How heavy of hammers do 'yall use?

TheDandyLion

TheDandyLion

Joined
Mar 27, 2013
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I'm getting into blacksmithing and was wondering how heavy you prefer your "main" hammer to be? Maximum? Minimum? What weight ranges do you use?
 
1Kg or 2# is a good general use hammer. 1.5Kg or 3# is a good drawing/reduction hammer. A Swedish or Dog's head pattern 1Kg/2# hammer is nice for doing bevels.
 
Start with a 16 lb hammer ! After a few days you'll understand why they use 2-3 lb hammers ! If you have to do a good bit of reducing large sizes then it's time to buy or make a power hammer !!!
 
my best friend who i forge with some of the time uses a 4.5 pound hammer. After a while I got used to using this hammer for drawing out, but I think that 3 pounder works just as well for bevels and such.
 
My current go to hammers are 2.2 lb and 3.3lb modified rounding hammers.
 
My main two hammers are between 2.5 and 3 pounds, with a 6 pounder for heavy stuff. For really heavy stuff, I have a 12 pound sledge available, but it doesn't get used much in a knife shop. :)
 
I've never beat on a steel that was going to be made into a blade but I did beat on .75" steel to form it around the head of a steel tank...With that said I used a variety of different weights. I had an option of using an 8, 10, 12, or 16 pound hammer. I used a 16 lb hammer for straight up 'beating' things flat and then the 8 lb for when I had to be 'careful'.
 
I like to draw, taper, shape with larger hammers, and then work my way down in size. My main user is a 3.5 pound BLU cross-peen, which is pretty popular amongst everyone that's used it thus far. It's usual for me to quickly move to smaller ball-peen hammers though. It's more personal preference but I feel that the steady progression to lighter hammers is essential in hot-working steel in general. For blades I tend to work my way down in hammer size quicker than general forging because I value better hammer control over moving the metal faster. I don't know if this is typical of other bladesmiths, or if it's a completely backwards theory, but it's my method and it works for me.
 
My first reply here. :)
I rotate between 2.2lb and 3lb hammers mostly. But my main hammer is my German style peddinghaus 2.2lb.
 
Hello:

I use an 8 pounder for most work such as drawing out, welding and SLTT...I find that a heavier hammer makes you work alot less..Sounds odd doesn't it? But I am not as shagged out at the end of the day when I use my 8# than I am when I use my 4#...

For edge work..a 3# does great

NVHammerhead
 
I use a 2lb for almost everything. I am a farrier and that is how I was taught. I see lost of blacksmiths swing heavier hammers. I think is how you swing hammer. I see lots of guys use a 4 lbs hammer with a fat handle and choke up on the handle and not use much elbow. The best farrier blacksmiths I know use a 2 lbs with long, skinny handles and swing them from heavens porch. The saying is swing higher, not harder. Let the rebound lift the hammer, and throw it at the steel. Smaller handles give a little whip and reduce elbow vibration, that and a light grip. That works if your aim is good enough to swing that hard. If your nick name is Lightning, because you never hit in the same place twice, this migh not be for you!
 
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