Hofi "Tom" Hammer that i made

JTknives

JTknives

Joined
Jun 11, 2006
Messages
8,651
Well ya you might know last night on the tongs thread i said i was going to make a hofi hammer after i found out that the tom hammer was not made any more. i decided to just make one. well here is my version that i put together. the head is about 2.5 pounds of hardened 4140 and that handle is bocote :D. another one of those one night projects. here are the pictures.

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I think it looks really cool.

I have never seen someone make a hammer. Where did you get the blank for the head.

How did you drill out the handle hole?

TF
 
Talfuchre said:
I think it looks really cool.

I have never seen someone make a hammer. Where did you get the blank for the head.

How did you drill out the handle hole?

TF
Click to expand...

I made everything. i started with a huge chunk of 4140 and then band-sawed out the basic shape. i then wend to the mill and milled out the tapered hole and squared up all the flats. i then wend to the belt grinder and rounded it.
 
It's even uglier than the Hofi and the Tom Clark version hehe. The handle on the real Hofi/Tom Clark is very much different, the face and peen are very different also. It's a good job, just if you were trying to make one to get the feel for the real deal then I think you will be sorely disappointed.
 
i think it looks cool! i've never used a hofi so i wouldnt know the difference :)

good job

jake
 
Must be nice to just be able to make anything you want out of metal whenever you get the urge :D. Very cool as usual JT
 
I think it's pretty sweet. Love the bocote; I made a handle for my backsaw out of it.
 
Looks great JT! Really like the bocote handle, looks sweet! On a side note - its about time they expand the MTC! Crowded as all get out when I was there... ;)
 
Sam Salvati said:
It's even uglier than the Hofi and the Tom Clark version hehe. The handle on the real Hofi/Tom Clark is very much different, the face and peen are very different also. It's a good job, just if you were trying to make one to get the feel for the real deal then I think you will be sorely disappointed.
Click to expand...

Yup, it's kind of like one of those Ferrari body kits that goes on a Fiero.... :D

Nice Work JT...I would suggest that you grab a copy of the Hofi hammer technique DVD off of fleabay though. It will give you an idea of what Sam is talking about.

-d
 
The technique Hofi sells with his hammers is OK, IMO there are some good tidbits if you've never swung a hammer before and it's a great way to get a good hammer technique early on, but I find it uncomfortable and start to get what everyone complains about the Hofi hammers, sore elbow and banged knuckles. I use my Hofi the same way I use any other hammer, with the technique that is most comfortable for me based on experience. But I think he does go into the design and balance of the hammer a bit too.
 
Good lookin hammer...hope it serves you well. I just ordered a few hammers, 1 with a Czech head, similiar to a Hofi
 
Looks nicely done. That handle is just sick...


...I have a hammer on the lathe right now.
 
I love my Hoffi. Like Sam, I use it in my style of forging, not Uri's.

For those who don't want to spend the big bucks for a Hoffi - cutting the end of a 3-4 pound cross pein hammer down, and spending less than an hour on the grinder ,will make a pretty good copy.

First, cut the handle off and drill the wood out of the hole.
Using your metal cutting band saw, shorten the maul end by half its length, and shorten the pein to make it a much blunter drawing fuller. Grind all this to the shape desired, rounding the edges slightly. Sand the faces to 400 grit.
Reinstall the handle, making it short and fat.

I've done a couple of these , and they work well.

While on the subject, remember that you can take a double ended maul from HF and cut the ends to any shape you wish on your band saw. Cross pein, vertical pein, angle pein....etc.

Stacy
 
Looks like an interesting hammer...nice job.:thumbup:
Been thinking about making a forging hammer. I have an idea, but it will be a while before it's done.
Mace
 
I wanted a light short stuby hammer and so this is what came about. it feels good in the hands but onley time and forging will tell.
 
Damn!, that's sweet. The Bocote is a nice choice. I always see Bocote as a wood that draws you into the past with it's appearance. A hammer is one of those items that has direct lineage all the way back to the beginning of animals making tools to perform a task. I think the whole ensemble is great. Good job.
 
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