Thread: Forging hammer wanted -might save a machine

I have no connection to the poster. Hope an ad like this might save a machine somewhere.
**WANTED FORGING HAMMER**

1000 bucks isn't even scrap value.

Looks like 5 tons, easy.

many power hammers are in that price range, you can get little giants, trip hammers and the like. a good variety.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the problem from a functional point of view is this is a steam hammer and if he wants a working hammer he'll want something else unless he has a humongous boiler.

Originally Posted by BlackNet

many power hammers are in that price range, you can get little giants, trip hammers and the like. a good variety.

Not like the one he posted a pic of, no f'n way. That thing is more than 5 tons, he's offering about half scrap price. In addition to the gigantic steam boiler required he's going to need one hell of a foundation and I hope the neighbors are far far away.

Alan

Simply attach a motor to it, not that hard to do. Many have hooked up car engines to power little giants. dont get hung up on the exact machine he posted, he's looking for a range of models that will do the job.

Tire Hammer for sale - Bladesmith's Forum Board

treadle hammer.
Treadle Hammer & Dies

Discount Steel - In-Line Treadle Hammer- Buy Online - No Minimum Order - Industrial Supplies - Hardware Supplies

I stumbled upon this: The Original Junk Yard Hammer - YouTube

Practically speaking, any sort of motor you have lying around the shop could power a hammer:

Practically speaking, the guy knows exactly what he wants- a screaming deal on a real air hammer.

He specifically asks for a Nazel or a Chambersburg, and shows examples of motor driven, self contained hammers.
NOT steam hammers, which are what we call "utility hammers"- a utility hammer has no motor, it is meant to be driven by shop generated steam, if it was built before about 1940, or shop generated compressed air for the last 60 or so years.
And certainly not a little giant or a treadle hammer.

The smallest Nazel made was a 1B, which had a 65lb ram weight. These are rare as hen's teeth, and command a premium- they usually sell used in the $5000 to $10,000 range if working well. The vast majority of the hammers of the style he shows are 250Lb ram and bigger, and weigh 10,000lb to 35,000lbs on average.

Recent prices in the west for working, good condition hammers like this are usually ten grand and up. Add to the that the cost of moving a 25,000lb machine, the cost of a suitable foundation, and the cost of wiring for a 25hp motor- and you can see why he is trying to find one basically for free.

And, once in a while, somebody does score one for free. But they still arent free, by the time you get em running. The motors, for example, are pretty unique- they usually run quite slow, and are a pretty odd size, so you cant just sub out some scrapyard motor- they usually require expensive rebuilds. A friend put several thousand dollars into repairs for the motor on his 650lb Chambersburg. These are usually 900rpm motors, direct drive, no pulleys, and need a specific, and non-standard, shaft size.


As mentioned, foundations can be quite expensive. The cheap way out is just a bunch of steel, a hole 10' x 8' x 8' full of concrete, and some massive custom anchor bolts. Doing it right, to factory spec, means a bigger hole, and a cribbing system of hardwood. White Oak is the prefered material. I have known several people with five to ten grand in their foundation alone.
These things are usually two piece, the bigger ones are three piece- but they still require at least a 15,000lb forklift to assemble, after the footings are poured. Or a ten ton bridge crane, if you happen to have one.

Here is a link to a currently for sale hammer like the one he is trying to buy for a grand- its fairly priced at $11,000, in running, but certainly not "restored" condition. This is pretty much current market value for one of these.
Old World Anvils - Used Equipment - Nazel 51, 130 BPM, 25 HP 3 Phase Motor

I think my kid brother might have a 200 or 250 mechanical FS. Will have to send an email.

NOT the one in the pic, #7, 200 lb Beaudry on a "by the book" foundation as Ries describes...



smt

There is a nice Nazel hammer in the old C&O carferry shops that is available. I believe it is a 5N, is still installed and in running condition, however, not used for work since the 80's but does still "crush nickels easily." Below is the contact info.

Charles Cart
Senior Chief Engineer
Lake Michigan Carferry Service
engineering@ssbadger.com
p) 231-845-5400

I have a 250 lb. Bement-Miles forging hammer for sale on the iforgeiron blacksmithing forum