Power Hammer Test

Sam Salvati

Sam Salvati

Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
5,060
Ok, over on IforgeIron (www.iforgeiron.com) there was a test that was challenged to all power hammer owners The rules were as stated by Mike are:

mike-hr said:
... I did some thinking and came up with a test where we can all post out results, and maybe get a better idea of the hammers out there.
I took 8 inches of 1 inch mild steel square, marked each end at 2 inches. Use flat dies. Heat to near welding, put the 2 inch mark on the near edge of the dies, and hit 5 times real hard. Heat the other end to near welding heat, same thing, but hit 10 times. Wire brush, cool and measure how thin each end got with dial calipers.

Please try this and lets see what happens,
Mike
Click to expand...

And the resulting thread ensued:

http://www.iforgeiron.com/forum/f57/power-hammer-test-6127/

I tallied all the results up and here is that list, in order of thinnest to thickest in the according number of blows:

Best in 5 blows:
Nazel 3B
Say Mak 60KG
Anyang 88#
Sahinler 110#
Say Mak 50KG
Big Blu 155 MAX
KA75
1909 MacGowan and Finnigan "Perfect" 80#
Little Giant 25
Kane and Roach 85#
Don S's Rusty hammer 34#


Best in 10 blows
Nazel 3B
Say Mak 60KG
Anyang 88#
Sahinler 110#
Big Blu 155 MAX
Anyang 55#
KA75
1909 MacGowan and Finnigan "Perfect" 80#
Kane and Roach 85#
Don S's Treadle Hammer 66#
Don S's Rusty hammer 34#
Little Giant 25#

Some very interesting results, and I don't own ANY type of powerhammer (yet) so I would say I am unbiased :D. Thought you guys might be interested to see the results SO FAR, I would love to hear what some guys on this forum get with they're hammers, ESPECIALLY YOU DON H!
 
I'll test this on John's Iron Kiss hammer. I should be able to test a 100lb as well as a 150lb I think.

-d
 
Sam Salvati said:
:D Dan you better get in on this :D
Click to expand...

Oh I'm gonna! I'm waiting on one part so I can put my new motor on it, the old one had a short and burnt up. Give Aldo a call and ask him how many heats it takes to turn 3lb of 1-3/4 round bar wrought iron into .5x1.5 bars... 1 hehehe

I'll see if my girlfriend will take a video... she is kinda scared of the hammer though. :(
 
Here is the latest list with John's IronKiss numbers added in.

Best in 5 blows:
Nazel 3B
Say Mak 60KG
Anyang 88#
Sahinler 110#
Say Mak 50KG
IronKiss Octagon 100
Big Blu 155 MAX
KA75
1909 MacGowan and Finnigan "Perfect" 80#
Little Giant 25
Kane and Roach 85#
Don S's Rusty hammer 34#


Best in 10 blows
Nazel 3B
Say Mak 60KG
Anyang 88#
IronKiss Octagon 100
Sahinler 110#
Big Blu 155 MAX
Anyang 55#
KA75
1909 MacGowan and Finnigan "Perfect" 80#
Kane and Roach 85#
Don S's Treadle Hammer 66#
Don S's Rusty hammer 34#
Little Giant 25#
 
Last edited:
Sam it will be a few more before I can test it, the new wire is getting dropped off today and I still need to buy bolts.

BTW you really need to come up here and check it out. :thumbup:
 
Sam Salvati said:
Here is the latest list with John's IronKiss numbers added in.
Click to expand...

I've said it before, but now I have some proof. A 100lb Iron Kiss can outhit a BigBlu 155! :D

John will be testing with a 150 when he finishes building it.

-d
 
Sam, do you think it would be worth including the final thicknesses in the results
summaries? It would be nice to see where the hammers were very close together
vs. where there were wide gaps.
 
Dan, your wish is my command.

Best in 5 blows:
Nazel 3B - .308
Say Mak 60KG - .320
Anyang 88# - .430
Sahinler 110# - .543
Say Mak 50KG - .583
IronKiss Octagon 100 - .586
Big Blu 155 MAX - .705
KA75 - .773
1909 MacGowan and Finnigan "Perfect" 80# - .825
Little Giant 25 - .873
Kane and Roach 85# - .877
Don S's Rusty hammer 34# - .906


Best in 10 blows
Nazel 3B - .155
Say Mak 60KG - .260
Anyang 88# - .300
IronKiss Octagon 100 - .360
Sahinler 110# - .397
Big Blu 155 MAX - .475
Anyang 55# - .545
KA75 - .565
1909 MacGowan and Finnigan "Perfect" 80# - .630
Kane and Roach 85# - .721
Don S's Treadle Hammer 66# -.780
Don S's Rusty hammer 34# - .832
Little Giant 25# - .835
 
OK so if i understand right this test is a strength test?
how does this information help in determining on what power hammer to buy?
where does smashing steel and control meet? does more power equal more control?
i can see where this test could show efficincy.... just not sure really on how to process this.

any ideas?

Jake
 
This has been discussed a lot in the iforgeiron thread Sam is taking the number from. As I understand it, all this is is a pretty unbiased measure of the power of different hammers to move metal. Controllability, ease of use, maintainability, etc., etc. are not covered. No one should select a hammer just from these results, but the results may help some people decide what to look at first.

I wanted Sam to include the actual thicknesses because it helps me to see how big the gaps are between the different hammers. Obviously a Nazel 3b is going to move a lot more metal than an LG 25, but how close are the different hammers with tup weights "close" to 100 lbs?
 
It was brought up on another forum, this test in in no way a judge of how GOOD a power hammer is, just hitting hard is not what a power hammer is all about. Owen Bush and John N brought up that power without control is just about useless, control is a MAJOR part, the ability to tap lightly as well as lay a HUGE stomp on the metal is critical. Longevity and ability to get replacement parts is another key element to buying a powerhammer. Efficiency is also another required thought, how many HP does it take to run your hammer? A 4HP motor powering a self contained hammer equal if not better to a 10HP compressor powering an air hammer is something to consider. Remember, all things to consider when considering buying/buying a powerhammer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top