Sledge Hammers!

Hickory n steel said:
The problem with this is that Craftsman used to be a good way to go for tools 20 years ago, but sears has killed the beloved Craftsman tool line and ATM I believe only some screwdrivers and some hammers are being made in the US.
Luckily Stanley has acquired the Craftsman name and may hopefully bring back US production, they do currently have a couple handfuls of tools produced in the US so it's hopeful.
Don't get get me wrong I can appreciate a good older Craftsman tool as much as the next guy who appreciates a good value, they're just not a the source for decent affordable new American made tools right now if ever again.

Btw that's a beautiful old Vaughan produced hammer you got there.
My Vaughan produced Craftsman hammertooth framer from the 50's had a beautiful old octagonal handle on it that I wish I could've saved.

Edit : I just noticed this has the ribbed claws just like my hammertooth framer and think it's even more awesome now. Mine has a little nail puller notch on the right claw and is not octagonal but it would sure be awesome if it was.
This hammer really is extremely beautiful, and you're lucky to have it.
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Thank you!
I thought you might appreciate the Craftsman claw hammer, it's to bad you couldn't salvage the original handle from your framers hammer.
 
300Six said:
I bought 'hook, line and sinker' into the fantastic (what could possibly go wrong!) Sears lifetime guarantees of their 'Craftsman'-brand 45-some years ago. Sure their history and guarantee was wonderful but the quality of their tools, store hours and locations over the next 20 years ultimately turned out to be much lesser so. Some 15 years ago I slowly and gradually switched brands despite all the former hoopla, but once a year did faithfully make a journey into Sears with the annual accumulated pail-full of broken sockets/wrenches/ratchets/screwdrivers. They did replace them (no questions asked either) but 'made in USA' and other re-assuring features (the push button ratchet release among them) slowly disappeared and I decided never to buy anything 'Craftsman' new starting 25 years ago. Whoever picks up the "Craftsman" line (if they honour lifetime guarantees) is gonna have a helluva time reviving the former 'cred' without going broke through no fault of their own. The current incarnation of once-upon-a-time-renowned Stanley tools, unfortunately, has already become a lesser body than Sears ever was!
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It's a shame and you are right.
Quality long left the building...that price point with a lifetime guarantee is what kept me a customer in the trade, the history is what started me using Craftsman, the closing of every Sears brick and mortar in all the state within reasonable driving distance is what has ended my Craftsman affair.
 
Miller '72 said:
It's a shame and you are right.
Quality long left the building...that price point with a lifetime guarantee is what kept me a customer in the trade, the history is what started me using Craftsman, the closing of every Sears brick and mortar in all the state within reasonable driving distance is what has ended my Craftsman affair.
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Yep.

Btw, since that hammer handle wasn't split you got any clue why it would've been wrapped all the way up with electrical tape ?
That's normally only something you see on a split handle.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Yep.

Btw, since that hammer handle wasn't split you got any clue why it would've been wrapped all the way up with electrical tape ?
That's normally only something you see on a split handle.
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Yes I see that all the time too, and I suspected that at first. After I removed the tape expecting something obvious I found it bashed and chipped a bit.
It may very well have a hair line crack or it was preventative to stop the handle bashing and save what was left from the inaccurate blows.
Even if it is cracked, and I have pounded a few nails with him, I am happy and confident in it for the work I may put to it.

...no one likes to see a boiler, HVAC guy come in for repairs with a hammer:D...
 
Miller '72 said:
And those grains run so straight. Great handle man!
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Actually, in the last photo you can see that they're quite "swirly", but there's absolutely nothing functionally deficient about that handle, despite it. Should last quite a long time and look good doing it.
 
PLUMB 3/4lb.
Tinners Riveting Hammer (I believe)
Rehung using / repurposing the handle from my Billings Ball Pein.

6G6P1Xl.jpg


6XOQEee.jpg


I couldn't help myself with the 2nd photo ;):D

Thanks for looking
 
jblyttle said:
Not the world's greatest cross wedge, but it is what I managed tonight.

IMG_20171026_221235 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171026_221310 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171026_221252 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171026_221317 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171026_221325 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171026_221336 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
Click to expand...
Yesterday It looked like rusted paper weight, nice job. I heard rumors: Is it true that stores south of Boston are running out of rustreformer ? :-)
 
jblyttle said:
Not the world's greatest cross wedge, but it is what I managed tonight.

IMG_20171026_221235 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171026_221310 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171026_221252 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171026_221317 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171026_221325 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171026_221336 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
Click to expand...

From my view in CT that's a great looking cross wedge up there near Beantown.
I want to get a bit more consistent with my single wedge before I make the attempt at a cross wedge...baby steps and in due time.
I think your thumb is proof of some good hard work on that head and hang ;):):thumbsup:

Thanks for showing your handiwork :thumbsup:
 
300Six said:
Congratulations jb! Hang on to this one for awhile instead of immediately flogging it to highest bidder, and use it long and hard enough to reap the benefits of four way expansion within an oval eye.
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Sell it to gold prospector for
jblyttle said:
Not the world's greatest cross wedge, but it is what I managed tonight.

IMG_20171026_221235 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171026_221310 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171026_221252 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171026_221317 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171026_221325 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171026_221336 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
Click to expand...
Sell it to gold prospector in exchange for percentage of future goldmine profits
 
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