[TheForge] Casting a power hammer?

[Michael]

Frosty,
I would have to agree with Ike. You would be much better off buying. I only
consider casting as a valuable blacksmithing aid for use making art objects
to be mixed with the ironwork. Even then, my mind tends toward small stuff
in odd materials; nothing massive.
Mikey

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of LrdThorolf at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2006 5:30 AM
To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [TheForge] Casting a power hammer?

 
"frosty wrote"
Casting is a whole different craft/art, kind of like 
baking. All the  art is in the preparation with the act 
of casting itself pretty  anti-climactic no matter how 
spectacular. Then you have to wait to see the  results. 
It's a lot like getting christmas gifts 6 mos. early 
and having  to wait to see what you get.

I'm interested in casting but I'm eclectic  to the point 
of schizophrenia AND have ulterior motives. I want a 
power  hammer and since the only recycling center within 
a couple hundred (maybe  thousands of) miles stopped 
letting people buy I don't have a source for a  
powerhammer anvil. I'll have to cast it myself.

 
I would think a good blacksmith like you would have learned long ago that  
making something big can be a lot of time and effort. About half way through
you 
 will be growling and snarling. The grizzly bears will be running south and

no animal life form will be within 100 miles of you. I  have done small  
casting in the past and I would not even think of all the scrap steel   that
you 
would have to melt down for each part and then after casting them  clean
them 
up.  Then you would have to set them aside and spend more  
hours/days/weeks/months making the rest of them. 
In  my  opinion I think you should just save your money  and buy one of the 
new 150 pound air hammers. I saw one that came on the pallet  and all a
person 
had to do was stand it up  mount it to the floor and  then add your air
lines 
to it and then have fun pounding  steel.
 
in one hand. time, casting, insanity, building hammer, insanity, wife  
refusing to let you in the house. in other hand, sanity and happy  wife.
 
Later Ike 
Pan's Forge





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