600lbs Steam Hammer-Niles Bement Pond (testing and forging)

Title says it all.
Music is from my latest album, “Touchmark”.
It’s available on all the music streaming services and you can buy the CD on my website.
My Fiancée and I recently released our first podcast called “Unimpeded” ! I’d love for you to check it out, it’s on the standard podcast apps, and on my website as well.
www.ethanharty.com

[@paulehlers2225]

I love seeing this old steam hammer being put back in action. Back in 1979 when I first hired in with the Rio Grande railroad as a machinist in the shops, there was still one remaining blacksmith working his trade. His main machine was a big steam power hammer similar to this one. I loved watching McGrue run that hammer. When McGrue retired, he took the blacksmiths job with him & shortly after he retired, the railroad scrapped that magnificent steam hammer. I feel lucky that I was able to have the experience of seeing it in action with a master blacksmith running it. It warms my heart seeing a person in Ethan's age group keeping our heritage alive!! PS: I'm loving my 3.5lb Harty made hammer I bought through Alex Steele!!

[@EthanHarty]

This is a fantastic story, thank you for sharing. I am glad you liked the hammer too!

[@ztheblacksmith]

I love the touchmark music I play it all the time in the shop!!

[@machineshopatthebottomofth3213]

Wow, that hammer takes no prisoners. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it

[@ChristCenteredIronworks]

Have that same welder in the fore ground :-)

[@EthanHarty]

Christ Centered Ironworks really?! That’s so cool! Thank you for letting me know, your the first one I know of that has one like it:)

[@gordongullon152]

It looks like you are dialing it in Ethan. It’s great to see old iron working like it is supposed to. Well done.

[@mossyhollow3732]

That was great to see the steam pouring out and driving the hammer home.

[@JustinTopp]

The power at the end!! Such a cool hammer

[@jason00121]

Epic hammer! And running on steam!

[@gurvinderkau1e5w18]

That machine is awesome. What fun running that huge beast👍👍👍👍👍

[@rafo6577]

She's a beast 👍 Loving the Welsh flag. All the best from Wales

[@RumMonkeyable]

I play the "Touchmark" CD in my car ALL THE TIME!!! It makes one happy. Highly recommend! Before you know it, you'll get the knack of your "new" 600lbs hammer! It's just a matter of time! Again, congrats to you and Emily on your engagement. ❤️️

[@EthanHarty]

RumMonkeyable thank you for the lovely comment! I always look forward to them. I am really glad that you enjoy the album so much:)

[@dgundeadforge17]

This is amazing im so glad it is still being used.

[@mrtank1967]

Wow amazing power. Nice find. Have fun may God bless you your family and your gal. Sean from Rockland Ontario.

[@gusser2121]

Ethan, my hat's off to you. You're a renaissance man. Talented and accomplished musician, skilled blacksmith and self taught steam power hammer technician. Of course, you being Canadian is icing on the cake. ;) I look forward to seeing your next endeavour! Cheers

[@the_sharp_carpenter]

Woah that thing hits hard 😮

[@pauldevey8628]

As a Canadian I appreciate the flags

[@AndyFromBeaverton]

That's such a good photo with Emily. Using that hammer for extended periods really requires you to switch up your feet on the pedal.

[@jimtalbot3989]

Now thats a ground pounder! I think I like it better than the one down at the Steele shop

[@FarmsteadForge]

That thing is massive, I love seeing it work. Did I see that it came out of Montana? I'm glad it is in good hands being put back to work!

[@freqenc]

Surprised by the power. Impressive. Stay safe and have fun.

[@smokeyforge9498]

It's a beast! Must be sooo much fun to use!

[@geofflewis4815]

Hello Ethan, that's some Hammer you have got there, I worked for 7 years as a Maintenance Joiner in my town the Firm was International Nickel, Mond. Clydach Swansea South Wales. And the Blacksmith "Harry" made me a few tools on a rather large Steam Hammer, so seeing you with your Steam Hammer brings back a few memories, I still have Harry's tools he made for me. Best wishes Geoff Lewis, Wales, UK 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@geofflewis4815]

Hello Ethan, I have also been watching you playing the fiddle, when you were in competitions in the past. I have a lot of your music saved and bought, great to listen to Ethan 👍👍. Best wishes Geoff Lewis, Wales,

[@wmb1559]

That is so cool, what an amazing machine

[@mrnice8631]

Cool af dude no more creases in your jeans now 😀

[@waterloofreak]

Hey Ethan, next time you fire up your 68 Sawyer could you make a video?

[@EthanHarty]

Cody Isaak yes!

[@farmerboy916]

I suspect this is one of the bigger power hammers currently owned by a blacksmith in the Americas. It's great to see that link to the old, much larger scale, industrial forging side of things. I'll suggest that if you want a full range of suggestions of work, you should find and provide an approximation of the machine's maximum (relatively productive) capacity. Though given how it handled 3", you might be able to forge custom swage blocks on that thing. I also have to wonder about welding really big blocks of damascus and turning that into barstock (you know who you could sell that through), or with something this size some sort of custom closed die (would make those hammers a lot quicker, for instance).

[@jimkehler9132]

Hi Ethan, love seeing her running on steam, I've always wondered how different the action was compared to air. I know everyone wants to run these utility hammers like a self-contained but I really think they are much more productive with a good driver.

[@AZ775599]

Великолепное изделие из прошлых веков!

[@Zane-It]

This is quite a monster. I wonder where I can go see one in person?

[@FredMcIntyre]

Cool! 😃👍🏻👊🏻

[@martinitland]

Wow, I was having way more fun with this than what I imagined when I followed the thumbnail. With the first round of testing indoors, you had me laughing from excitement at seeing this massive monster in action. This was well worth the watch. Thank you! Btw, can I find your music on the KZbin music app as well? It was a really nice background touch😊

[@sithus1966]

That beast puts Alex Steele's new hammer look like a toy

[@ztheblacksmith]

Sithus1966 did you mean Alec??

[@filipponseele7346]

Fine hammer. What's that sqeecking noise. It need some oiling somewhere Kind regards Blacksmith Filip Ponseele-Belgium

[@michaelbarron864]

Please stick a block of wood between the ram and the anvil. They are not meant to be hit together without a hot piece of metal in between. Also, add an inline oiler that will deliver steam oil (super cylinder oil is best) the squeak is lack of lubrication on the rings which is very bad.

[@mike.juliano1124]

How much control can u get with this hammer? I imagine it hasn´t the fine control a self contained hammer has

[@noahhastings6145]

Enthalpy in action

[@petersack5074]

Mr Harty !......eat, sleep, HEAT, BEAT and REPEAT........the FORGERS' and METALLURGISTS' CREED..... (..maybe put a tune to it ? ) good man ! BE an example, for others' in your area !

[@patrickdean9797]

definitely a brute absolutely unforgiving please be careful at all times you would be crushed before even realizing any thing is wrong awesome tool though and you have enough experience to know better can not wait to see its full power realized

[@EthanHarty]

It has an attached mechanical oiler that imputes oil every stroke, and the whistling sound is not unlubricated parts, it’s instead the sound of the steam or the air going through the the worn piston valve, common to worn out steam hammers:)

[@patrickdean9797]

@@EthanHarty Ethan it is a gem of a hammer it has so much work left it built it a time when they made things to last centuries and it probably still has a couple hundred years left in it

[@alastairbrown5174]

Why do you run it off steam and not air?

[@shortfuse43]

He is running it of both. Watch the video carefully.

[@benmaillet7326]

Kid needs some practice.

[@EthanHarty]

I agree, much better at it now.