[TheForge] Molloch Trip Hammer

[Dave Brown]

At 11:20 11/27/02 -0600, you wrote:
>I have a purchased a 50lb Molloch trip hammer and I am trying to get it up 
>and going. Can anyone tell me what speed electric motor I need to used for 
>the drive motor?
>
>Keith Holmes

Keith,

For a 50#er and to avoid having to add a jack shaft a 2hp at 1725rpm is 
more than adequate.  The 50# Molloch is very much like the 50#LG (they were 
produced here in WI by one of the Mayer brothers after they sold LG).  The 
hammer speed (i.e. beats per minute) will be determined by the pulley 
sizes.  On my 50#LG I have a 2 2hp 1725rpm 240v Marathon motor with a 2" 
double v-belt pulley.  The v-belts go around the drive pulley on the 12" 
drive pulley/clutch housing.  The net result is a calculated 287.5 beats 
per minute.  BPM can be increased by increasing the diameter of the 
pulley/sheave on the motor's shaft.

I'm told by some that a 1.5 hp motor will also do the job.  But I'm 
sticking with Sid Suedemeyer's recommendation of the 2hp, modern hp ratings 
being what they are today.  A new modern 2hp motor may be more akin to an 
old 1.5hp motor than an old 2hp motor which these 50's originally came 
equipped with.

Hope this helps.

Dave Brown
Heritage Smithing
Green Bay, WI
ABANA, UMBA, GoM, MODA, ARG