[TheForge] Kinyon hammer mods

[Shannell Sugrue]

Using my hammer yesterday, I was thinking about this list and everyones
quest for a "great" hammer and thought it might be a good idea for everyone
to list their Kinyon modifications, big and small so those who dont want to
build another hammer or want to build the next one better have some ideas. I
like the self contained idea but might not have the motivation I had the
first time round to build it, having no power hammer is a great "push" to
get the job done :). Some mods Id like to list are as follows-
-Definately add the pressure regulator to the top air connection on the cyl,
I tried this a long time ago but didnt think much of it, 6 months ago I
tried it again and its the greatest difference, especially with 2 limit
switches (which is another reccomended mod) having both switches at their
lowest limit and the pressure regulator set just right you can get very
light and fast blows.
-this is one Im keen to try if I can find an off the shelf valve to do it
easily without spending a lot of time on the lathe.... I notice there is a
lag between going from fast to slow or slow to faster blows when I press the
pedal, the hose between my 5 way valve and the foot pedal is about 3 meters
long so I guess theres some room in there for pressure to build/drop before
the effect is noticed upon the ram so Im thinking of using 2 valves right up
on the 5 way valve on the exhausts, connected by a cable to the foot valve,
using 2 valves which are not connected in any way, will also help with the
other problem here which is the pressure wave that will be going into an
exhaust when it opens from the other exhaust which has just exhausted (I
have a y connection from my 2 exhausts joining them into 1 about 20cm after
the 5 way valve, mabey if this was longer the effect may be lessened, or
mabey the effect doesnt have much impact on the hammer?)   - In conjunction
with this valving I would use a purely linear exhaust as against the
logarithmic action of exhausting the ball valves give, this would help quite
a bit with control Im sure.
-heres one that sounded silly when I first though of it but it might help
some, venting the exhaust air pointing directly at the intake on your
compressor, should help the compressor suck more air.

Any comments on my day dreaming appreciated,
What mods has anyone else done or thought of.....................