[TheForge] Tire power hammer/YAK long

[Daniel Kretchmar]

Greetings,
    I built one of those tire hammer based on the pictures on the anvilfire JYH
site.  Its called the North Carolina JYH by Steve Barringer of B2 Design, Ltd. 
 Mine is at the following URL

http://www.irontreeworks.com/the_shop.htm

I built mine for about $700 and that includes about $300 of mistakes that I
wouldn't make a 2nd time.  I could do it again for about $500 without "too"
much of scounging.  Mine is simpler that the one on the anvilfire page and alot
of it was trial and error until it worked.  I also know that I will come to
regret the lack of grease fittings on mine.  I will have to replace the shaft
the spring is attached to and add a grease fitting when I do a refit, but all
that aside, without knowing anything about powerhammers, it was easy to learn
to use and it hits hard (my ram is 45 lbs + the dies. I have replaced the shock
absorber inte the picture with a custom leaf spring ($75) and my anvil is
6x6x(3/4)" thick wall tube. YES it is HOLLOW! The back support is 6x8 3/3 inch
wall tubing filled with scrap steel and concrete!!!  It walked a bit at first
until I filled the anvil with sand and welded it shut.  I have two pins welded
to the base that stick into the floor to stop the walking but it is not bolted
down and it doesn't rock even at full speed (about 160 beats per minute)

On the other hand, I found a 50# Little Giant almost two years ago that I am in
the process of refurbishing and I still don't have that working  :)  I wouldn't
even be able fix the thing at all, if Pete Stanitis hadn't had class at his
place about rebuilding them last summer.  The little giant gets it's own floor
and room addition.....

Daniel Kretchmar
www.irontreeworks.com
Traditional Woodworking and Blacksmithing