"RUSTY", the Appalachian Power Hammer in Quebec, Canada

My name is J. Claude Pregent.  I'm from Ste-Martine, Quebec, Canada.  I'm a retired police sergeant and I've been retired since 1994.

I began forging blades as a hobby in 1997.  I make 10 to 12 knives a year, mostly in winter and spring.  During summer and fall I do metal detecting, gold prospecting, sheep herding and dog agility.

A knee injury in 2004 made it uncomfortable for me to use my treadle hammer so I sent for the plans for the Dusty.

It took me 2 months from start to finish and it was a lot of work but it was really worth it.  I did everything myself except the machining of the shaft.

The base is made with a 5/8 " steel plate; the frame is made of 4"x8" and 4"x10" tubing and the anvil is made from an 8" well drilling bit welded to an 8" heavy-wall tubing.  The tubing is filled with 3 semi-trailer axles welded together and the spaces filled with lead and sand.

The ram weight is 56 lbs with the die.  The motor is 3/4 H.P. GE.  The larger pulley is 16 1/2 " from an old compressor and the smaller pulley is 10 1/2 ".

EVERYTHING, except the V-belt and the nuts and bolts was collected from the scrap-yard.  The scrap-yard man didn't want to take any money so I gave him a hunting knife.

I did have to pay for the machining of the shaft for the channels and the keys to lock the pulleys which cost me $75.00.

I am amazed at the smoothness and the power of the hammer and how quiet it is compared to a Little Giant.

I had fun making it and now I own a very dependable and powerful hammer that is a pleasure to work with.  So far I have about 80 hours on it and everything is A-OK.

If you think it is good enough I would really like seeing it in The Right and Honourable 
Association of Rusty's.

Thanks for the idea.

Sincerely, J. Claude Pregent

Power hammer dies

Appeared in the June, 2006 issue of the ABA Newsletter