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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 17, 2006 - 03:33pm PT
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"Maybe machine a groove for an attachment stamped tool end?
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Could you please explain this statement? I don't understand it...
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Minerals
Social climber
The Deli
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Feb 17, 2006 - 03:43pm PT
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Joseph,
I don’t have any of those specs – I’d just be guessing. The hammers were manufactured by Bill Forshee of Klym Me Rock Products and he dealt with all of the specs, as he owned/ran (I forget) a machine shop down south. The roll-pin idea was his idea and I pretty much contributed to the overall shape and design of the hammer. We produced the McDevitt hammer back in the mid/late 90’s and I haven’t talked to Bill since then – no idea where he is or how to get a hold of him. He also produced a weird nut tool with a sliding action, an aluminum belay seat, and other random stuff (but obviously, the company went nowhere).
If I had to guess, the head is 4130 and heat-treated to maybe the upper 30s or low 40s RC… maybe a little harder… I’m not sure if the biner hole was drilled by hand on a drill press with a jig or on a CNC. I never saw any of the actual production as that was all done down south.
It seems like the specs on the original A5 work pretty well – it’s the shape that I’m more concerned about... and the rigid head attachment. It’s a great hammer, but as with just about everything, a few modifications wouldn’t hurt. The head attachment on the McDevitt is not something that we want to copy, but if we can add some dampening to the existing A5 head attachment, as mentioned above, we will have a solid hammer that has a better feel.
Again, these are just some of my comments; you guys should do what you think is best.
“I'd want Deuce, Ammon, Klaus and others' input on the whole affair.”
Most definitely. Speak up, wall rats!
“Maybe machine a groove for an attachment stamped tool end?”
So this would allow us to use different pick types, etc. for different applications? Hmmm, interesting idea. Adds to the complexity and price, but also adds to the flexibility of the hammer for different uses.
This discussion is good.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 17, 2006 - 03:49pm PT
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Calling Bill Forshee or anyone that knows where he is or how one might get ahold of him...
Arrgh - and where be those scurvile, wenching wretches when you need one???? Someone send the Jolly Roger up and give'm a shot across their bow...!
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 17, 2006 - 06:31pm PT
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Bryan,
Why was it called the “McDevitt" hammer?
[ Edit: I see a Dan McDevitt mentioned in the Tucker Tech thread and would guess it isn't a coincidence... ]
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Minerals
Social climber
The Deli
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Feb 17, 2006 - 11:53pm PT
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Yes, Dan helped with the design of the hammer. The McDevitts (Dan and Sue) are a well-known force in Yosemite climbing.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 18, 2006 - 05:51am PT
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"There's nothing more frustrating than beaking in corners with a rounded hammer head, well, actually there might be."
Eric,
Could elaborate on this a bit. I would think if you were in tight quarters you'd want well-chanferred corners so you weren't hanging up on the sharp, square edges (speaking about the hammer side of the head).
As for one that swings itself? Nah, no one would want you nearing retirement having to drink beers with a straw because we let that arm atrophy. Ya can't swing on a rope wielding a sabre with one arm either.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 18, 2006 - 05:58am PT
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Ah, the McDevitt's that are all over many of the books about the Valley - duh, of course. Well, I'm definitely an interloper here in all this. ST is like catching the afterglow of a very large explosion. You know you missed the main act, but from what you can gleen here you can tell there's still plenty of shrapnel flying and no shortage of heat and steam still coming off from the epicenter.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 28, 2006 - 12:36am PT
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Valley Legends and Stonemasters,
Could someone me in contact with Dan McDevitt to find out whether he still has info on the manufacture of the McDevitt hammer? Ditto for Bill Forshee of Klym Me Rock Products. Thanks...
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WBraun
climber
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Feb 28, 2006 - 12:38am PT
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Healyje
Email Walleye for Dan McDevitt contact or Jobee
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bringmeshelter
Social climber
la la land
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Feb 28, 2006 - 01:18am PT
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As long as the hammer works good as a beer can crusher I'm happy.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 28, 2006 - 01:23am PT
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Cool Werner, thanks, I will...
Now, anyone know the whereabouts of Bill Forshee...?
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bringmeshelter
Social climber
la la land
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Feb 28, 2006 - 01:31am PT
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Dude, does anyone have the crazy nut tool that they put out??? I know klaus used to have one that I saw on ebay. I met another guy who had one and it was so funny.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Feb 28, 2006 - 01:34am PT
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I got the one on ebay and sent it to Stephane's Nut Museum in Corsica, France. He wet his pants on receiving it.
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bringmeshelter
Social climber
la la land
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Feb 28, 2006 - 01:55am PT
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Ya, I should try and find one and use it as a nut tool, cause I just use a knifeblade so far. I'd love to bring the new level of dorkiness back!
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Minerals
Social climber
The Deli
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Feb 28, 2006 - 02:02am PT
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What's one worth to you - $...?
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bringmeshelter
Social climber
la la land
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Feb 28, 2006 - 02:06am PT
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Ha not much... hell there is a reason I don't even own a normal nut tool. I've left one nut fixed... a nut tool wouldn't have helped that one! Who am I kidding I'm retired from climbing... I haven't even walked outside in like 3 days.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 14, 2006 - 06:59pm PT
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Well, I had a good talk with Dan McDevitt this afternoon. He basically said he and others much preferred the head on the "McDevitt Hammer" (posted above), particularly for heading. He said he never had to take a chisel along since he got one of those hammers. He thought the A5 was general too "rounded" all the way around and that it had a smaller face because of it. He did like the feel of the A5 and said he preferred the A5's fatter handle. Also, he said they sold these hammers in the Mountain Shop for a time.
Unfortunately he didn't know what material was used to make them or how to get ahold of Bill Forshee who made them. I tracked down an old number for his company "Klymb Me Rock Products" and that number put it in Saugus, CA. There is a W. Forshee in the directory that I'll try later today. If anyone knows Bill's whereabouts it would be a help.
In general, if we wanted to make this hammer we'd have to figure out what it's made of. Dan and I did talk about the possibility of simply cleaning the fillets out of the A5 head molds to make the head squarer but that wouldn't result in the same pick end. So Bryan, if you want to make that hammer we need dimensions and the material it's made of. Maybe if you sent it to Theron he could tell you.
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 14, 2006 - 07:48pm PT
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Yep, will go back on ebay when I'm done...
I like the idea of really looking at the leash. Seems as though you'd want it either strong enough to use or weak enough to not leave you suspended in space from it. Two extremes.
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Minerals
Social climber
The Deli
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Mar 15, 2006 - 09:54pm PT
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The real question is whether or not everyone else wants to make the “McDevitt” hammer. I am happy to post or send you (Joseph) rough drafts of some prototypes of the head, with refinements. I couldn’t find a draft of the existing design, but it wouldn’t be too difficult to draft something up. There might be a machine shop here in town that would be able to tell me the type of steel alloy and hardness; otherwise I can send one to Theron.
It seems like a lot of the interest in the first Deuce5 thread is towards producing the original A5 hammer, because of the hammer’s good reputation. Even if a new design is an improvement, I’m not sure if everyone will be as interested as they are in the A5 hammer. So, maybe we should discuss the idea of a new design some more, and see if it appeals to those who are in the market for a new hammer. More comments from those who have a good bit of nailing experience wouldn’t hurt either. What does Conrad think of this idea? Don’t they have a new hammer design as well? Deucey, your comments would be helpful and appreciated. I remember that you made a few comments about the “McDevitt” hammer when I saw you at the Berkeley Marmot a while back; you thought that the hammer was not properly balanced. Maybe that is something else that we can look into. If this design (or something similar to it) ends up being the preferred option, then we also need to redesign the head / handle attachment so that it is more secure. There are lots of things to think about…
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