what should I look at/for in a used Little Giant?

T

tmickley

Joined
Apr 4, 2001
Messages
1,803
I moved to Mankato MN this spring and finally got a garage put up to keep toys in and also to forge in. I decided I should get a Little Giant hammer so I called up Little Giant in Nebraska City to see what they had. Sid wasn't in so I talked to his daughter (or daughter in-law?) They have a 1 year waiting list for 25 pounders and 1&1/2 year waiting list for 50 pounders. A rebuilt 25lb is $3600 and a 50lb is $4600. I put myself on the list for both. She went on to explain that Little Giant was based in Mankato until the late 60's and there should be a bunch of them around. Sure enough, stopped in a little blacksmith shop 40 miles out and there sits one in the corner but the guy is not interested in selling it. The blacksmith is in his 70's and does mostly welding anymore but he is a charactor so I stayed and visted with him for nearly an hour talking about making knives. I gotta stop back and visit him...but anyway --I placed a want ad in the local shopper and tonight I get a call from a guy that has a 50 pounder he'll sell for $1500 in storage 4 miles from my house. He says he buys 6 to 10 of them a year locally and sells them to a guy in Kentucky or Georgia.

Now to the question:
What should I look for? What is easy to rebuild or repair or what is just not worth it? How do you move the darn thing? What else should I be considering?

Thanks for any help or suggestions...
Tracy

PS If I get any other leads on any other hammers around here, is anyone else interested in hearing about them? If so, let me know here or email.
 
Hi this is DaQo'tah...


Umm,,all I know for sure is that I have seen books on EBAY that you need to have to be able to learn how to fix them...

But,also, I have a few questions...

First,,,I could use a knife making lesson or two...I'm all the way up here in Grand Forks Nd and I dont know any,,,knife makers,,,All I have ever had is a book or two to learn by.

interested in teaching?

2nd,,,I go to the Twin Cities all the time as thats where my sister lives, and I would also like to pick up a Little Giant hammer one day...should I also place a want-ad? in some papers in the area that I could drive to in a weekend?

3rd...I just got a NC Low boy forgewith the help of some members of this blade forum.what else is around becides the Little Giant hammers?...what else is used to smack steel into shape?

Is there some type of new hammer?..some type of air-powered hammer?
 
I would highly recomend a book called THE LITTLE GIANT POWERHAMMER by Richard R. Kern. I consider it must reading if one is serious about a power hammer.
I would also try to get a powerhammer that has a cell block. One problem powerhammers sometimes have is that a crack will appear where the lower die fits. If it has a cell block the cell block can be replaced. If not it can be a real job to stop the crack from ruining the power hammer.
I would check the toggle arms for looseness.
I would also look for a hammer that had a adjustable ram guide.
If you look long enough you can find some real buys. I bought a 100 lb little Giant in excellent condition for $450.00.
Talk with those who own one. Try to examine any powerhammers you can find whether they are for sale or not. The more experience you have with them the better choice you will be able to make.
Also in my opinion a 50 lb power hammer is much much better than a 25 lb hammer, and a 100 lb power hammer is even better. I have a 100 lb, and a 25 lb. I use my 100lb far more than I do the 25 lb.
Good luck, Tom Lewis
 
Tom: thanks for the pointers. I'll look for the book.

Dakota: Try placing an ad with the Fargo Forum Farmers section that goes though out much of ND and several parts of MN. It has a pretty wide distribution.

You are welcome to stop by some time and I can show you what I'm doing with stock removal. I've forged just a few knives so far and my recent move set me back there a half a year.

There are air hammers and hydrolic presses besides power hammers. I plan to build a press this winter. I'll see if I can't find some information links and post them here.
 
It's good to know there are some MN guys out there. I'm near St. Paul. Me and another smith from southern MN get together every once in a while. We're both pretty inexperienced but we've made a few knives. Let me know if you're ever interested in getting together.
 
Wardn1
It would be great to get together some time. I've done mostly stock removal but have forged a couple. Also...
There is a Hammer-in at the Cannon River Falls Forge on December 14-15 put on by Mike Blue. Every one will go home with a damascus billit or two. Mike says he'll fire up the Little Giant if some one wants to try it. I plan to. Cost is $75 and includes a dinner Saturday night. RB Johnson will have a 'track' also showing how to make a liner lock folder. I'll be forging. Cannon River Falls is south of the cities 20 or 30 miles near Northfield. Mike says it run approx 8am to approx 5pm and you are welcome to stay in the shop longer but he says he's too old to do that anymore. He may have a few slots left, let me know if you are interested and I'll try and find the contact number.
Otherwise you are welcome to come poke around my shop for a saturday afternoon some time.
 
I would definately be interested in that. I didn't know if there were any hammer-ins around here. It sounds like a good time.

Ward Nelson
 
we kinda got off the topic,,,,but the truth is,,,,a hammer-in in my area of the country is something I can't pass up.....

Im talking to my wife right now about going,,,,

and if I can get the weekend off from work?,,I dont know yet...But so far,Im very hopeful,,better set out a plate for the daQo'tah!

(Oh Im not a very good knife maker yet, and my forging skills are pitiful,,,so I hope you will admit beginners?)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top