Posted on Leave a comment

Helve Hammer #3

This is #3 of three ever built full custom Helve Hammers.

IC Helve Hammer #3

This started almost two years ago with my desire to build a helve hammer for myself and the need for a power hammer of some sort to speed up work progress on a few projects around the shop. I wasn’t pressed for time so #1 took almost a year for me to complete and start using. Mike Tatum and Jessy Whitener persuaded me to build them each a copy, the persuasion was a good trade for all of us. So near the end of last year, I started the build process on two more machines, Jessy owns #2 and a generous trade was to be made at the completion of #3 to Mike. Since Mikes passing, the trade is off and his survivors pounced on the piece I really wanted and sold it off already. That leaves me with a machine that I would like to keep.

I have over 150 hours in crafting this machine, this is a labor of love for my craft.

However, times as they are and I need funding to push other projects forward in the shop I am offering this machine up for sale.

 

 

Machine will include a completed hammer assembly, 3/4 horse DC Servo motor with “dragster style” foot pedal. Several hammer head sets including a die holder for making beads and profiles and instruction on how to adjust the machine to perform heavy blows for rapid shaping or for fast firm blows for planishing action.

$6500.00 and local pickup only.

 

Posted on Leave a comment

Mike Tatum

We lost a good friend yesterday, Mike Tatum. Hot rodder and horse trader, all around nice guy.

Mike was one of those guys with an eye for what was cool in hot rods. He collected 32 and 36 Ford parts, Halibrand wheels and quick changes and tools. Not much of a sheet metal fabricator himself but he did like to tinker. I ended up building some fixtures, pressing dies and a few parts to resurrect his 32 3W he was working on. We had been building #3 Helve hammer to trade for his power hammer and a few other friendly deals going on. If you were to purchase one of our 32 Ford K-member legs, they are test fit on a genuine Ford K-member from Mike.

We will miss him.