Treadle Hammer Makers?

Nabok

Nabok

Joined
Dec 16, 1998
Messages
219
Does anyone know if there are any treadle hammers still on the market? I can find all kind of plans, but few places selling complete hammers. Jere Kirkpatrick isn’t building them for sale, at least that’s the last I heard from him and unfortunately I had a bit of a problem with Uncle Al’s. The only other option I’ve seen is Bigfoot Enterprizes, it may be a good hammer, but I haven’t seen any reviews, the web page doesn’t seem to have been updated in almost 2 years, and it if I read correctly he wants to deliver and set up the machine and sign non-compete and non-disclosure forms, which seems a bit much.

Thanks,
Todd
 
I know of the guy building the bigfoot hammers, he's a good guy and just doesn't have any patents which is why the non disclosure thing. The website is crap because he isn't really web savvy. I can put you in touch with someone who has one, so you can ask directly about it if you would like.

I built mine, they are not hard at all and a drill press, metal cutting saw, angle grinder and welder is really all you need. There used to be plans and a free online tutorial available from Iforgeiron, but I built mine from looking at the pictures of the tutorial before it was taken down. I improved the design VERY much so and created a heartier machine.

Also, what do you want to do with it? They are not foot powered powerhammers.
 
I've tried using a treadle hammer to forge a blade... forging is hard enough for me without using a tool that's kinda like forging while bouncing on a pogo stick. I'd probably power my treadle hammer so it wouldn't be like a true treadle... guess it'd be a power hammer then. I live in a neighborhood so I'll have to build a press, I can't see the neighbors not having fits with a power hammer running.
 
you'll get to the point building a treadle hammer where you may as well just build a powerhammer hehe. Best you can do if you are set on the idea of a treadle hammer as an effective forging tool is to make the anvil and ram from solid steel atleast 2" round.
 
Thanks Sam and Will. Yes I probably could build one (and may build one for myself eventually), but this is for a university studio, so they would rather buy one due to liability, service and support, etc. We do very little blacksmithing, besides making an occasional chasing tool students aren’t supposed to be working iron or steel in the studio, so at least for now a power hammer is more than we need. The professor and I would use it for some forging and tool making and the students would mostly use it with tools for lighter work in non-ferrous metal.

Todd
 
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