[TheForge] Power hammer Vs air hammer

[Ries Niemi]

On May 22, 2006, at 7:24 AM, Grover Richardson wrote:

> 	Thing to remember is that a power hammer, when it is running, is
> obvious and dangerous to the casual observer.
>
> 	An air hammer, when running, is a rat trap waiting to be tripped.
> At a meeting last Saturday, I announced the danger of an air hammer.  
> In
> that it is armed and ready to go, and the air compressor is 2 buildings
> away.  There is no obvious sign that an air hammer is ready to work, 
> other
> than the fact that the air lever is moved 90 degrees, or the wood 
> block is
> underneath the foot leaver.  Non-blacksmiths would miss such signs.
>
> 	Not long after, someone (I leave the name out because I almost did
> the same thing years ago) stepped on the operating lever.  It moved.
> Immediately the wood block was re-placed underneath the foot leaver.
>
> 	Air hammers are good, but can be a silent killer when visitors are
> in the shop.
>

Only Utility Air hammers are like this.
Believe me, when my self contained is ready to hit, you know it- the 
5hp motor is running, the 2 foot diameter flywheel is spinning around, 
and the compressor cylinder is WHOMPA WHOMPA WHOMPA ing quite loudly.
Russel Jacque's 750lb Chambersburg, with the 40hp motor- well you can 
feel that one about 500 feet away.
Nobody would mistake it for being turned off.

Ries Niemi
Industrial Artist

http://www.RiesNiemi.com