5 years on and i`ve just rewatched this. Great build. My only complaint is I can`t leave 2 "likes".

"If I knew what I was doing, it wouldn't be so much fun, would it?" I love your attitude. Brilliant and entertaining delivery, and always with excellent results.

"I found it & retrieved it...... after some words" Your videos are Brilliant!

MASSIVE RESPECT. Why buy stuff when you can use your imagination, and create a true extension of yourself. The more you know, the less you need.

So... this video kept showing up in my "recommended for you" list and I successfully ignored it for a few weeks. But it was persistent, so I finally bit the bullet and succumbed to that siren call. Glad I did, because I would say that's hands-down the most brilliant "bits and bobs" piece of junkyard engineering work I've ever seen! Maximus: you're a genius! Thanks!

Been at it for 35 + years. A wise man once told me " Boy you must have the courage of 100 Lions. "I would have to disagree for obvious reasons. Why would you say such a thing?" I said He replied "Because the average failure rate of creation from invention is about 99%. Hell I would have offed myself by now and you just keep right on with your failures for only one success. That takes courage sir lots of courage!" Well done lion heart!

So so great. I love the long version. It's a masterclass in trouble shooting and problem solving. Thanks!

Excellent video. Great confidence that you have to show us your ideas and modifications as you build. I look forward to seeing more of your work. Thanks very much for your time and sharing.

The best power-hammer how-to on KZfaq. I've watched it half a dozen times. Huzzah from Texas sir!

“If I knew what I was doing it wouldn’t be much fun would it” best thing I’ve heard in a while. Gonna use this one at work.

"Short a couple inches. Same ol' story." Lol. I am starting my build soon. Great video. Thanks

Love hearing your Thought Process! Bravo. Cheers from Arizona USA

Mate when you were looking for stuff in your yard, I must confess that I held little hope that I'd be impressed. I have to say though, I am indeed impressed. Well done and thank you for the numerous lessons.

Excellent tutorial of the trials and tribulations of building a power hammer. You are totally right in that it adds to and builds on the on-line library of information for fellow scrappers and budding engineers who see merit in using materials normally left to decay or melted down and charged again. Thank you for an excellent and informative video.

This was great, I just finished building my first forge, and as I was building it I was dreaming up a power hammer concept something similar to this. Your video has filled in all the gaps, great stuff brother!

Maximus Thank Very Much for filming and posting this video. What a brilliant way to create a power hammer from scrape.

Mate! You are fantastic!!! Living the dream for sure. I am inspired and motivated to follow in your foot steps! So the journey begins! Thank you!!!

Thank you for this video. I enjoyed watching how you were able to do this and make adjustments as needed for the final outcome. Well done sir.

this is the only build i have seen that shows the process of working out the design on the fly. good job, and nice work! liked and subbed.

Thanks for your sharing your engineering work! saved me a great deal of time and effort on my own build. I'm starting here in a week or so and have changed the spring linkage and hinge detail to take advantage of your work. This is the kind of detail we need more of on KZfaq for sure! Again thanks!.

OMG thats a fair bit of kit! I remember seeing an old steam driven one up in Ironbridge, it has Three hammers each about a ton each. The operator had to stand in a special sling to keep him off the ground, as it vibrated so much it could cause bodily harm 😮 I can only imagine the working conditions those poor men had to endure! 😕

Thnx for putting this out there mate, by far the best learning video on building a power hammer, explaining the problems that you were having along the way as well... That was just what I needed to start planning out my own, I had a rough idea before, but no-one had really shown the linkages involved or the explained the problems with the ram or the length problems with the stroke... you have just saved me a lot of time and cash by showing those issues... Many Thnx

Hubby is building same thing and was at point where you fabricated and weighing options including what you have done. This gave him the confidence to continue; thanks! You both have similar instincts it seems. From Arizona USA thanks. ✌️💜🌱😎

This is incredibly helpful. Like you mentioned there aren't a lot of videos that show all the little details and information so to be able to find this is great

I love how happy you look when one of the steps works out well.

Glad you bolted the head. Makes for easy changes when worn and possibly make different shapes and sizes. Now it just needs a name, great work!

Max . Stumbled across your vids a few days back . loving what you get up to and your enthusiasm . felt your pain a few times , Wrong torque settings , leaks after the event , revisiting jobs signed off etc . I don't need a power hammer in my life , but i have kept lots of hedge condition equipment going in the past with some of your methods !!! Anyhoo , Keep at it Big Man Stina

Thank you for shedding some light on how the machine is built.

a friend built one very similar back in 2000. it did the same slipping about in the guide. I took skateboard wheels with bearings and grooved a v in each. Then made brackets to mount on the corners. I hadn't talked to him in awhile but about aa month ago he called and while chatting he told me the skateboard wheels are still working flawless without failure. Might be an idea for when that plate wears down. Nice build video now I'm thinking instead of my foot powered hammer as I'm getting older maybe a power hammer is in my future build list.

Thank you Mr. Ironthumper, that is one sweet hammer build and great explanation of why you were doing what you did.

Gives me so much inspiration to build since I'm just starting out. Your video definitely helps better understand the mechanics than text on paper. Thank you!!

Nicely done, sir. Lots of good information here for anyone that wants to take the leap and build their own Bash-o-matic 5000.

This just proves that true British engineering spirit and ingenuity is alive and well - good job - we need more people like you teaching the youth of today how real engineering works

Wow. Amazing project! Thanks for sharing it with us.

What a great video showing that whole journey. Well done and thanks for creating this

That's the neatest and most organized scrap pile Ive ever seen

You, sir, get full marks as a teacher. Clear, concise without mumbling. I went from a comparable uninitiated to a person capable of bodging a power hammer of my own. You have indeed empowered me as well as my shop. As to materials, I may have to liberate some stock, would you have any lying about? Mike

Love the video…and I totally relate to your figure it out as you go approach. I believe you said it best in that, “ it wouldn’t be much fun if you knew what you were doing.” Or something to that nature. Thanks for the video and hope you and the hammer are still knocking about! Cheers!

I almost need to wear ear protection to watch this, Great build, I enjoyed watching as you worked thru you're problem-solving.

Extremely useful learning video. It'll help me plan out and build my own when I can scrounge up the materials. The motor engagement method is simple but for some reason I didn't think of it when I was working through how to build one on my own. I thank you for your insights and for your trial and error so those of us that follow can learn and improve. .

"I took it back anyway just to make a point." I'm wetting myself laughing! Maximus that's the best!

Well done!!! Great use of material and problem solving skills.

Mersi fain munca ta si solutiile tehnice gândite de tine, vor fi valabile multi ani! Multa sanatate tie si familiei tale cu prosperitate si noroc!

To Maximus many thanks for taking on your journey to build an Appalachian style helve hammer. I've been salvaging materials for a small power hammer for some time, and for the past several months have been tossing up between a little giant style mechanism or the pivoting helve. Your wonderful clip (including all mistakes, problems and remedies) has finally swayed me towards the helve style. However I have one suggestion for possibly improving the operation of your hammer- use more mass in the anvil base and the support column to deaden vibration. I recall that in the recent past there was a discussion on IForge about the best comparative anvil/ hammer mass ratios for junkyard hammers. I look forward to checking out the rest of your videos. Ps great to see a fellow Landrover enthusiast. Regards from Terra Australis

The most important aspect to British engineering is the shed.

Mate you're a legend. I'll be using your design. Much respect from Australia

You made that look easy..Very impressive.Thanks for sharing mate.

This makes me wish I had documented the building of my own power hammer. Good job and stay safe with that monster.

"So......Bugger" Couldn't have put it better myself! Excellent video and a really neat project, nicely done sir!

Good job any very useful indeed. I got the link from Helm Forge. The both of you guys have given me new hope in building my machine. As I said on Helm's video, I bought the manual and watched the video on a few builds. Wish I had seen you guys sooner. Very informative, THANK YOU..Hammer on..Hap Smith Jr. Smith Forge, U.S. Marine Corps 2112-8531 (retired)

That's what I was looking for. A way to make your own hammer. That's bad ass man! Great job

Wow! I love this video, man! I have been pondering building a power hammer myself but I just couldn't piece it all together in my mind. You do a great job of explaining the steps and the trouble points! Great job! Cheers!

That's pretty darned ingenious. Thanks for sharing it.

Well sir I have to say you are everything that is man ! You sure do inspire me ! Great build !

Very nice! I built one similar to yours using stuff I had around the place but years ago.... thinking about getting back into it... actually taking a knife making class soon... I would like to build a bigger forge... but it's plenty big and hot to make knives if I find it is my nitch ... It is nice to see people out there still forging... wasn't very many when I got started 20 years ago... but maybe there were and it's the technology that lets me see more now... I Love It! :)

Excellent. Few time I thought "ooh! I wouldn't do that", few times I thought "ooh! Wouldn't have thought of that!" Loved the whole vid. Even wifey was mildly interested! You've got a new subscriber here. BZ.

Great work sir!!!! Simple is always better in my opinion. Its not overbuilt so it's not over complicated to build or work!!!!

Absolute Awesomeness!!! I got the plan from the internet, I have the idea...but you put everything together in my mind. Kudos for the video mate. I really appreciate all your hard work to put this together. I am now on my way to having my own Power Hammer. Thank You soooo much : ~)

There are several changes which could be made to improve the operation of this hammer. A proper spring hammer uses the action of the spring to accelerate the hammer downward against the anvil. The energy stored in the spring is what is actually throwing the hammer against the anvil, not the momentum of the arm. A properly adjusted spring hammer should never have the hammer contacting the anvil when it is at rest in the fully downward position. As the arm is moving it must have sufficient momentum and stroke to compress the spring against the inertia and upward momentum of the hammer. The hammer must be massive enough for its inertia to act against the spring when at rest. A proper size spring must be selected in order for it to store and transfer energy effectively and not break under the tremendous forces. This spring used must be straight rather than curved in order for proper energy transfer to occur. The cycle is as follows: As the arm starts to move downward, it carries the spring and hammer upward with it. With enough momentum pulling the hammer upward the hammer will continue to travel upward while the ram is at the end of its stroke. On the next stroke of the arm the inertia of the hammer will cause the spring to become compressed, storing energy from the momentum of the arm. This energy is released as the ram travels farther, accelerating the hammer towards the anvil, effectively multiplying the force applied at the anvil.

You are amazing!! And the "same old story" line lol you're killing me

Thanks for doing the video on this! Extremely helpful. I'm also in the planning stages of building my own. Thanks for showing the tricky bits.

Great job, truly watching someone who can think on his feet. Very inspirational!!

You did a great job with this video and the hammer looks terrific! Building machinery from scrap is big fun - thanks for sharing!

Mate, I have to take my hat off to you, most clips you watch you know they have had a couple of cracks to get it right but yours worked the problem on air, which I really appreciated as I reckon a first time build needs some nutting out and is a bit hit and miss. Good to see you made those couple of inches work too. End result was a workable project which put some coin in your pocket so bloody top effort and well done. Regards fro AUS

Tremendous work! In concept and execution... and thrift!!! I'm weighing the merits of building one myself my concept is something of a solid hangman's gaff hanging a spring down to a swing arm that holds the hammer. I don't have a lot of room, you see. Anyway, great work, cheers!

Well done Max, you anticipatedd and solved problems before they existed

I thought I was the most laid back man of all but after listening to you , you might have me beat.

Mr. Maximus: very wonderfull. i am a fan/user of rail road track, and others. Those rectangle, plates which the rail sits on, on top of the wooden ties, MAKE WONDERFULL stands, for pole trouble lamps, as well as a base, for grinders, and other things. Rail, is 1084 steel, very hard. Surprised, in a good manner, for the ' hammer head ' of your build. Leaf springs, good idea !. Take care !

Awesome job, excellent workmanship.

Thank you for the experience now I have a bit of hope gor building my own one day!

How fortunate that you have such a great selection of scrap at hand, some of us guy's have to really scrounge to find stuff like old I-beams & semi-truck leaf spring packs!

Max, you are a thinker and innovator, flexible and talented, I expect your background is in the metal working trades and you seem to be a master! Would love to spend some time with you,me in your shop fine tuning details and you in mine doing the same. We are half a world apart but I am subscribing to keep up with your projects!

Excellent Yet simple Design (not for You) looks to work Very Well - Great Job! Really like how you explained as you went along- I learned a Lot ! Thank You!

Great job and I liked that you left in the trail and error parts of the video. And it shows that with a little imagination what can be done with what most people would call a bunch of junk. It wasn't a bunch of junk laying out there. It was a power hammer laying out there. :)

Very impressive! You probably saved your right arm too!

I enjoyed watching your thought process.

You have created a power hammer army! I really enjoyed your explanations. I am going to give it a go.

My freind has just made a power hammer and its great it cost him 12 pounds to make about 8 dollars from junk scrap yours is a nice setup as well it was great to watch you making it great job you did

Awesome perspective on physics. Good on you mate 🤟

Great video and Great build. Not having the rail welded makes it even better for me I can swap out the rail for a wedge and split wood when I'm not hammering.

hi blacksmith here and a welder im guessing you know by now but railroad track is about 1040 carbon steel so if you do not pre heat it and keep it warm after welding it acts exactly like cast , all carbon steel is the same when you weld it , snaps either side of the weld as the temperature difference is to great for the carbon structure to bridge the gap.

honestly, this the least scary leaf spring power hammer i´ve seen on youtube, nice work man. is always those damn couple of inches...

Lol at "If I knew what I was doing, it wouldn't be so much fun, would it?" I'm going to use that!

Love your videos I've watched nearly all of them. I'm sure the railway track is rolled steel and that it was acting as a massive heat soak, that's why your weld didn't take. Heating it up with the blow torch first would have allowed the weld to penetrate more and hold. Please keep the video's coming 😀

man you are one bad ass builder.

Thank you! I really enjoy your teaching style. Subscribed

Bloody brilliant! I might build one now..... not that I need one ! Throughly enjoyed this video

I can't believe how resourceful you are!

This is a great video of a great project! thanks for sharing it!

Wonderful to watch a solid craftsman make something useful from nothing.

Very good job!!! Beautiful machine. Simple and functional.

That's a nice design and a better construction! Only that if I were to make it, I would have used brass bushings instead of ball bearings at the top pivot.

Great job Max, you should be proud, congrats' from Essex !!!

Hell yeah!! You got a Power Hammer now! It was a lot of work and I wish I could have been there to help you, but I was watching and pushing for you all the way bud. I hope they liked the table legs, but even if they don't ......"POWER HAMMER!!" I wish I had one . Good job bud.

Excelente trabajo, muchas gracias por compartir, me va a ayudar mucho con el que quiero realizar! Un saludo desde Paraguay

Great job I love it, I'm thinking about building my own now based on your design

Boy will be boy.. Buy some new toy, or make some. That is an amazing build, on your power hammer sir. Simple and working. Thanks for making this video. Greetings from Indonesia sir.

This thing is really cool! Also incredibly terrifying.

Wow great work, thank you so much for the video and the clear explanation.

This guys a backyard genius all his projects are amazing