Types of Power Hammers
Power hammers have been available in several basic styles for well
over a century. Mechanical hammers of this era use a crankshaft,
connecting rod, and springs arrangement to produce the reciprocation
of the hammer head. Air hammers use an air cylinder to power the
hammer head and are of two types depending upon how air pressure
is produced to drive the hammer head cylinder. Self contained air
hammers use a crankshaft and connecting rod arrangement to drive
an air cylinder to pump the hammer head cylinder. Utility air
hammers use a separate commercially available air compressor to
power the hammer head cylinder. Utility hammers driven by steam
were originated more than 150 years ago to help build the first
steam ships.
Iron Kiss hammers are utility hammers.
Utility Hammer Advantages
All blacksmith power hammers are intended for the same work,
but go about it differently.
Air hammers tend to have more stroke length flexibility compared to
mechanical hammers. Mechanicals often need the connecting rod length
adjusted with a wrench for a new stock thickness. Mechanical hammers
have a slapping blow that uses the rebound of the hammer head to
assist reciprocation. In dramatic contrast, Iron Kiss air hammers,
like the old steam hammers, have a squishing blow that accomplishes
more blacksmithing work without loss in speed.
Utility hammers have the virtue of being quiet when they are not
being used and standing ready for immediate use. When the air
compressor is located outside the work area the only thing you
hear is the fire in the forge. By contrast, self contained air
hammers have a running motor and pumping cylinder that are noisy.
Users soon develop a habit of manually turning the machines off
and on as they reheat their metal. However automatic this reflex
becomes, it is time consuming and counter productive
for the busy blacksmith. Typically,
the air compressor for a utility hammer starts and stops automatically
when the tank is recharged.
Another virtue of the utility style of
power air hammer is that it is
less expensive. To include a devoted air pump in a self contained
hammer approximately doubles the cost of production. And the air
compressor's high volume, low pressure characteristics make it
useless for powering the compressed air system of the
blacksmith's shop. The air
compressor used for the utility hammer, by contrast, does this
double duty and as far as cost goes, modern air compressors are
relatively affordable and available from many suppliers. Plus,
many blacksmiths find it easy to buy used air compressors much cheaper
than new prices.
The Octagon Design Series
Iron Kiss power hammers in the new Octagon Series are available in
100, 125, and 150 pound hammer head weights. The name of the
series comes from the octagon shape of the hammer head and
bottom die block. This shape provides eight alternative die
positions for the blacksmith so that,
for example, left-handers can be comfortable
using the machine. Old time machines were set up for right
handed users and left-handers had to adapt. Iron Kiss hammers
are user friendly.
The hammer uses a massive solid steel anvil and baseplate, a box
beam frame and hammer head cabinet, and a 1" solid steel top
plate. All critical bolted connections are in tension, not in shear,
for maximum design integrity. The frames of the box beam and
hammer head cabinet and the anvils are of welded construction.
The large mass of steel used provides a power hammer that stays put
during operation without being bolted to a special foundation,
a virtue of Iron Kiss hammers.
Mechanical movements are kept inside the hammer head cabinet.
Mechanical hammers and some air hammers are known for having
exposed works that can be dangerous to blacksmiths
when linkages and springs
break. Guards created for those hammers to contain broken
linkages tend to be uniformly ugly.
Art Deco Styling
Iron Kiss hammers are unique in their performance and styling.
Inspired by structures such as battle ships, skyscrapers, and
bridges of the 1930s era in the USA, the art deco styling employs
plated grade eight bolts to attach the side plates in a manner
reminiscent of the riveted beams of the 1930s. The aerofoil
shaped lifting eye on top of the hammer is inspired by the
1930s focus on streamlining. Surfaces and edges are kept smooth
and crisp in keeping with the American modern style of art deco.
Iron Kiss Hammer Capabilities
Air cylinders in Iron Kiss hammers are relatively large and
provide substantial additional force to the blow at heavy
treadle and provide exceptionally snappy performance at light
treadle, even at air pressures down to 80 psi. This design
feature and the sizes of internal air passages surpass what
competing utility hammers provide.
Stock that can be worked in the 100 pound hammer can be much
heavier than in a 100 pound mechanical hammer. And with the
stroke adjustment lever it is possible to adjust the die separation
to suit the dimensions of the work piece and the tooling.
Welding and working 2" thick Damascus billets in the 100 pound
hammer is so easy that few blade makers will see the need for
one of the heavier machines. Stock thicknesses obviously can be
greater with the larger machines. When hammering on a railroad
spike at full treadle depression you can see the spike get hotter
as it is forged.
There is 9" maximum die separation, though this can be made larger
as an option. Allowing for 3" of reciprocation stroke of the
power hammer head means material plus tooling can be 6" tall. The hammer will
perform with as little as 1" of hammer head stroke for the occasional
thick work piece. In contrast with many other
power hammers, Iron Kiss hammers do not need a large hammer head stroke
to work most strongly.
As the treadle is initially depressed lightly the hammer head
reciprocates with an inch or so of stroke, and as the treadle is
depressed further the stroke length grows to four or so inches at
full treadle. At this point the force of the blow exceeds the needs
of most forging projects in carbon steel. Stainless steel requires
more forceful blows and someone using mostly stainless steel is better
served with the 150.
Power with exceptional control is a hall mark of Iron Kiss hammers.
The heaviest hammer can do the lightest work, such as when tapering
thick stock down to a fine point. Blacksmiths find it very easy to learn
how to control the hammer to do the delicate work, and they also quickly
learn how to achieve full-force single blows with quick depression of
the treadle.
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