[TheForge] Nazel 4b

[Ries Niemi]

Hey Justin- I only have an 88lb hammer- a nazel 4 B is something like a 
400lb hammer, able to work 7" square material.

Thats not buying a tool- thats making a lifelong committment. Unless 
you have a good 200k worth of gross sales a year, I would say a 4B is a 
bit overboard. Rigging and shipping could easily be 2 grand. Footings 
and bolts could cost another 3 to 5 grand. Rebuilding the motor, or 
buying a new one could run a grand or two.
In short, this is a machine for a big industrial or architectural shop, 
and unless you have wealth of Jay Leno proportions, its probably a bit 
much for you.
Of course, my friend George Rolstad has something like 5 hammers in 
this size range, including one at least twice this big. But none of em 
have been running in 10 years or so, and not destined to do so any time 
soon- George is more of a collector, with the eventual intention of 
getting his shop running before he dies.

There are very nice, brand new plug and play 88lb to 165lb self 
contained turkish and chinese hammers for 5 to 10 grand. They have 
immediate utility, resale value, and spare parts, dies, and manuals are 
in stock. No, they dont have the charm, history, or sheer massive 
impressiveness of a 4B, but if your goal is actually to forge parts, 
you probably ought to look at smaller hammers.

But on the other hand, you do drive a unimog- so you already have 
tendancies toward less than practical machines.

ries