Electronics

Hobbyist builds working replica of Homer Simpson's electric hammer

Hobbyist builds working replica of Homer Simpson's electric hammer
Patrick Priebe's take on Homer Simpson's electric hammer
Patrick Priebe's take on Homer Simpson's electric hammer
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Patrick Priebe's take on Homer Simpson's electric hammer
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Patrick Priebe's take on Homer Simpson's electric hammer
The electric hammer is powered by an 18.5-volt, 3,000-mAh lithium-polymer battery, and is built from scratch mainly out of aluminum
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The electric hammer is powered by an 18.5-volt, 3,000-mAh lithium-polymer battery, and is built from scratch mainly out of aluminum

Fans of The Simpsons may recall an episode in which Homer, inspired by his hero Thomas Edison, decides to become an inventor himself. Among his questionable creations is an electric hammer. Well, German DIY-guy Patrick Priebe recently took a break from building laser weapons, to make a real-life version of that hammer which actually works ... sort of.

The electric hammer is powered by an 18.5-volt, 3,000-mAh lithium-polymer battery, and is built from scratch mainly out of aluminum.

The electric hammer is powered by an 18.5-volt, 3,000-mAh lithium-polymer battery, and is built from scratch mainly out of aluminum
The electric hammer is powered by an 18.5-volt, 3,000-mAh lithium-polymer battery, and is built from scratch mainly out of aluminum

Depressing its wooden trigger activates an electromagnetic coil, which quickly draws in a cylindrical steel core. That core is attached to the bottom of a fiberglass rod, which shoots upwards as the core goes through the coil. Via a linkage, that rod subsequently thrusts the hammer's hinged head down and forward in an arc. Once the trigger is released, a spring pulls the rod/core back down again.

As can be seen in the following video, the finished product does indeed save the user from having to draw their arm back on each strike. Given the short distance that the head travels, however, it doesn't look like the hammer would be particularly effective on anything larger than small finishing nails ... which is probably why Homer carelessly left his behind at the Edison Museum.

Source: Laser Gadgets by Patrick Priebe

Homer Simpson's Electrical Hammer (working, made from scratch)

4 comments
4 comments
Racqia Dvorak
This could be automatic if he simply had the piston switch off the power when fully extended, turning back on when the spring had decompressed. Just hold the button down and the circuit would continuously activate, which would probably be a bit more impressive.
Like the automatic hammers that already exist. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc_MrHs4mio
Buzzclick
I think he cheated in the demo. Those nails went in holes that were already there. : )
Still, it is a stunt that Homer would pull, so this auto hammer is true to the theme.
Andrew Zuckerman
Shoulda been automatic
Noel K Frothingham
BOYS!!! This is HOMER SIMPSON'S hammer!