Advisability of buying a used pneumatic hammer

["George Graham" <georgergraham@zzzzzzzzzzz>]

Tim,

welcome to the list. Your question is a good one. I'll just add a little to
the excellent advice of John.

I have talked to Wenzco and found them to be knowledgeable. I know others
who have done business with them and had no complaints.

I use a 1' long stroke for everything except the most delicate work. Then I
go to a 3/4'  hammer. The critical thing about any airhammer is that must
work freely , while being used, at a very low pressure. That is when you can
control the chisel with just the fingertips, and have total control. The 1"
is big enough to most heavy work, and do very light work when throttled way
down. These tools must be kept very well lubricated to function properly.

An inline lubrication or regular oiling by hand is critical.
If your airhammer is well taken care of they will last for many years. If
your hammer starts to just blow air and the hammer stops on you , check to
see if the air inlet end of the tool has unscrewed its self. I recently did
a job that needed many hours of continuous tooling and thought I had worn
out "old faithful". Retightening the end solved everything.

A cautionary note on damaging the stone. I learned to use pneumatic tools on
granite , where you usually run at full pressure for most shop work. When I
first carved some Tennessee Pink marble I used tooth chisels and then flat
chisels. The tools really moved through the stone when I leaned on them. I
was able to clean up a piece and have it ready to file and sand in a very
short time. BUT,, when I polished the piece up, I found many small fractures
that are not found on earlier pieces. The work was not ruined, and nobody
but me would know what cause them, but I learned that you can push soft
stone to fast.

So keep your tools oiled, and your chisels sharp!
Good carving to you
George Graham