[TheForge] chinese hammers and oiling (was nazel 4b)

[Ries Niemi]

On Aug 12, 2005, at 5:25 AM, Justin Fellenz wrote:

> Huh. The striker adveises a "double oiling" system, whatever that is,
> so it indicates they realize it's an issue. Were the problems your
> friend ran into lubrication issues, or something else?
>
>


There are at least 3 brands of chinese hammers that have been brought 
into the US- Anyang, which Striker originally brought in, Shanxi, which 
Striker now carries, and 15 Wolf brand hammers, which were brought in 
by some blacksmiths in the northwest, and which came from a 3rd foundry 
in china.

All of the chinese hammers come with pretty funky oiling systems- some 
have an oiler only on the back, compressor cylinder, and rely on the 
oil to find its way thru the valves, to lube the front, working 
cylinder.
Others have double oiling, which is usually a mechanically activated 
oiler that pumps oil to both cylinders.
These oilers are not very high quality.

However, you need to think of the chinese air hammers as a good, cheap 
large casting, with decent machining. The peripherals on all of them, 
which would include the motor starter switches, rubber drive belts, 
oilers, and even foot treadles, are pretty cheap and quick and dirty. 
These exterior parts are easy to replace, and the hammers run better 
with high quality US parts. Or custom made treadles.

I know of at least 2 dozen chinese hammer owners here in the northwest- 
yesterday I was in a shop where a 165lb Wolf sat next to a 300lb 
Chambersburg. The owner loves both of them, and has nothing but good 
things to say about the chinese hammer. Both have had mechanical 
problems, minor in the chinese case- he added a Gits brand drip oiler, 
and just fills it up every day. The chambersburg, on the other hand, 
was set up so it always started on the same tooth of the drive gear- 
$1800 for a new drive gear later, he added a manual unloading valve, so 
the hammer had to be started with it open, then closed when running. 
Which is the worse design flaw- the $30 one, or the $2000 one?
What this proves is that the same minor tuneup problems can be expected 
with just about any air hammer- a nazel, a chambersburg, or a chinese 
hammer. And the bigger the machine, the more expensive "minor" will be.
  But most chinese hammer owners are extremely happy with the bang for 
the buck.

Around here, a Nazel or Chambersburg self contained will run $5000 to 
$15,000, with no guarantee that you wont have to fiddle with it, and 
nobody at any company who will send you parts. Then add a hefty sum to 
move it, bring in 3 phase or buy a huge rotary converter, and a few 
grand for a foundation. I know several people who have had to have 
gears custom made for older american hammers, usually at $1000 and up, 
or have cylinders remachined, also in the thousands. Dies must all be 
custom made. Just because of the sheer size of the babies, a block of 
tool steel that big can often cost several hundred bucks, before 
machining and heat treating. I know a guy who got a big chambersburg 
for around $5000, and he figured he was in it for about $20,000 by the 
time it was almost running. Get a price on rewinding a 25hp motor 
sometime.

There is no question that if you have the work to pay for it, the place 
to put it, and the power to supply it, a Nazel 3b, or a 200lb or 300lb 
chambersburg is a better hammer than an 88lb or 165lb chinese hammer. 
And they look cooler, and are american (or, if it is a really old 
Nazel, made by Beche in germany)
But for the average guy, the chinese hammer is going to be running and 
working for about half the cost, and in half the time as an old 
american.
I know plenty of working smiths who swear by their chinese hammers. I 
am sure there are a few lemons, but at least you have somebody to 
complain to, and James Cosgrove at Striker is a good guy- I cant 
believe he wont make good on real problems.

I have been running a chinese anyang 88lb hammer for over 4 years now, 
with no problems, and I love it. Sure, it could be better, but for the 
money, it was a great deal, and it has paid for itself at least 20 
times over by now. And never broken.

ries