[TheForge] Power Hammer Power

Tue Jun 17 13:07:02 2003

In a message dated 06/16/2003 3:36:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
[email protected] writes:

> Has anyone on the list ever tried using a hit or miss engine to run a
> small power hammer, some thing the size of a 25 Lb little giant, and if
> so were there any problems??
> 
> Thanks in advance
> John C. in NJ

John C.

It's far from being a novel or new idea.  At one time hit and miss engines 
were a matter of necessity.  How do you think power hammers and other equipment 
ran before affordable electric?  Histories of some power hammers precede hit 
and miss engines.  Bradley Rubber Cushion Helve and other early designed 
hammers were available long before cheap and reliable electricity.  I visited a shop 
in Philadelphia a few years ago were the entire shop ran (mills, lathes, 
grinders and Nazel hammers) off an Otto gasoline engine.  The engine powered a 
line shaft down the center of the building.  The shop shut down most of its 
production in the mid 1980's.  I found out about the shop from a friend who bought 
the Otto engine in the late 1990's.  Early Nazel hammers (circa 1900) were 
offered belt driven or motor driven with an AC or DC motor.  Power is power no 
matter the source.  The mystery or problem (if there is one) in using a hit and 
miss engines is getting the correct Rpm's via a jackshaft or line-shaft.

Bruce R. Wallace
Wallace Metalwork
www.forginghammers.com

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