Been thinking about building a treadle hammer but not sure if it's worth the effort. I have a good supply of 440C in pcs that are about 2" x 3" x 1/2" thick. My 1st attempt to work them didn't move them much. Would a 40# tredle hammer make this much easier? (I've never used one) Or would I be better off to just Cowboy Up and grab the old 10 pounder and wail away? - Tuck
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
treadle hammer
- Thread starter Tuck
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2001
- Messages
- 5,705
Tuck, With the 440C being air hardening either way it will be a fight. If you looking to win "The One Biggest Arm Contest" thats a good way to train.....
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2000
- Messages
- 643
Tuck, I bought a treadle hammer several years ago thinking I'd use it all the time and it would just about replace my hand hammers. Heh. It looked good on paper. I'm glad I have it but it's just another tool to use when I need it. It's main chore is drawing out large stock and flattening blade stock while I'm forging the bevel on occasionally. I really thought that treadle hammer would be helpful while forging damascus too but I only use it for drawing out and squaring up the billet. It does speed it up and keep it flat. But I still do 90% of the welding and forging with my hand hammer. Oh yeah, it also does an A-1 job of flattening my beer cans with the flat dies. I can get a beer can down to the thickness of a quarter with just a few smacks! 
Edited to add: One other thing it excells at is forging in the tang for a hidden tang blade. I had to make a special set of dies for that and it is a thing of beauty once you get the hang of it. However, one missed stroke is enough to make you holler and cuss. I'm sure I don't use that treadle to it's fullest potential, but then what would be the fun in that?
Edited to add: One other thing it excells at is forging in the tang for a hidden tang blade. I had to make a special set of dies for that and it is a thing of beauty once you get the hang of it. However, one missed stroke is enough to make you holler and cuss. I'm sure I don't use that treadle to it's fullest potential, but then what would be the fun in that?