright. I will take a look on Saturday. I'm just trying to find a good metal musher for my shop. So far I'm stuck with a hand hammer. A big drill press wouldn't hurt either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted September 28, 2023 Share Posted September 28, 2023 I don't think it's a Star hammer, at least it is very different from my 30 pounder. It could be a newer improved model though. When I bought mine all the Babbitt bearings needed re-pouring which was a challenge but I managed to get them poured and it has been working fine since (about 25 years now). If it's a Star the name should be cast into the frame on the opposite side of the picture. All the Star hammers I've seen in old catalogs look just like mine. Notice how the pully & clutch is central on the main shaft. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Fox Forge Posted September 28, 2023 Author Share Posted September 28, 2023 You are probably right. I didn't see a name on it but I dint look on the other side. I just looked up pictures of power hammers and found one that matched. Will a power hammer run on 110v 20 amp? I may have to upgrade the wiring in my shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted September 28, 2023 Share Posted September 28, 2023 Every one I've ever seen runs on 220 volt 40-50 amps. motors. I can't control the wind, all I can do is adjust my sail’s. Semper Paratus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted September 28, 2023 Share Posted September 28, 2023 5 minutes ago, White Fox Forge said: Will a power hammer run on 110v 20 amp? Only a very small one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Fox Forge Posted September 28, 2023 Author Share Posted September 28, 2023 Lol. I don't think I would get much metal mushing done with that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George N. M. Posted September 28, 2023 Share Posted September 28, 2023 The anvil looks to be similar in size to my 100# Vulcan. Assuming it passes the ring and rebound tests I'd offer the seller $350-400. I think the power hammer would be a complete rebuild and I doubt that I'd want to undertake that. I'd rather be blacksmithing than rebuilding a big piece of equipment. "By hammer and hand all arts do stand." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted September 28, 2023 Share Posted September 28, 2023 cant tell you how much power you need unless you tell us what motor it has/needs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Fox Forge Posted September 28, 2023 Author Share Posted September 28, 2023 Ok. I only got to take a brief look at it. I should be back up on Saturday to take annothe look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason0012 Posted September 30, 2023 Share Posted September 30, 2023 Worst case you could just fabricate a flat pulley and run a slack belt. The really old ones were built that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted October 3, 2023 Share Posted October 3, 2023 I can't really tell from the pic but it looks like the clutch is maybe probably broken too. If I got this one for a good enough price I'd pull the crank plate and remains of the pully and clutch and buy a new shaft that extends a ways out the back side and make it a tire hammer. No clutch, no pullies and belts, just a motor on a hinge, linked to the treadle nest to a tire on the shaft. Tire hammer drivess are simple, reliable and reasonably safe. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Fox Forge Posted October 3, 2023 Author Share Posted October 3, 2023 Alright. Thanks. I didn't get more pics. The owners are going to get back to me on it. I appreciate all the help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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