[TheForge] Powerhammer vs Treadlehammer

[ries]

Sigh. I'm having... discussions with my wife about the idea of
spending the time and money on building a treadle hammer instead of
getting a power hammer at the moment. My business is just gaining
momentum, and I just got a multi-thousand dollar job creating a large
hammered window display and a couple railings for a yarn shop, so I
have to have mechanical assistance to make it cost effective. What are
some opinions out there? Is it worth building a treadle hammer, or do
you think I should just jump to the power hammer, since I know I'm
going to need one eventually (i.e. within a year or so).

Also, I'm located in Portland, Oregon, so if there are any hammers for
sale nearby, I'd love to hear about them. I can't really afford the
trip to Pittsburgh for that $3k one.

Thanks,
Mark


I really dont see a treadlehammer as being a substitute for a power  
hammer.
I know they both "hammer", but they are not the same tool, and dont do  
the same thing.

I have had a treadle hammer for 20 odd years, and a power hammer for  
almost ten- and dont find them interchangable.

I never really found, even with bolt on tooling, that, for hand hammer  
stuff, a treadle hammer replaced hand forging.
And I cant think of a single process I do on both the power hammer and  
the treadle.

I use the treadle for fine control single hits. ornamental stamping,  
mostly.
I find it quicker, when doing real material moving, to just hand hammer.
Now maybe I never really mastered the treadle- but I have much better  
control by hand.

And the treadle hammer just doesnt compare to even a 25lb little  
giant, in terms of being able to move metal.

Personally, I would skip the treadle, and find a power hammer.
Usually, the NWBA meets are good places to network and find one- of  
the 175 or so blacksmiths at the average meet, there are probably 200  
hammers, and a few of em are always for sale.
Next one in the fall.

Hammers are scarce and expensive in the Pacific Northwest, though-  
especially compared to midwest prices.

ries


Ries Niemi
Industrial Artist
http://www.riesniemi.com/