[TheForge] Weightless Hammer

[Bruce Freeman]

This past weekend I posted instructions for building the Weightless =
Hammer, a machine which has been discussed a bit on this and other forums.

The Weightless Hammer is a ~16-lb sledgehammer, with a short handle for =
one-handed use, suspended from a dynamic tool-balancer that is an integral =
part of a
lightweight jib crane. A specially designed bale allows the hammer to =
strike in virtually any direction except straight up. Being weightless, =
the hammer can be lifted
repeatedly with little effort for multiple blows. The user must accelerate =
the hammer for the blow, but this requires no unusual strength. If =
constructed with a
straight-pein sledge, the user may alternate between flat and pien faces =
between subsequent blows.=20

This machine is designed to be easily constructed at moderate cost from =
commonly available hardware using a minimum of hand power tools. The =
machine is not
free-standing, but is designed to pivot on the floor and at a rafter or =
joist. The machine is transportable, weighing only 60 lbs, including the =
16-lb sledge, and may be
easily carried on a car roof rack.=20

For further information, see:

http://www.monmouth.com/~freeman/wh/wh.htm

Bruce
NJ