[TheForge] more on hammer vibration and noise

[Thomas A. Troszak]

> From: "Bruce Freeman" <FREEMAB@pt.fdah.com>
> Subject: [TheForge] more on hammer vibration and noise
> 
> I saw (heard?) a very convincing demonstration of this effect, though
> perhaps more with regard to noise than vibrations of lower frequency.
> 
> Now, following up on that, cast iron is reliably reputed (Mark's
> Manual, and other sources) to have the best vibration damping
> characteristics of any metal.  (Or is that, 'of any material'?  Anyone
> know?)  Would that be a better choice than steel in the present case
> (assuming equal cost and availablity)?
> 
> Bruce
> NJ


Dear Bruce,

I was waiting for someone to bring this up.

My experience indicates that steel, by virtue of its greater density (500+
lb. / cu. ft.  vs. ~450 lb./ cu. ft. for typical grey iron.) makes a better
anvil for hammering on, but if you are talking about just a big slab under a
hammer, I would guess that 2000 lb. of either one in a big hunk would act
about the same, but the steel would be unbreakable.

If you were going to purchase a 200 lb. (regular) anvil, would you prefer
one made of plain grey cast iron, or one made from steel?

I would take the steel anvil any day.  The only reason that power hammers
were ever made from cast iron is because it the cheapest way to make complex
shapes, and machines like butter, not because it is the best material for
building power hammers. Some of the early hammer manufacturers offered cast
steel anvils for an extra charge, and recommended them for working thin
stock (where the dies hit nearly all the time) or for heavy production work.

My experience indicates that they were right, as my all-steel hammers have
replaced many cast-iron self-contained hammers that self destructed in heavy
service.

Tom Troszak