Got to run an LG 25 tonight

Sam Salvati

Sam Salvati

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Aug 6, 2007
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Went to a blacksmith's hammer in upstate by New Paltz NY to the shop of Ed Kara. Was good to see old friends. Ed has a NICE shop, well equipped and it looks like the dream country blacksmith shop. Couple of powerhammers, coal forge and big hood, small gas forge, anvils, hammers, tongs etc. Ed is a genious when it comes to making jigs, makes a jig when he needs to produce something it seems of any larger amount than 4. Ed has a FANTASTIC condition LG25, an LG50, and a Moloch 50. I was admiring the 25, and Ed asked if I would like to try it. I banged on some 1/2 square just playing a bit, then banged out a deba from some leafspring. The little LG was a pleasure to run, had alot of personality! It's not on the top of the list, but I sure wouldn't turn one down if a deal came around. Wouldn't outwork my Anyang, but the history and personality of the hammer would be cool. And I forgot my damn camera!!!
 
Sam, I remember the first time I used a 25LG. Was and still am very impressed at the amount of work they can do.
 
I would love one for the ambiance, novelty is the wrong word but I wouldn't want one if I was doing heavy everyday forging, but for hobby work or knifemaking it would be great. Having used the Say Mak for real world production forging, I have to say that trying to make a living (in the blacksmithing/ironwork world, not much forging is done comparatively in the knife world) with anything under a 100 pound hammer would probably not be best, unless you never work anything over 1 1/2".
 
Sam, next time you're in Hawaii.. stop by and I'll let you play with mine:D
They are very cool bits of a time long past....:thumbup:
 
Actually, a well tuned mechanical will usually out hit an air hammer of similar size. I've used 4 different Say Mak's and while they are an amazing tool, they didn't hit as hard as the 100# LG's I've used.
 
NickWheeler said:
Actually, a well tuned mechanical will usually out hit an air hammer of similar size. I've used 4 different Say Mak's and while they are an amazing tool, they didn't hit as hard as the 100# LG's I've used.
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I'll put a 100lb little giant up against a 100lb Iron Kiss any day...because it's been too long since I mentioned John's Iron Kiss hammers here on the forums. :)

I've been around several 25lb LGs, but only ever used one briefly. I'd like to get the chance to really work with one for a billet or two and really see how they run.

Quite forgetting your camera Sam!

-d
 
Nick's right. Tom Clark told me in person that his 110 lb will not hit as hard as a 100LG. I already knew that when I asked him ;) With that said, I really like the Say Mak.

Sam is also right. 100 minimum for any type of production forge work.
 
Gotta bring up that damn Iron Kiss again eh?!?!?

:p

I'm just angry I've never had a chance to use one! :D

Don, Tom told me the same thing when he brought a couple out here to a hammer-in.

In fairness to Sam ;) :p While the Say Maks didn't hit as hard, one thing consistent among all 4 was SUPER SMOOTH control. I can't say that for all the LG's I've seen, not by a long shot. I've seen some LG's that were too scary to run... the key is one that's well cared for and dialed in! :)
 
It's easy to get a Say Mak dialed in, you just turn it on :D

But i'd still rather have my little Anyang :D Which I got to run for a couple hours today since I am home to go to the hammer in for the weekend. What an awesome little hammer it is! That Say Mak really shaped me up, that and doing power hammer work ALOT and what my boss has been teaching me. I remember when I first got my hammer and it was throwing tooling all over, throwing the piece all over, couldn't forge something and keep it square, turns out it was all technique! I love it even more now I can actually use it. I think also, in the two schools of thought, I am a flat dies and tooling guy as opposed to a multiple dies type guy. I wish I could bring it down to the shop I am working at, even though it would look funny next to the big Say Mak hehe. Went to forge a little santoku style knife from some O1, instead of floundering and futzing about how to go about it on the hammer and get all the angles and shapes and geometry I knew what had to be done and just went to it, little to no hand hammer work was needed, and barely any clean up on the grinder. And it took me less time to do it on the hammer then by hand, which means I am doing it right.

Deker, do you remember the powerhammer competition? I don't know if anyone ever weighted in they're LG100. Someone weighed in they're 25 as well as they're treadle hammer (treadle hammer moved more metal, but in fairness it had a 65 pound head), but not a 100.
 
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