Twisted Iron

06/15/2022

A few projects I've finished.

02/10/2021

Its alive!!!
After a little over 3 years and a bunch of money its finally back to running like new, almost.

10/28/2020

It's been awhile since my last post and I thought I'd share something sooner but life happens!
My latest adventure was shoulder surgery, last Thursday. Major arthritis, a bone spur, and a bunch of floating debris that were all cleaned out. The old pain is mostly gone, I think, too soon to tell, just soreness from the surgery.

The power hammer seems to be working well, last time I used it, however it still has a run on issue. A few more adjustments and all will be good. When I can swing a hammer again I intend on posting more.

09/23/2020

I finished my first knife! 1095 steel with madrone burl handle.
I got a little impatient and put the handle on before I finished polishing and sharpening the blade. Next one will be better.
Any thoughts?

02/26/2020

That's the problem. The babbit was 1/4" thick on one side and 3/8" on the opposite. The clutch shoes would grab part of the time or grab and stick.
Hopefully sometime this spring I'll have a good running machine.

02/26/2020

Sooo, after 3 1/2 years this is how the machine is looking. A boat anchor and a tray of parts.
It was completely put together and running but the main pulley had a wobble. Had I known what I was looking at I would have replaced the bearing before reassembling it the first time.
The pulley and spider are at the machine shop waiting for a brass bushing and the clutch surface to be turned. At that point it should run smoothly.
I'll post a video of the pulley running.

11/17/2019

It's been quite a while since the last time I posted anything so I thought I would post an update.
I finally finished reassembling the power hammer but when I fired it up the die block and bottom die loosened. I decided that I would spend the money and have a new die block made. That's what this picture is, the dovetail being machined.
It holds tight now but the motor has a problem so it's off to the rebuild shop, on Monday, to be repaired.
So far it's cost about 2.5 times what I paid for the machine to rebuild it. I figured if didn't rebuild it it would probably end up at the scrap yard and what the heck its only money...
When I get the motor back I'll start posting more pics and videos of this 90 year old beast brought back to life.

01/08/2019

It's been a little over a year since I bought this old machine. I found out it was built sometime during depression and will soon be brought back to life.
I got the ram and ram guide as well as the flywheel, counterweight, and clutch installed this afternoon. Tomorrow I should be able to get it running.
Can't wait!

11/25/2018

Well a year ago, last October, we pulled this out of it's "old" home, in San Francisco, and relocated it to Lodi. It took 60' of chain and 40' of cable from a crane truck, a lot of pushing, pulling and really greasy hands to get it to the door. It was at that point I thought to myself... "what have I gotten myself into!"

As you can see everything turned out and it cleaned up nicely!
It's now sitting in my shop waiting for the new babbit bearings to be poured tomorrow!

This old Little Giant Power Hammer was manufactured sometime during the depression in the 30's. I managed to purchase it from the last remaining active blacksmith shops in San Francisco and will have it working shortly!!!!

More pictures coming soon!

10/31/2017

About a month ago, along with my most awesome wife and some fun friends, I went to the last active blacksmith shop in San Francisco. I made arrangements to purchase this machine, a 100 lb Little Giant Power Hammer.
Last weekend my son, Zac Cassebarth, good friend Steve, and I went back and stripped it down to the frame. You're looking at about 3500 # of cast iron and steel.
This Sunday we're going back to bring the frame home, clean about 50 years of grime off it.... then the rebuilding process begins!
If you're interested, check back soon, as I'll be posting photos to show the progress!
Cheers

05/09/2013

Our Wine Bottle Caddy repurposed into an outdoor luminary! Awesome job Melissa!

Thanks Gregg for the beautiful twisted iron wine bottle holders! They are in their happy home as tiki lights in my garden.

05/09/2013

One more way to use our Bottle Caddy!

Thanks Gregg for the beautiful twisted iron wine bottle holders! They are in their happy home as tiki lights in my garden.