[TheForge] ironworkers vs power hammers

[Ben Barrett]

That's awesome, Ries -- sounds like 59HP peak.  I enjoyed your posting
from last March in the necessity of power hammers thread too.  I'm
just excited to finally have the shop space, and not sure what I want
it to become in the end... I know, it is a terrible idea to lack a
full plan.  I'm trying to get the most versatility in metalworking out
of each small step, and I'm focused around blacksmithing although a
bunch of other processes (and even some other mediums) are involved.
I know Tesla brought us AC, but I only recently heard that Edison was
apparently his nemesis.  I agree about strikers, and the ability to
make custom tooling and dies for both small power hammers and
hydraulic presses means the one-person shop is more capable than ever.
 There are many dies I would want CNC'ed though, I think, for the
precision leading to my own safety... is that reasonable?

On a similar note, if I have access to a sufficient lathe, is there
anything particular to smithing that I should do or be aware of, in
lathing down mandrel cones?  I'll be getting some guidance on the
lathe, but they're not blacksmiths.

ben



On Jan 14, 2008 1:16 PM, Ries wrote:
> These are  two totally different tools, with different uses.
> For forging, a powerhammer would be my first purchase.
> As you get older, and your arms wear out, you really appreciate ol
> Thomas Edison doing the heavy work for you.
> And with a power hammer, you can build all kinds of tooling that
> enables you to do a lot of stuff thats difficult, if not impossible,
> by hand. In the old days, there were always strikers around- usually
> two or three, and a big shop might have a dozen- guys who were human
> power hammers. The one man shop was mostly a myth.
> So a power hammer is, in that sense, traditional.
> And they have been in common use since the mid 1800's or so.
>
> An ironworker is a fab tool. Its great for doing precise shearing and
> punching, cold. And especially when you are doing large jobs, with
> lots of repetition. I use mine probably 75% for punching holes, and I
> think thats common. If you need 2 dozen 3/4" holes punched in 1/2"
> plate, an ironworker can knock it out in a half hour, including setup
> time. And for shearing stuff to length- a 100 pieces all the same
> length, it cant be beat. But unless you have the volume of work to pay
> for it, an ironworker is a pretty expensive convenience.
>
> Whereas a hammer is more of a necessity, in my book.
>
> As for 3 phase, if you get at all serious about tools, you are gonna
> need 3 phase in your shop. You will want a rotary, rather than static,
> converter, and you will need it sized bigger than you think, as 3
> phase tools have a way of wandering in once you have the juice. A
> small power hammer, like a 25lb little giant, can easily be run on
> single phase- but once you get up towards 3hp to 5hp, 3 phase motors
> are cheaper, easier to find, and more efficient.
>
> Ries
>
> (who has 400 amps of 3 phase from the utility in his shop)
>
>
>
> On Jan 14, 2008, at 10:22 AM, Ben Barrett wrote:
>
> Howdy folks, I'd like to prompt a discussion on how ironworkers fit in
> with power hammers in the medium-sized smithy, and the pro's and con's
> of acquiring one before the other.  I currently have room to expand
> into both, and nearing budget for one or the other.  One current [heh]
> limitation is 1-phase power, although I understand either could be
> modified to a 1-phase motor/source or driven with a phase converter.
> I'm looking at the range of processes that I could accomplish, and
> would be hoping to get into a 50-150# hammer or a 35-50 ton
> ironworker.  Eventually both, if things pan out.  Please advise!
>