Power Air Hammer Features - Iron Kiss Hammers, LLC.

Power and Control

Iron Kiss hammers are known for their exceptional power and control, a product of substantial research and development. Many power hammers offer one or the other but not both. Use of large air cylinders and carefully designed air flow circuits permit heavy blows far in excess of the hammer head weight and the lightest of blows for finishing work, all controlled via the treadle. The stroke adjustment lever permits setting the hammer for stock and tooling thicknesses. Blacksmiths find it very easy to learn to control hammering.

Weights and Weight Ratios

Iron Kiss power hammers have total weights that increase as hammer head weights increase. The 100 pound hammer head machine weighs 2850 pounds, the 125 pound machine weighs 3250 pounds, and the 150 pound hammer head machine weighs nearly 4000 pounds. The anvil and baseplate assemblies of these machines are sized to be more than 12 times heavier than the hammer heads. That is a key ratio to consider when comparing Iron Kiss hammers to other brands.

Cylinders Used

Cylinders used in Iron Kiss hammers are premium steel tube Norgren units made in the USA with 3.25" and 4" diameters. Each cylinder uses air cushions on the top and bottom caps. These diameters permit the hammers to run effectively at pressures as low as 80 psi. As a forging session is using up the air in the compressor's tank, Iron Kiss power hammers will run longer than competitive brands that need as much as 120 psi to function. Iron Kiss power air hammers are very snappy performers in the 80 to 150 psi pressure range and can run at least four blows per second.

Octagon Nomenclature

The Octagon series of Iron Kiss blacksmith power hammers derives its name from the eight-sided hammer head shape. Reminiscent of the old heaviest-duty Nazel hammers and costly to produce, the octagon shape provides precision surfaces for the V-guides and also eight alternative die positions. The bottom of the hammer head and the bottom die holder block are easily rotated to fit the needs of left handed smiths, for example.

Dies

Dies are available in traditional flat or combination configurations. One set is supplied with each power hammer. They are attached to the hammer with traditional tapered wedges. Unusual dies from other identifiable suppliers are available.

Height

The 100 pound hammer is 84" tall and the 125 and 150 pound hammers are 85" tall. The bottom die is 36" above the floor on the 100 pound hammer and 37" on the other two hammers. All three of these machines use a 9" maximum stroke. If a special request is made for more stroke distance, hammer height increases 3" for every additional inch of stroke.

Throat Depth

The distance from the center of the dies to the frame of the hammer is 11.5". With the dies set in the 45 degree angled position there is ample clearance at the frame for forging long and wide objects.

Anvil Widths

The anvils on the 100 and 125 pound hammers are 8.75" wide. On the 150 pound hammer the width is 11".

Baseplates

The baseplate on the 100 pound hammer is 2" thick and 28"x28". The baseplates are 3" thick on the two bigger hammers. The anvils and baseplates are united to form an integral mass for excellent ratios of their weight compared to the hammer heads. These ratios are the best in the blacksmith power hammer industry.

No Foundation Needed

Massive, an Iron Kiss power hammer does not "rock and roll" and "jump around" when forging, nor does it need to be bolted to a special foundation like many old and new hammer designs do. The mass of the hammer provides this stability and provides outstanding hammer head rebound. A standard installation sets the power air hammer on a piece of 1/2" plywood with a wood or angle iron corral around the baseplate. The corral may be attached to the floor, but it is not necessary unless the floor is extremely smooth. Iron Kiss hammers have been set on timbers embedded in dirt floors. The hammers have sufficient mass to press the plywood into the pores of the concrete to provide a very stable setup.

Art Deco Styling

Iron Kiss Hammers are styled reminiscent of the structures built in the 1930s in the USA such as battleships, streamlined locomotives, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and steel mills. The yellow grade eight bolts emulate the riveted construction of the 1930s while functionally attaching the steel cladding plates. The frame work for the machine is welded construction.

Long Hammer Head Bearing Surfaces

Iron Kiss Power Air Hammers use octagonal steel hammer heads and V-guides of malleable iron for the ultimate in precision adjustment and long life bearing surfaces. The carbon in the malleable iron makes a superior bearing material that blacksmith power hammer manufacturers have used for more than a century. Standard grease gun fittings allow easy maintenance greasing. The hammer head slides in the V-guides that are precisely set during manufacture, though it is possible to adjust the settings as the hammer ages. This will be seldom because the malleable iron V-guides are so long wearing.

Cylinder Sizes Used

Cylinder bores are 3.25"on the 100 pound hammer and 4" on the bigger power hammers. These relatively large cylinders provide very snappy performance at air pressures as low as 80 psi. It is a myth that smaller bore cylinders reduce air usage and that is because the smaller bore cylinders require higher pressures. Some competitive brands will not operate very well below 120 psi, which is nearly twice as high as the Iron Kiss hammers. Cylinder stroke lengths are 1" longer than hammer head strokes to provide a safety factor in addition to the air cushions built into the cylinders.

Name Brand Pneumatic Components

American-made Norgren steel tube cylinders and aluminum valves are used. They will eventually wear out. Replacements and parts are available from any of the many nationally networked Norgren dealers.

Air Compressor Sizing

Any power hammer will run for a short period of time on a tank full of air, and any compressor will refill that tank if you are patient. But nobody is! The key is to size your compressor and tank so that they match your forging time and reheating times. The bigger the tank, the longer a forging session; but then it takes longer for the compressor to recharge the tank. Forging a railroad spike with the 100 pound Octagon is an example of where a 5 hp 2-stage 17 cfm air compressor on a 60 gallon tank will work. Doing "one iron in the fire" allows the 60 gallon tank to recharge while the spike is being reheated. A 7 1/2 hp compressor on an 80 gallon tank will permit continuous forging. With the 125 pound hammer a 7 1/2 hp compressor on an 80 gallon tank is recommended. On the 150 pound hammer a 10 hp compressor on at least an 80 gallon tank is recommended. These powers are available in single phase current. A novel method for increasing air supply if you should find your single-phase-electricity powered air compressor is too small is to add a second air compressor on a separate circuit breaker and to link the air lines to feed the hammer. The compressors can start and stop independently that way, and the second machine only needs to be used when doing continuous forging.

Features of Iron Kiss Hammers