[TheForge] treadle hammer anvils

Thu Jan 9 19:19:00 2003

Hi Bob -

    I've built a couple treadle hammers in the past few years and have gone
with filling the anvil with scrap steel and concrete. And I also recommend
bolting the hammer to the floor - definite improvement in performance. But
with the water problem, I guess that's not a real good option until mid
summer. Yes, there's the added weight to worry about when the tide rises but
the performance is much improved. Perhaps to lessen the load, so to speak,
you can use chain to create the "weight" in the head. ADD or REMOVE chain as
the job dictates or the water rising :o)). Also, having an adjustable head
is very handy and you will eventually find that "sweet spot" that works for
most things and there it will stay. But knowing that you can adjust made me
go with the adjustable head. Also, add the ability to remove and interchange
heads. Adding a treadle hammer to you shop allows you to greatly expand your
skills and capabilities(and I don't have to keep hollerin' for my son!)
    The grasshopper is to darn complicated a contraption(I spend most of my
time in hi-tech advanced manufacturing and automation) and I guess I like
things simple when I'm home in the shop. It looks like a nice science fair
project. If you want to diddle, then the grasshopper will be interesting.
Keep it simple. The leg exercise you get will be a benefit anyway - heck,
I'm gettin' older and my wife seems to be gettin' faster!! :o))

    Oh, I recall another interesting treadle hammer design. Let me
think - - - - -YES , I remember !- check out this site:
www.fholder.com/Blacksmithing/article9.htm. It's the Big Lick by Richard
Sheppard. He's got plans for sale. Haven't ever tried this one, but another
interesting design.

Regards

Phil
Jordan Forge
----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, January 09, 2003 9:14 AM
Subject: [TheForge] treadle hammer anvils


> i am building a treadle hammer for a friend. he is not sure whether to go
with a solid anvil or a tube type. it seems that most commercially available
t hammers have tube anvils with a plate on top, centaur, kirkpatric (the
same?) and the one advertised in the hammers blow.
>
> are there others that can be bought?
>
> any opinions on the functional difference between solid or tube anvils?
the guy i am making it for is concerned about moving it (weight). he lives
in a flood plain and his shop has 7' of water in it some springs. he usaully
loads thing up and moves it to high ground till the water goes down.
>
> bob s.
>
>
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