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Lets Talk Air and Mechanical Hammers

Ed Fowler

Ed Fowler

Joined
Jul 21, 2001
Messages
2,869
I would like to know others thoughts and experience about various air hammers, and mechanical hammers. Which ones do you like and why, What problems have you had and how well have guarantees and service held up?
 
I love my air hammer when it works, but I hate it right now.

I'm not very smart, so it's probably my fault, but I just can't figure out the plumbing on this thing...

All that said, when the thing was running, it hit hard and gave me wonderful control.

Edited to add: I have a Bullhammer 125
 
Hi Ed,
I built myself a Ron Kinyon style air hammer. I love, it has great control, but I wish it were twice as big. :D The dies take forever to change too.
 
we are talking about compressed air hammer/chisels right?

i have a cheap one i bought from lowes in a kit and it has worked great for me i had to use it to be able to turn off my water main. the shut off valve was rubbing against the side wall of the whole so i just hammered out the cement around the valve. havent used it since
 
I seek information about power hammers, thoughts on Little Giant, Beaudry, and the air hammers, some made in the US, some in China? I have four Little Giants, from a 25 to 100 pound hammers. Thinking about another hammer heavier than my 150 pound Beaudry and would like to know what others have learned with their hammers.
 
Has anybody seen one of Clay Spencer's Tire Hammers in operation? I've heard good things about them for a smaller hammer...and the price tag of $1000 if you attend the workshop to build one seems like a nice price. If he ever holds a workshop near Knoxville, I'll be there. I think one would make a nice compliment to my Kinyon style Air hammer that's almost finished! :)

Socking away the pennies for a Anyhang or one of Tom Clark's hammers one day...drool, drool, drool....

:)


-Darren
 
Hi Ed, 100 lb Little Gaint all the way. Been using mine for about 8 years with no problems and have been rebuilding it as I go, finished it a couple years ago. I forge large stock (1''-3'' rounds and squares) down for bowies and folders and make damascus, hardly ever use my press anymore. I also forge blades to shape with this hammer, I have a series of photos on my site showing this. I have used many different air hammers over the last 14 or so years and keep thinking I need one, but the Little Giant works so good I just can't justify the expense. If I were going to buy (and most likely will) an air hammer, I would get one of Tom Clarks 110# hammers, he has put so much into them and they're much better now than the first ones he brought in, I know at lest a half dozen makers using Tom's hammers and they all love them.
 
Does anyone have any scematics or plans of any kind for the Kinyon style hammers? Plumbing diagrams(I think I've seen some on the Abana sight)?

I've seens pics of a few, but I haven't been able to get much info on them other than the fact that they are air hammers?

Jon
 
I have a Pheonix 150 air hammer...imo, well designed and engineered. (same Tom Troszak of Bull hammers)..with very precise control.

The delivery was much later than originaly estimated.... , I didnt mind that so much,.... but it was the lack of communication that let Phoenix down. Getting someone to reply to my telephone and e mails (after I paid my deposit!) was extremely difficult and at times very frustrating....I would like to think they have improved, but
I have been waiting for a new set of dies since last November. I was told it would be a three month wait..5 months later, I am still waiting.

Its a shame that I found their customer service lacking because I believe they have such a great product to offer.

I mostly forge from inch and a half 52100 round stock, but it will handle a lot bigger stock with relative ease.


Design/engineering/control of the hammer is everything that I expected , and more.....but needs a lot of air, and is very noisy!...9/10:thumbup:

Customer service..probably the worst I have ever experienced....sorry...1/10:thumbdn:
 
synghyn said:
Does anyone have any scematics or plans of any kind for the Kinyon style hammers? Plumbing diagrams(I think I've seen some on the Abana sight)?

I've seens pics of a few, but I haven't been able to get much info on them other than the fact that they are air hammers?

Jon
Click to expand...

The plans cost $12 off the Abana website. You'll need a compressor that will supply at least 17 CFM. Mine does 20 CFM, and I wouldn't mind having a bigger one.
 
Ah, good deal.

I'd seen the bit about the plumbing, I guess I missed the plans for sale, Ill look a little better. Thank you

Jon
 
I really like the looks of the big Chinese hammers and have heard good things about them but some bad also. Have yet to use one but I will one day, pretty good prices too.
 
Ed Fowler said:
Sunfishman:Are you thinking about the Striker hammers?
Click to expand...
Yes Ed, and a couple more being imported under other names that I can't think of right now but all look pretty much the same. Scotty that helps run the ABS school just started importing a hammer that looks like the Striker in a couple sizes, they look pretty good too.
 
Ed,

Striker seems to have good customer service. They will send you a free DVD showing their 88 pounder at work. Randall Graham used one of their 55 pounders and had nothing but good things to say about it. Tom Clark's hammers have a lot of fans, too, but are about double the price.

John
 
There are a coupla fellas in Parkersburg WVa building air and air/mechanical hammers. Working under the name Avatar.
There also John Larson in Maryland. He posts over at Forgemagic.
 
Ed,
I purchased a 100 lb. Big Blue in 02 and have had no problems with it. The control is wonderful, allowing you to do both fine and power work, whichever you need. If you don't have a good size compresser to run it, that can be added to the startup cost. As you know, no machine can do it all, but I find an air hammer to be very versital. No matter which one a forger chooses, it is a site better than the power hammer he or she was born with. Fred
 
birdog4 said:
There are a coupla fellas in Parkersburg WVa building air and air/mechanical hammers. Working under the name Avatar.
There also John Larson in Maryland. He posts over at Forgemagic.
Click to expand...

I had not heard about the hammers being built in P-burg. I live across the river and plan on checking them out. Thanks for bring this to my attention. Fred
 
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