My Quest to get Hammered Continues

[strahd71]

Jake, Here you go. I just used a couple piece of buggy axle for the counter weight. My little scale says 8oz. I really think it will make a difference. I wish I was up to giving it a good try myself.

very cool, if i can ever get my elbows healed up i will have to try that, and if i ever get a shop

jake

 

[Matt Brook]

Nice idea Rick.

I have been wanting to get some Diagonal Cross Peins but they are to damn expensive. This fits the bill perfectly.

Any chance you could share your heat treating and tempering program for these. I am making a guess that you didn't know the exact steel type. What RC did you aim for?

Matt

 

[Rick Marchand]

You are right in the fact that I don't know the specific steel type. (I have sent an email off to Garant) Their website only says "high carbon" which for all I know, could be anywhere between .60 to .99% if I'm lucky.

I just went with a generic HT. First, I normalized from about 1500F, then reheated and quenched in HQ-K(P50 equivalent). I tempered once at 450F for 3hrs then again at 500F. I suspect it's in the low 50's range for HRC but don't know for sure.

 

[Matt Brook]

Thanks, I am going to scout out some of these club hammers this week and get to them. Thanks for the info.

You are right in the fact that I don't know the specific steel type. (I have sent an email off to Garant) Their website only says "high carbon" which for all I know, could be anywhere between .60 to .99% if I'm lucky.

I just went with a generic HT. First, I normalized from about 1500F, then reheated and quenched in HQ-K(P50 equivalent). I tempered once at 450F for 3hrs then again at 500F. I suspect it's in the low 50's range for HRC but don't know for sure.

 

[nthe10ring]

One thing you will find about the hoffi hammers and short head is that you can move steel with the edge of the hammer using it as a peen as its side edge are inline with the center of the handle. Striking this way feels comfortable and works as well as using the peen end and you dont have to change your grip.

Jerry

 

[Rick Marchand]

One thing you will find about the hoffi hammers and short head is that you can move steel with the edge of the hammer using it as a peen as its side edge are inline with the center of the handle. Striking this way feels comfortable and works as well as using the peen end and you dont have to change your grip.

Jerry

That's already been mentioned, bud. It is also why I wasn't satisfied with the french hammers. The head was too long and didn't work well for the technique. How long have you been using the Hofi type?

I'm diggin Ray's counterbalance weights too. I'll be interesting to hear how they work out.

 

[Raymond Richard]

That's already been mentioned, bud. It is also why I wasn't satisfied with the french hammers. The head was too long and didn't work well for the technique. How long have you been using the Hofi type?

I'm diggin Ray's counterbalance weights too. I'll be interesting to hear how they work out.

Rick, Why don't you give the counter balance a try. It will only cost you a few minutes. I'm afraid my old arm is going to take a while before it feels good enough to give it a good try.

As far as using the edge of a hammer as a peen I've been doing that for years. You really don't need a Hofi hammer to do that. I did buy one of Ed's Angle Peens and just didn't care for the peen being on that angle. Most my hammers have come from second hand stores. If you notice the straight peen hammer in the one photo I bought the head from Wayne Goddard for 25c. I almost lost the deal when I gave him a nickle thinking it was a quarter.

 

[Rick Marchand]

Ah... see... you shoulda hammered the nickle out to the size of a quarter. That fools em everytime!

I was thinking of tying a bungy cord from my hammer to the ceiling above my anvil.... but with my luck I would drop the hammer only to have it come shooting up into my face!

 

[Raymond Richard]

Ah... see... you shoulda hammered the nickle out to the size of a quarter. That fools em everytime!

I was thinking of tying a bungy cord from my hammer to the ceiling above my anvil.... but with my luck I would drop the hammer only to have it come shooting up into my face!

Rick, I've seen many different strange tries over the years but none really seem to work or are worth the extra hassel. The nice thing about the counter balance on the end of the hammer handle is its pretty simple and if it doesn't work you really haven't wasted a bunch of time. I've always gone for simple first. I think most of us tend to make things more complicated than they need to be.

 

[nthe10ring]

That's already been mentioned, bud. It is also why I wasn't satisfied with the french hammers. The head was too long and didn't work well for the technique. How long have you been using the Hofi type?

Scuse me didn't notice, just stating an observation. Ive been using my Hoffi hammer for about 3 or 4 years now, have other hammers but its my main go to hammer. Ray I know you can probably make any of them work for you peening with the edge with your impressive forging skills, but with the longer heads it just didnt work for me.
Jerry

 

[Raymond Richard]

Scuse me didn't notice, just stating an observation. Ive been using my Hoffi hammer for about 3 or 4 years now, have other hammers but its my main go to hammer. Ray I know you can probably make any of them work for you peening with the edge with your impressive forging skills, but with the longer heads it just didnt work for me.
Jerry

We are all different that's what makes this knife making thing so much fun. What works for one doesn't mean its going to work for someone else. Still my favorite hammer is my modified 6 pounder that is now a straight peen. I've have heard wonderful thing about the Hofi hammers over the years. I've never got to try one. Glad to hear its working for you. Ain't nothing better than beating on hot steel. D:

 

[Dan Pierson]

We are all different that's what makes this knife making thing so much fun. What works for one doesn't amean its going to work for someone else. Still my favorite hammer is my modified 6 pounder that is now a straight peen. I've have heard wonderful thing about the Hofi hammers over the years. I've never got to try one. Glad to hear its working for you. Ain't nothing better than beating on hot steel. D:

From some talk on IForgeIron.com, there's a guy a little ways south of you who's studied with Hofi,
makes similar hammers and teaches his style of hammering. Might be worth talking to him:

http://stumptownforge.com/

 

[Rick Marchand]

We are all different that's what makes this knife making thing so much fun. What works for one doesn't mean its going to work for someone else. Still my favorite hammer is my modified 6 pounder that is now a straight peen. I've have heard wonderful thing about the Hofi hammers over the years. I've never got to try one. Glad to hear its working for you. Ain't nothing better than beating on hot steel. D:

Raymond, I bow to your forging abilities, sir.... but a 6lb hammer is about as far from ergonomic as you can get... your poor elbow! It may move metal faster but at what expense?

 

[Raymond Richard]

From some talk on IForgeIron.com, there's a guy a little ways south of you who's studied with Hofi,
makes similar hammers and teaches his style of hammering. Might be worth talking to him:

http://stumptownforge.com/

Dan, I never knew about this place. Thanks for the link. I knew there was a blacksmithing supply store in Beavercreek. I use to get coal there when I first got into bladesmithing. Its around 20 miles away if that.

Rick, The one joint I never had any problems with is my elbow. Now the wrist and several other joints in my right hand have been bone on bone for years probably due to me working as a carpenter for 30 years beside doing the bladesmithing at the same time. When I did Hammerjamin with Tai he said he'd never seen anyone move steel like me. He also told me my technic sucked. I have always used more wrist when I forge than anything else. For some reason the heavy hammer bothers me less than the lighter ones. I'll be turning into an official senior citizen in two months. I still feel blessed that I've been able to do this silly hobby for as long as I have.

 

[Dan Pierson]

I'll be turning into an official senior citizen in two months. I still feel blessed that I've been able to do this silly hobby for as long as I have.

Hey! You're not that much older than me and I'm just getting into this madness.

 

[Rick Marchand]

When I did Hammerjamin with Tai he said he'd never seen anyone move steel like me. He also told me my technic sucked.

I believe it, Ray... I have the DVD. All I'm saying is that there ARE better ways to ensure you can continue forging without hurting yourself. 6lbs is bad news.... effective at moving steel, no doubt.... but look at what its doing to you. I want to see more DVD's in your future.... Hell, I'll chip in for the hammering class at the link Dan posted! Get better, bud.

 

[Raymond Richard]

I have tried changing the way I forge over the years but it just feels so strange I end up doing it the way I always have. Even tried it once left handed. I found out my left arm was not connected to my brain. I could hit the steel but there was absolutely no power. My left arm was sore for a few days after that. Just for the heck of it I may take a look at one of those classes after I get Little Rock out of the way.

Dan, There's other worse things to get an interest in. Heck you could have got interested in golf........

 

[Rick Marchand]

Hammers make lousy putters... lol

 

[Kentucky]

Let the anvil do the work and dont swing your hammer like your trying to kill a hog.The rebound is suppose to do most of the lifting, not your arm.You'd be supprised at how heavy of a hammer you can comfortably handle..The anvil does the work..The hammer just pushes the work into the anvil..
Forge most all of a work day..Say 5-6 hours out of 8. If your arm is killing you then you are doing something wrong..Ive seen 60 year old blacksmiths who can forge all day and not have one bit of soreness.

 

[Matthew Gregory]

Ray, it would be a catastrophic loss to the bladesmithing community if your arms give out on you - please do everything in your power to make sure you're part of this world for the duration. You've been a presence in my knifemaking experience since the beginning, and I'd hate to see that go over something as tragic as carpel tunnel or some other avoidable malady!!

Rick, I call BS on the fact that you've had to give up on a Sammer. Next time I see him I'm punching him in the bawlz.