Sledge Hammers!

crbnSteeladdict said:
Sell it to gold prospector in exchange for percentage of future goldmine profits
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In fact thank the lucky stars that the head didn't fly off in the bone-dry air and either 1) accidentally expose the proverbial "mother lode" or 2) lethally 'bean' the nearby prospector trying to 'claim jump'. Whatever; a loose head is bad for business, much like the worn sear on a 'hogleg' when the hammer is cocked during a heated argument.
 
A gift to me the other day from me mum...

YoHz1Hk.jpg


tB4OdN5.jpg


N9FgYEr.jpg


This hammers only markings are the 1lb stamp on the head and the handle said FRANKLIN down one side. The handle was finished in a thick reddish varnish.
It was hung flush with a rubber type collar, but was loose.

I shaved, treated and cut a kerf, slimming a wedge.
The wedge buried, very happy hang.
 
Nothing fancy tonight, I didn't even take the varnish off. A nice 4lb Warwood head, and a very nice handle combine to make a great tool. I have $6 and 15 minutes into it.

While I remain a critic of House Handle axe handles, in fairness I will once again state that I find their hammer handles to be reliably great values.

IMG_20171120_222724 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171120_222741 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171120_222749 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171120_222831 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171120_222850 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
 
jblyttle said:
Nothing fancy tonight, I didn't even take the varnish off. A nice 4lb Warwood head, and a very nice handle combine to make a great tool. I have $6 and 15 minutes into it.

While I remain a critic of House Handle axe handles, in fairness I will once again state that I find their hammer handles to be reliably great values.

IMG_20171120_222724 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171120_222741 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171120_222749 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171120_222831 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171120_222850 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
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Looks like a good handle to me, and a sweet old head at one helluva a value for the lifetime tool you ended up with.
 
This one came out great. I love the handle (House 16" AA engineer), it matched perfectly with this head and I love the grain and mixed color. The head is an old hand forged double ballpein with two differently sized ends. The head weighs 1.75lb and the handle ended up at 15.75". Total weight is 2.25lb.

IMG_20171124_094024 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171124_094034 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171124_094046 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171124_094050 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171124_094040 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171124_094058 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171124_094129 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
 
you are right.
jblyttle said:
This one came out great. I love the handle (House 16" AA engineer), it matched perfectly with this head and I love the grain and mixed color. The head is an old hand forged double ballpein with two differently sized ends. The head weighs 1.75lb and the handle ended up at 15.75". Total weight is 2.25lb.

IMG_20171124_094024 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171124_094034 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171124_094046 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171124_094050 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171124_094040 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171124_094058 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171124_094129 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
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that hammer and handle are sweet
 
Double ended ball pein is a new one on me. I'm going to presume that that novel concept never caught on.
 
Double ended ball pein is a new one on me. I'm going to presume that that novel concept never caught on.
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Thats fairly common sheetmetal tool, (At least common in a bygone time...) Like all tools, Numerous size & minor variations exist.
We called it a 'raising' or 'blocking' hammer. I expect many other names exist within the different metalwork trades.
 
Lieblad said:
Thats fairly common sheetmetal tool, (At least common in a bygone time...) Like all tools, Numerous size & minor variations exist.
We called it a 'raising' or 'blocking' hammer. I expect many other names exist within the different metalwork trades.
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I'll take your word on the name and use, but it can't be too common. I have seen thousands of hammers in hundreds of locations and it is the first that I have seen.

OK- I just looked those up and I have seen those before, but they are differently shaped and generally much lighter than this one.
 
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I guess I'll call these hammers. The little tomahawk looking thing has been suggested to be some kind of chipping hammer. It is light and old.

The big chisel 4-4.5lb and is 19" long. I'm going to see if I can cut a 3 foot section of railroad track by myself using this and a 5-6lb hammer. The handle is a remnant of a broken double bit axe handle. This job was done with a saw, draw knife, 4-in-hand rasp and a file for the cutting edge.

IMG_20171207_140339 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171207_140357 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171207_140405 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171207_140435 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171207_140452 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171207_140508 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
IMG_20171207_140514 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
 
jblyttle said:
I guess I'll call these hammers. The little tomahawk looking thing has been suggested to be some kind of chipping hammer. It is light and old.

The big chisel 4-4.5lb and is 19" long. I'm going to see if I can cut a 3 foot section of railroad track by myself using this and a 5-6lb hammer. The handle is a remnant of a broken double bit axe handle. This job was done with a saw, draw knife, 4-in-hand rasp and a file for the cutting edge.

IMG_20171207_140339 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr
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Both look great.
I am most interested in the hammer chisel and to learn/see the results of your RR track test.
Always cool to see what you find and share
 
Great stuff !
Fwiw, thats not really a rail chisel. But, I expect you gouge up rail good & have fun in process.
Dunno about your specimin, but good luck cutting if its a modern rail.
 
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Lieblad said:
Great stuff !
Fwiw, thats not really a rail chisel. But, I expect you gouge up rail good & have fun in process.
Dunno about your specimin, but good luck cutting if its a modern rail.
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Correct, I have several track chisel heads too but I figured this big cold chisel should be functionally equivalent. This is the way that it was done for many years so I wanted to give it a try.

BTW, many people claim that RR track is hardened (usually when talking about how it makes a decent anvil substitute), but it is not. The top may become work hardened, but RR track is not hardened steel in the way that people think. Traditionally it was cut using a chisel on a longer handle with a partner hitting it with a heavier long handled hammer, so we will see how it goes as a one man job using slightly lighter tools and striking with less force.
 
jblyttle said:
Correct, I have several track chisel heads too but I figured this big cold chisel should be functionally equivalent. This is the way that it was done for many years so I wanted to give it a try.

BTW, many people claim that RR track is hardened (usually when talking about how it makes a decent anvil substitute), but it is not. The top may become work hardened, but RR track is not hardened steel in the way that people think. Traditionally it was cut using a chisel on a longer handle with a partner hitting it with a heavier long handled hammer, so we will see how it goes as a one man job using slightly lighter tools and striking with less force.
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If you were closer I would offer to come up and be that 2nd man.
That's just the kind of fun I look for and enjoy!
 
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