Electric hammers aid blacksmiths in shaping metal with more control and precision. They come in various types and sizes, with adjustable settings for different projects. Power hammers can be purchased or built, but homemade ones can be dangerous without proper training.
Blacksmiths ply their trade by shaping metal into desired shapes, usually by striking the metal while hot with a hammer or other heavy tool. An electric hammer is an electrical means of controlling a blacksmith’s blows making the metalworking process more efficient. Power hammers come in many varieties, from large impact hammers to air hammers. The idea behind the electric hammer is to save the effort of the blacksmith while offering more control and precision.
The largest power hammers are freestanding tools that can take up a significant amount of space in a blacksmith’s shop. Most are powered by an electric motor that spins metal hammer heads at a very high speed. A blacksmith using an electric hammer will stand or sit in front of it with his work and use the electric hammer instead of a traditional hammer to shape the metal.
The first electric hammers were designed as simple machines for a single metalworking task. As technology advanced, however, so did the range and reach of the electric hammer. The smith’s hammer quickly became an essential tool, leaving the image of a blacksmith sitting with his hammer a relic of a bygone era.
Most power hammers today come with adjustable settings and can accommodate various sized projects. Anything from sheet metal to wrought iron can be used with an electric hammer, often with a simple change of setting. Hammers usually have changeable striking speeds and can often be set to clamp or squeeze metal to a pre-set thickness.
While the purpose of most electric hammers is the same – to aid a blacksmith and to shape metal – the means by which the tools achieve these purposes vary. Some are powered by a piston and cylinder that funnel power through pumping pistons. Others are powered by foot pedals or foot pumps. Still others are jackhammers, meaning they draw much of their power from the compressed air forced through the chambers.
Power hammers can be purchased or built, depending on a metalworker’s needs and skills. Price typically varies based on how sophisticated a hammer is, how many features or settings it has, as well as the overall quality of the material and workmanship. Homemade hammers are typically designed for a particular, often custom, purpose.
Power hammer builders’ associations and groups train metalworkers on how to build their own tools with scrap metal and recycled engine parts. While homemade power hammers can save you a lot of money, they can be dangerous to the inexperienced user. All power tools, of course, carry some risk of injury, even with proper use. Any electric hammer, even one purchased commercially, should only be used by a trained professional or under the supervision of someone properly trained in the use of an electric hammer.
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