Our Mission
A hall mark of Iron Kiss Hammers, LLC is its mission to produce the best
utility power hammer on the planet in terms of weight ratios, power, performance, price,
style, and service
(see Features).
Iron Kiss Hammers, LLC was created in 1996 to manufacture
affordable hand built power hammers for
blacksmiths in the mid-Atlantic region.
Marketing has been done by word of mouth advertising and demonstrations at
blacksmithing shows. During this decade-plus, the market area has gradually
increased and many design refinements have been made.
An Evolving Design
Iron Kiss power air hammers have been developed in several stages. Early machines,
stark in their simplicity, used an I-beam frame, had rectangular hammer heads
with guides that clamped to the I-beam flange, and used bolt-on dies. Each of
these early machines improved upon those previous and it was in these years
that many important lessons were learned. In particular, through a long process
of development, it was learned how to deliver the power with control that is
so strongly evident to users of Iron Kiss power
hammers. Even today this design
advantage exists.
Design Lessons Learned
However, these machines were too light weight and they needed to be bolted
down, a decided disadvantage that many machines on the market still have.
The next stage of development focused upon increasing the
weight of the machines,
using box-beam frames, developing heavy anvils,
creating round hammer heads, and beginning an art deco design. The guides
in these hammers were akin to keys that registered in keyways cut into the
round hammer heads. A valuable design lesson learned in this series was how
to control the overall
height of the machine.
Many blacksmiths are restricted by a seven foot high
ceiling. In order to serve them, as well as offer a 36" bottom die height,
the top of the hammer head was bored out to partially sink the cylinder rod
pivot into hammer head. Air cylinders are mounted with pivots at both ends
and are positioned on the center line of the hammer head for maximum
durability and hammering efficiency. Other brands do not use cylinder pivots
or they mount their cylinders off-center, things that are considered by Iron
Kiss to be design flaws.
Designed for Blacksmiths - The New Octagon Series
The new Octagon Series of Iron Kiss power hammers continues all the positive features
of previous machines, such as use of heat treated alloy steel dovetailed dies.
The series derives its name from the
octagonal hammer head.
The octagon shape permits use of a superior V-guide system,
with high precision adjusters, as well as eight alternative and easily selected
die positions to suit left handed users and other special needs. Dies are
designed to be replaceable with those of some other
blacksmith power hammer manufacturers so that the
widest assortment of die shapes is available. These sources are identified for
customers.
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