Ball Pein Hammer

G

Gib Guignard

Joined
Jul 8, 2001
Messages
849
How good of a hawk or axe does a Ball Pein hammer
make. I have never tryed it but it seems to me that
thay would be near perfect, if you start with a
quility hammer, forge it out and give it the right
heat treat. Thanks for the comments. Gib
 
It makes far too much sense. It probably wouldn't work for some reason or other. I say try it. Hammer face for the blade, then turn the ball into a spike. I would definitely redrift the eye. Never heard of a tomahwak head coming of and hittin somebody. I've seen a hammer head come off and hit somebody. Several times as a matter of fact, and I'm not even a carpenter.
 
Hammer heads are quite probably very low carbon steel as you are mainly interested in extreme shock absorption. What would be critical is can you get them to a decent hardness.

-Cliff
 
Cliff, hammer heads sould be S1 or S5 whitch is a
medium carbon steel made for impact use, this is why
I am thinking of using it Gib
 
I agree that S5 would make a great hawk...in fact, I have been saving up to have Ryan at RMJ forge make me a hammer-poll hawk out of S5. I would very much be interested in how your turns out Gib!
 
Here is a picture of one done by Bruce Bump.You might contact him about how to heat treat it and how well it holds up..Maybe he will reply here also....
Bruce
 
Thanks Bruce Evans for posting the picture.

I have forged out several brands of ball pein heads and they all seem to feel the same while moving the steel but heat-trat somwhat differently. I only edge quench and draw back until they pass the brass rod test. I have no idea what kind of steel they are but I do know the ones that say "True Temper" seem to finish and heat-treat more consistantly. I dont drift the hole but I think you better if you are going to throw it. Hammer heads seem to always break handles. Thanks for looking.
 
Bruce, Thanks for the info I havent found any True
Temper but have a couple fo Plum I havent used yet
and a bunch of flee market types I got for a coupel
of dollars a good chance that some are from China,
have you worked any from there. I am thinking that
a quility made in good old U.S.A. will make a fine
Hawk or War Axe. I have made a few and drifted the
eye to fit std hawk handles, so far so good. Any
comentes are welcome, what were the diference in
heat treat thanks Gib
 
Gib, You are wise to drift the hole larger. Thats why most of these hammers had no handle, because they all broke and its cheaper to buy another hammer than to replace the handle. Most that I made will never get any use. They are ground, polished and nitre-blued to a gold/purple and fitted with custom curley maple or black walnut handles with leather wrapped grip and brass studs. One even had anaconda skin and brass. My customers had to promise they wouldnt throw them or I wouldnt sell to them. In other words: "They make damn good looking wall hangers"

The chinese heads split when I forged them. It was easy to tell the USA made ones. If you temper the edge to pass the brass rod test and then regrind the edge thick and wedge shaped I believe they make good users. The "True Temper" brand just seemed to be the best. I suspect "Plum" is better yet.
 
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