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deuce4
Social climber
Pagosa Springs CO
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 23, 2005 - 10:24pm PT
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The hammer mold...
The hammer was made by Ajax Forge, in Los Angeles. Turns out it was the same company that made stuff for Chouinard in the old days (Tom Frost told me so). The die cost about 5 grand, and the hammer heads were about $11 after that. They had about 1.5 hours of machine work (drilling the carabiner hole, milling the front face, grinding the tip) and assembly (including tangs) after that, then of course heat treatment. Cant say we ever made a penny on the hammers (wholesale was $45), but they were a good product. The only other forged hammers comparable were the old Chouinard--all the modern ones are "investment cast" which has a dud feel if you ask me (related to the grain structure of the forging verses casting).
I have often tried to pawn off the die for no charge to any takers, but when it comes down to all the costs involved, it is really a community service project (the old A5 was good as such practices).
I don't even know if Ajax Forge is still in business, or if they could even locate the die. Let me know if anyone wants to try to find it, I guess I still "own" it, but if it could go to someone who could use it, I'd be happy to help with the transfer. The problem is that each forging company has their own proprietary equipment, and the number of forging companies in the US has gone from the 100's in the 1950's to but a handful today (foreign competition as well as the art of forging becomming more "lost").
but I ramble....
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deuce4
Social climber
Pagosa Springs CO
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 23, 2005 - 10:29pm PT
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By the way, the first ones who pay for their stuff (paypal preferred) will get the best pick of some free stuff thrown in from the "free box", a collection of A5 aiders, daisys, chalk bags, gear slings, as well as some other gear (not A5), like a few chest harnesses and stuff like that.
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Shack
Trad climber
So. Cal.
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Mar 23, 2005 - 10:36pm PT
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Paid!
and Ajax Forge Co. is still around.
their website link is dead...
but I called their phone # and their answering machine said.."Ajax Forge Company, blah blah blah..."
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Shack
Trad climber
So. Cal.
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Mar 23, 2005 - 10:55pm PT
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I bet with a good CNC pgm. you could shave the mill time to a few minutes.
Spoonman
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OW
Trad climber
Patagonia
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Mar 23, 2005 - 11:03pm PT
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Holy cow, the stuff I wanted got bid up like a feeding frenzy!
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Shack
Trad climber
So. Cal.
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Mar 23, 2005 - 11:23pm PT
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HeHeHe...
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Minerals
Social climber
The Deli
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Mar 23, 2005 - 11:32pm PT
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On a serious note…
Deucey, you should keep rambling. You are THE big wall tech-wizard and a total inspiration. 555 Blackbird Roost – the place of innovation.
Not that I would ever part with them but, I wonder how much I could get on ebay for my collection of A5 catalogs, starting with #1 and including the Big Wall Tech Manual with Xavier Bongard on the cover… Or the JM signature model hammer…
Yeah, we should bust out another run of the A5 hammers. There isn’t a proper wall hammer on the market right now.
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bigwalling
climber
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Mar 23, 2005 - 11:46pm PT
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minerals what is that hammer you have that has a VERY square head? I really liked the looks that one.
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WBraun
climber
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Mar 23, 2005 - 11:59pm PT
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What would a original Chouinard hammer in good condition fetch on eBay?
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museman
Big Wall climber
Poway, Ca
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Mar 24, 2005 - 12:11am PT
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Werner,that was the one Tommy broke on Iron Hawk! the head is still good...just the handle is AFU. Wonder where u could get a handle for it?
steve
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WBraun
climber
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Mar 24, 2005 - 12:23am PT
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museman
Ask the Deuce if he has any handles left.
John you there?
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Mar 24, 2005 - 12:30am PT
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Ajax Forge CO
1956 East 48th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90058
(323) 582-1114
(323) 582-1114 (fax)
P.S. Nature - I have a bunch of duplicate Titons - what size are you looking for...?
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Mar 24, 2005 - 12:32am PT
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Oh, and I picked up the pin rack and used brass nuts - some of both will probably go back on ebay once I sort it out and fill in the holes in my pin rack and small nuts.
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yo
climber
NOT Fresno
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Mar 24, 2005 - 12:36am PT
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Excellent frenzy indeed. I struck out.
And to show good sportsmanship, I hold no hard feelings toward all you rich, lightning-fingered pricks out there.
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deuce4
Social climber
Pagosa Springs CO
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 24, 2005 - 12:37am PT
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I don't think I have any handles, but the A5 handles were the finest hickory from OP Link handle company, somewhere in the midwest.
I think you can find good hickory handles many places--what you really need is the good tangs. I actually have a single Chouinard tang (you will need two). Let me know if someone needs it to fix an old C hammer. You can use a regular 16 penny nail to secure the tangs to the handle, then peen the ends (leave about 1/8"--use a cut off saw on the 16 penny).
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Shack
Trad climber
So. Cal.
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Mar 24, 2005 - 12:39am PT
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healyje, why you sellin' your A5 double ledge?
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WBraun
climber
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Mar 24, 2005 - 12:43am PT
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I gota laugh “Titons” useless crap. Kauk told me when they were on Uli Biaho him and Schmitz were throwing those suckers off the wall when Bill Forrest wasn’t looking.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Mar 24, 2005 - 12:53am PT
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I don't know about in the valley, but I keep a #8 titon sewn on a 1" shoulder sling and I use it all the time - nothing comes close to it when it's the right thing...
The ledge - cleaning house of a bunch of stuff the past few months, pretty much like John - one of my partners who spends more time in the valley than I has one available for use...
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Shack
Trad climber
So. Cal.
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Mar 24, 2005 - 12:56am PT
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I think I'll call Ajax Forging tomorrow and say something like,
Me:"Hi, this is John Middendorf's personal secretary,
and I was calling to check on an open purchase order from
1995 and I am also going to fax over an order for 100 more
of the A5 hammer heads, so could you please check your
old paperwork and find out if the die is still available and
what the lead time would be?
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