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Frequently Asked Questions
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Listed below are answers to some of the frequently asked questions
by our customers, fellow blacksmiths,
and website visitors. If you have a question that
is not answered on this page, please contact us using our
Contact page.
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Q.
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Why a utility hammer?
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A.
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Utility hammers are patterned after the old blacksmith steam hammers.
Nowadays, a separate air compressor is used to power them. Self contained
hammers have a built in air compressor and they sound a bit like an old
steam locomotive when they are running. Utility hammers stand by silently
when they are not being used whereas self contained hammers make a lot of
noise even when they are not being used and smiths quickly develop a
ritual of turning the machine off while reheating their metal. That's
annoying and counter productive for the blacksmith. Because a utility
hammer uses a separate air compressor, you may place the compressor well
away from your forging area so that its running noise is not bothersome.
Both types of power hammers use large amounts of air. The key to success
with utility hammers in production environments is to use enough air
compressor power so that continuous forging is possible.
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Q.
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How much air compressor is needed?
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A.
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You do NOT need 3-phase power to run a large Iron Kiss power hammer
in a production setting. The 50, 75, 100, 125, and 150 pound Iron Kiss
hammers will run with "one iron in the fire" with 2, 3, 5, 7 1/2, and
10 hp 2-stage air compressors. These are available in single-phase
electricity versions. This is intermittent forging--while the iron is
back in the fire the compressor recharges the tank for the next bout
of hammering. For "multiple irons in the fire" --continuous
forging--the compressors are larger: 5, 6, 7 1/2, 10, and 15 hp. To
get these numbers when you have already installed a compressor that
is proving to be too small, you can buy a second machine and place
it on a separate circuit breaker and then unite the air lines to
feed the hammer. Use check valves in the lines so one compressor
doesn't pump up the other compressor's tank. You only need to run
the second compressor when doing the heavy production, saving on
wear and tear. Blacksmiths can often find used compressors at
equipment auctions to save money.
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Q.
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How much special foundation is needed?
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A.
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No special foundation is needed with Iron Kiss hammers because they
are built so massively. They do not need to be bolted down. A standard
installation uses a piece of 1/2" plywood between the base plate of
the power hammer and the typical 4" thick concrete floor. The plywood
provides just enough cushioning to keep concrete dust from being made.
Attached either to the plywood or the concrete floor, an angle iron
corral around the baseplate keeps the hammer from eventually twisting
away from your treadle foot.
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Q.
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Why use dovetailed dies?
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A.
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Dovetailed dies are the best way to secure dies and have been used
since developed for the earliest steam hammers. They provide blacksmiths
the fastest way possible to change or adjust the dies. Also, because
the dies are heat treated alloy steel, avoiding welding on them is good
to preserve the heat treatment. Many smiths use abuse plates to protect
the bottom die from chisel marks.
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Q.
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What dies are available?
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A.
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Dies sold with the power hammer are either combination dies (typically
50% fullering and 50% flat) or flat dies. The flat dies have radiused
edges. Suppliers of alternative dies can be identified. Die alloys are
4140, 4340, or S-7. Combination dies are modestly more expensive than
flat dies and S-7 alloy dies are substantially more expensive. Some
die suppliers have an amazing array of specialty dies. Iron Kiss
advocates use of flat or combination dies and the use of a saddle on
the bottom die with a hardy hole. Spring fullers can be given a hardy
stem and quickly slipped into or out of the hardy hole for very rapid
change of fullers. The flat U-shaped springs are made of simple steel
flats. The fuller dies can be any shape you can imagine and made of
ordinary A-36 steel for short-lived tooling or high alloy steels like
A-2, S-7 or H-13 if wanted for the long term. A typical smith after a
few years can have 30-40 spring fullers, but never be able to afford
that many pairs of hammer dies.
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Q.
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Are alternative hammer sizes available at special request?
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A.
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Yes. Standard stroke length is 9" on the two smaller hammers and 11".
Longer stroke power hammers are made. Total hammer height increases
three inches for every additional inch of maximum hammer head stroke
and weight of the hammer head increases a small amount as well.
Hammers smaller than 50 pounds are not made, however power air
hammers substantially larger than 150 pounds are made. Special anvil
weight-to-hammer head ratios up to 20:1 can be provided as an option.
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Q.
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Do you deliver?
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A.
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Yes. Definitely. Most Iron Kiss hammers along the Atlantic coast
have been delivered and installed by Iron Kiss. For locations a
substantial distance from Baltimore, MD it is probably more economical
for the hammers to be shipped on a commercial carrier that you
arrange, with you hiring a local rigger to haul it from the shipping
terminal to your shop. Freight service and costs vary substantially
so that Iron Kiss prefers that customers arrange their own shipping.
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