So I picked up the mini claw hammer shown in the photos at an estate sale. As you can see, the claws are broken, but I figured 'what the hey', someone was trying to use it as a prybar and sheared off the claws. I figured I could forge the head into a blade, and the busted claws would become a hammer poll or small spike. I removed the handle and heated up the head in the forge. When it got to heat, I removed it, set it on the anvil, and smacked the claws with a hammer to begin forging ...and the entire back end of the hammer sheared off and broke into several large chunks. Well, that was odd ...never had that happen before ...maybe there was some hidden fractures in the steel. I figured I could still try and forge the blade part ...it would now just look like a throwing hawk ...with a blade and poll. Back into the forge it went, out on the anvil, and another smack with the hammer, and the entire thing crumbled into large pieces. LOL!
What the hell ...the thing must have been made from steel slag. No wonder the claws were busted off. Too funny.
Sorry I didn't take any 'after' pics ...as the forge was running ...I just went off on the next project, and later threw the pieces away
What the hell ...the thing must have been made from steel slag. No wonder the claws were busted off. Too funny.
Sorry I didn't take any 'after' pics ...as the forge was running ...I just went off on the next project, and later threw the pieces away