reworked sledgehammer head

Sam Salvati

Sam Salvati

Joined
Aug 6, 2007
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Had some fun today at the Fort where I volunteer. Decided to rework an 8lb sledgehammer into a cross peen. Was funny, there is this bucket of mystery tongs, all weird shapes that no one can figure out what they are for, but rooting around found a pair that was probably made exactly for gripping a sledgehammer head by the end, and another pair that was made for grabbing a sledgehammer head by the eye, when I say made for they fit perfectly, the "fingers" on the set were even forged oval to fit into the hammer eye.I swung a sledge forging it while the two kids I teach there held the head in the tongs. Here's a picture.


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Sooooo do you use another sledghammer to rework that one? Pretty dang cool idea. Can't say I've seen too many 8 lb. cross peens :)
 
TekSec said:
Sooooo do you use another sledghammer to rework that one? Pretty dang cool idea. Can't say I've seen too many 8 lb. cross peens :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, used a 10 pound, was very fun and the touristas enjoyed watching. Cross and straight peen sledges are very common in the blacksmithing world, but as solitary (and therefore not too often does striking happen) as blacksmiths are, bladesmiths are even more solitary, so there is not alot of chances to use one.
 
It was funny yesterday, the tongs came loose when I was swinging away forging the peen and the whole 8 pounds of 2000F degree hammer head came flipping up spinning right in front of my face then it hit the ground as I jumped back.
 
Sam Salvati said:
It was funny yesterday, the tongs came loose when I was swinging away forging the peen and the whole 8 pounds of 2000F degree hammer head came flipping up spinning right in front of my face then it hit the ground as I jumped back.
Click to expand...
Man, that's so something that happens to me...
 
TekSec said:
Man, that's so something that happens to me...
Click to expand...

I forgot to mention also, that when it hit the ground it landed in a muddy puddle, which then splashed nasty muddy water all over my clean white socks and legs and shorts.

Was a fun day :D
 
8 lb is a heavy hammah.

Anyone know why the eye of a sledghammer is pinched in the middle ?

I made a new handle for our old 8 lb sledge and found out the eye is smallest in the middle of the head then flares out both top and bottom about 1/8" bigger all round. Maybe it makes the wedge in the handle hold better ? Curious to know .
 
Any hammer eye should have that, it is key and proper to make for a tight fit when you wedge the handle.
 
Respectfully my experience says otherwise.

I've rehandled everything from a shoemakers hammer to ballpean and carpenters hammers and numerous axes and hatchets land they all do not have a center constriction. The sledgehammer in question has the eye off center and the long axis is off a good ten degrees, it still works well of course.
 
In my experience making hammers (and any other tool that has a wooden handle), I could never get a handle to stay tight until I added even a slight hourglass to the hammer eye. I think you might find the "waisting" on other tools, just not quite as exaggerated as on a sledgehammer.
 
I agree with Sam on this one. You drift the eye for the hammer from both sides to create the hourglass. If you look at a replacement handle the bottom has a swell then when you wedge the top it creates the swell on the top. I have had several hammers that did not have the proper drift and they always came loose. When I put a new handle on them I grind in the proper shape and no more problems.

Made any tongs lately Sam?
 
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