best hammer and tongs?

NickWheeler

NickWheeler

Joined
Dec 3, 1999
Messages
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Just curious what you guys recommend for a hammer and tongs? I've been using ball pein hammers with the faces ground flat, but I want to get a hammer that was made for black-smithing and best for knives.

I also want to get some good tongs. I know I could make some, but I'd rather get a pair or five to start.

Thanks,
Nick
 
Nick: I just purchased 8 pair from Grant@Off Center in Tacoma 253-572-7460. I like them because they are light and short. dlee
 
Nick,

You sure opened up for a lot of suggestions with this one.
I use an 8# sledge with the handle cut to about 8" when I'm working real thick steel to get it close to shape faster, then I go to a 4# cross pein (or I'll start with it if the steel is 3/8" or less) then once everything is close to the way I want and needs straightening I go to a 2 # straight pein.
I came across a 2# hand held fuller that a friend of mines grandpa had when he blacksmithed, when drawing out my tangs or any piece of steel thats not to thick,man this thing is the cats meow.You can draw long and thin if you want in a hurry.
As for tongs, I just make my own. I like the duck billed tongs, they seem to grip the steel better for me. To fit the steel thickness I'm working with, I make the finished jaws and then bring to orange heat and hammer them to fit the steel thickness I'll be working with, then quench. For RR spikes I'll make a wide pair of duck bill jaws and then split and spread the top jaw, then turn the top ends down and the bottom end up about 3/8". Holds them real solid.

Hope this helps ;)
Bill
 
My friend Jim Miller has this Japanese bladesmithing hammer that is soooooo incredibly nice for putting the bevel on a blade. It has an offset head which is angled down slightly and it is hands down the best hammer I've ever used!
 
I use a 3 pound 14 oz hofi hammer made by ozark school of blacksmithing for nearly all of my heavy work. For small and delicate work i use a 25 oz hammer with round, polished surface.

The most versatile tongs are wolfs jaws, which work equally good for round and flat bars. I have one in 12" and one in 16", both from peddinghaus. These are my two tongs to go with me on trips to forging demos. At home i have a lot more in different styles for different purposes.

Achim
 
My problem with hammers is that I'll go to a blacksmithing website and see things like... "French"..... there are many other syles but cant seem to find the website now. What is the Japanese hammer... can you give me more information?

Michael
 
Japanese forging hammers are long-nosed. They have no cross peen and the handle hole is sitting way back in the hammer head. This way, most of the weight of the head is in front of the handle, which avoids an uncontrolled turning action of the handle if the workpiece or anvil surface is not hit perfectly straight. It avoids a tennis elbow, too.

Take a look at this, it is very similar to what i am talking about:

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=1469647&a=11055990&p=40468120&f=0

Achim
 
Get the offcenter tongs, if you are going to buy them, they are light and comfortable.

Hammers, flea markets and garage sales is where i get mine .50 for no handles and a 1.00 for one with a handle.

You can make a dog head or japanese style hammer by cutting down a regular pein or cross pein.

Most of the old blacksmith pictures I have seen (real photos) the smith is holding a cross pein or a ball pein. hmmmm

My favorite blade hammer is a 4lb engineers for heavy work, a 2-1/2 lb engineers for finer work and a modified ball pein for the bevels.
 
Wow! Cool site. I like it cause they give you some pictures to show you what you are getting:) I got my eye on the Japanese Knife Forging Hammer, though I should probably have a cross pein too.... If you dont have a cross pein then how do you draw out the steel? If I do decide to go with the Knife Hammer... what wieght would you suggest to start with?

For the tongs.... does anyone know a good site with pictures?

Michael
 
Check out Centaur Forge Mon! Dem boys knows about the hammers and tongs. I like the French Locksmith hammers in 600 gram, 800 gram and 1000 gram sizes. Finish off the sharp edges on the face before using any hammers and polish to 400 grit for smooth hammer marks.
 
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