[TheForge] treadle hammer design

Fri Jan 24 17:44:01 2003

George,

As designer of what is generally (but not necessarily correctly) considered=
 to be the most complicated treadle hammer around, I welcome your =
perspective on the matter. =20

However, I'd like to respond to your comment, "The old abana plan hammer =
... is far and away the best hammer I have used.  It is a simple striking =
tool, as treadle hammers were intended to be."

(For the sake of readers other than George, let me point out that George =
has never used the Grasshopper Treadle Hammer.  I'll return to this point =
later.)

I take issue with the last phrase you use.  Treadle hammers were ORIGINALLY=
 intended to be simple striking tools.  That's fine, and I have no =
argument with that.  But the implication of your remark is that to take TH =
design beyond this point is somehow wrong or self-deceiving.  Such an =
attitude is not a progressive one.
=20
The contrast has been made between demonstrations by Peter Ross and =
demonstrations by Clay Spenser.  Peter brings one toolbox.  Clay unloads a =
truck.  The difference is that Peter uses hammer, anvil and a few other =
simple tools along with amazing skill from years of training to accomplish =
wonderful ends.  Clay achieves his ends (which are not necessarily the =
same as Peter's) using machinery, namely his treadle hammer, top and =
bottom tooling, specialty jigs and long-handled tools.

Which one is right?  I submit that neither is right.  "Right" doesn't =
apply.  Whatever works for the user is "right."

For you, perhaps a swing-arm treadle hammer is all you'll ever need or =
want.  I, on the other hand, am basically a klutz with a hammer and cannot =
conceive of having anywhere near the skill of a Peter Ross.  If I don't =
get tooling on my side, I'll never accomplish anything.  (This is not to =
say I accomplish much anyway, but at least there's hope!)

So, now let's review the difference between a good striker, a swing-arm =
treadle hammer and the Grasshopper Treadle Hammer:

A good striker=20
* swings perhaps a 16-lb sledge;=20
* hits the tool or work straight dow and dead on the mark every time;=20
* can accomodate a wide range of vertical heights, for work and tooling of =
various sizes.
* doesn't get in the way of the work in any direction from the anvil.
* costs the master blacksmith money, but no particular effort.

The usuall swing-arm treadle hammer=20
* swings perhaps a 50-lb to 90-lb ram;=20
* hits in various places depending upon the height of the work and tooling =
(but has a large enough face that it can usually hit the tooling)=20
* - OR - requires adjustment to the height of the work + tooling (which =
means stopping what one's doing, going around to the side of the machine =
and adjusting at least two mechanisms);=20
* has a fairly limited stroke, throat and clearance around the anvil, =
limiting the work that can be done on it.
* costs the blacksmith considerable effort in fighting the springs.

The Grasshopper Treadle Hammer=20
* swings a 55-lb (effectively more like 75 lb) ram;
* hits dead on the mark every time, and hence can be used accurately with =
top-and-bottom tool sets;
* can accomodate a wide range of vertical heights, for work and tooling of =
various sizes, by means of a quick, one-handed adjustment of one or two =
cranks mounted on the front of the machine.
* doesn't get in the way of the work in any direction from the anvil.
* costs the blacksmith some effort in accelerating the ram, but no effort =
in fighting the springs.

One more quote from you: "The issue of vertical motion, balance and the =
rest are interesting, but the reality of a good hammer is how easy the =
action is, which is a=20
function of the springs which return the head after a stroke.  The more =
one has to work against the return spring, the coarser the action will =
be."

...and this is precisely the principal advantage of the weightless ram of =
the Grasshopper Treadle Hammer.

Of course, you're more than welcome to adapt that feature to your own =
treadle hammer, if you like.

Best regards,

Bruce Freeman

>>> [email protected] 01/24/03 10:22AM >>>
Greetings,
I have used treadle hammers for well over a decade.  The ones I have=20
built are the original 'abana plan' style machine, the plan for which=20
was sold by abana in the late 80's.  It is one of the few which is not=20
over-engineered.  The head has no accommodation for tooling. The head=20
height is not adjustable and the head arcs....like a striker with a=20
sledge hammer..... I have never looked at a treadle hammer as a leg=20
powered "little giant'.=20

I have demonstrated using many other treadle hammers.  The old abana=20
plan hammer (with the modification of rolled, instead of welded, spring=20
arms) is far and away the best hammer I have used.  It is a simple=20
striking tool, as treadle hammers were intended to be. =20

The issue of vertical motion, balance and the rest are interesting, but=20
the reality of a good hammer is how easy the action is, which is a=20
function of the springs which return the head after a stroke.  The more=20
one has to work against the return spring, the coarser the action will=20
be.  This becomes apparent in fine work and layout.

One treadle hammer with no adjustability nor accommodation for tooling=20
other than a 1 " square hole in the "anvil" which is set on a 4" x 4" x=20
3/8" square tube base (hollow because I found no difference in ten ton=20
variants with solid anvils....but you can drift into a hollow=20
tube.....), bolted to the floor and lacking every bell or whistle=20
imagined to date.....has done everything from slit and drift holes in =
1"=20
x 2" down to 20 gauge repousse'.

In blacksmithing there are differences which can be defined (such as =
the=20
temperature difference between oxy-propane and oxy-acet) but which have=20
no real distinction in the shop (other than cost savings), there are=20
other differences, equally esoteric or worse - actual impediments, =
which=20
simply complicate a straight-forward tool or process.  The latter could=20
describe many 'better treadle hammer ideas'.

Treat it as a striker, one who shows up for work on time with no=20
hang-over, and a treadle hammer is simple & cheap to build and a=20
versatile joy to use. =20

George Dixon
Metalsmith

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