Rebar hammers......

Raymond Richard

Raymond Richard

Joined
Jun 17, 2001
Messages
5,705
Bruce Evans had given me some large rebar when he was relocating his Dad here in Oregon. This stuff is 1 3/4" in diameter and came from the heavest traveled bridge between Oregon and Washington. Bruce's Dad was one of the inspectors on the bridge. Wasn't to sure what I was going to do with it since it was so large so I decided to try my hand at making my own hammers just for forging knives. The one on the bottom was my first, guessing its around 2 1/2 pounds. I've been using it everyday for a month and its the only hammer I use now for forging. Made the larger one yesterday using the smaller one to forge it, heat treated it last night and did a half ass job on the handle since I was wanting to take it for a test drive as soon as I can. The bar of steel with the blade forged on it is the results from the new hammer. Its alittle heavyer than what I'm after but it works just fine. Nothing like using a hammer made to forge knives that was ment for doing that instead of a small sledge. I'll be making more..
PDRM0354.JPG
 
Now that's perfect. I have a book on classic blacksmithing at home, and one of the biggest points they make in that is that throughout the ages, blacksmiths made almost every tool they use themselves. And personally I think it adds that one extra touch of truly making the blade YOURS, not just something you've worked on(though forging in general is so far beyond grinding in that effect anyways).

So enough babbling, look great, and impressive that you'd do this. :D
 
Will, I used my tomahawk drift, the one I got from Robert Washburn since its alittle fatter. I'm going to be making a new drift but first I'm going to check out some factory made handles so I've got an idea. Most are round but I'm wanting something more of a rectangle. Just got to remember to put some tapper in it or I'll never get it out.

As much hand forging I do its nice to have something that was made for doing knives and hawks. It also makes a big difference in my attitude and the arm fatgue isn't any where's as bad....
 
what is rebar made from....At grahmn steel's rebar division here in redmond,WA they have rebar from a-36 which is brake drum,bumbers you name,were you able to harden the hammers? How ?
 
Rebar comes in a number of different grades. I use 60 grade only since that is what is used in all industrial and commericial jobs, bridges, and damms... There's alot of railroad track and other better steels used in it. I've made well over a 100 knives out of it and its all hardened up just fine. I'm not 100% sure but I'd guess the carbon content is around .6%. The steel that I made the hammers out of is some of the best I've used.

As for hardening it, the hammers were quenched in water but I do knives in oil.
 
These are to COOL !!!!!!
Guess I will have to make another trip out to Oregon (to visit this time) and have you show me how to do one of these....

Glad you was able to do something with the steel,better than it going in the dumpster that is for sure.
Bruce
 
Cheesel and myself have made knives out of it with excellent results. Well also be making Hawks out of it.
Bruce; Do you still want me to send you down some and what size did you want me to press it to????
 
George, Sure wish they would go back to making the rebar square like what was done in the past. If it wasn't for Bruce giving me this last batch of rebar I may have needed to go back to work as a carpenter just to get somemore scrap rebar. I hate the thought of that.....
 
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