Sledge Hammers!

jblyttle · Feb 19, 2018

Cteve said:
Not a sledge hammer but a mallet a made at work with some industrial belt sanders it came out looking pretty neat. I used some old shipping blocks, not sure what kind of wood but it seems quite hard. I will use it for carving.

Although the spalting is technically a weakness, I bet it will be just fine, and it looks fantastic.

Square_peg · Feb 19, 2018

I would be concerned about the spalting on a mallet.

jblyttle · Feb 20, 2018

Square_peg said:
I would be concerned about the spalting on a mallet.

Yes possibly, time will tell. Since the wood is already mallet shaped, nothing to do but use it! Worst case, he already has his skills ready for the next one.

Chesterfieldfox · Feb 20, 2018

Square_peg said:
I would be concerned about the spalting on a mallet.

I will use until it breaks. I gave it a go on the weekend and made a nice ladle. It seems to be holding up just fine for now.
If I'm lucky it will last.

jblyttle · Feb 21, 2018

Cteve said:
I will use until it breaks. I gave it a go on the weekend and made a nice ladle. It seems to be holding up just fine for now.
If I'm lucky it will last.

The ladle is awesome. Carving spoons and bowls is on my list of things that I daydream about giving a try but I never seem to have time for everything that I want to do.

jblyttle · Feb 21, 2018

One of these days I should hang an axe again. This is an old 3.5lb Atha head that is in great shape for being over 100 years old. The 14" handle is somewhat newer...

For better or worse, on some hammers I am just not fully confident without the metal wedges.

IMG_20180221_081614 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr

IMG_20180221_081629 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr

IMG_20180221_081645 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr

IMG_20180221_081703 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr

IMG_20180221_081653 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr

I'mSoSharp · Feb 21, 2018

jblyttle said:
For better or worse, on some hammers I am just not fully confident without the metal wedges.

Nice work

In my opinion you can't hang a small eyed hammer (to last some time) without using a metal wedge or wood crossed with metal. Small eyes need greater pressure.

Miller '72 · Feb 25, 2018

My goto user claw...

Agent_H · Feb 25, 2018

More of a "process" shot. Any tips on prepping the face and bevels on a hammer that was heavily pitted?

Face.Clearing by Agent Hierarchy

Ernest DuBois · Feb 25, 2018

Crown the face.

Square_peg · Feb 25, 2018

Agent_H said:
More of a "process" shot. Any tips on prepping the face and bevels on a hammer that was heavily pitted?

Face.Clearing by Agent Hierarchy

Ernest DuBois said:
Crown the face.

Yes!

A big side grinder does a nice job flattening the face and setting the bevels. As Ernest already noted you'll need to crown the face. A flap disc on an angle grinder can do this well. The railroad sharpening gauge I posted a couple years back will show you the radius of the crown. 42Blades made a nice printable replication of that tool.

Either the spike maul gauge or the track & bolt chisel head gauge should do you just fine.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/adze-sledge-gauge.1410074/#post-16256324

For scale the tool is 5" wide.

Agent_H · Feb 25, 2018

Square_peg said:
Yes!

A big side grinder does a nice job flattening the face and setting the bevels. As Ernest already noted you'll need to crown the face. A flap disc on an angle grinder can do this well. The railroad sharpening gauge I posted a couple years back will show you the radius of the crown. 42Blades made a nice printable replication of that tool.

Either the spike maul gauge or the track & bolt chisel head gauge should do you just fine.

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/adze-sledge-gauge.1410074/#post-16256324

For scale the tool is 5" wide.

I appreciate the reminder. The little 2+lb hammer will be crowned.

jblyttle · Feb 26, 2018

Agent_H said:
I appreciate the reminder. The little 2+lb hammer will be crowned.

I'm anxious to see how these diamonds in the rough turn out.

jblyttle · Feb 26, 2018

IMG_20180226_210523 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr

Agent_H · Feb 26, 2018

jblyttle said:
I'm anxious to see how these diamonds in the rough turn out.

The little Jersey is being taken thin. The little hammer’s facets need there edges softened. :thumbsup:

jblyttle · Feb 27, 2018

It's a small flatter but I this is where it belongs. An old Fayette Plumb.

IMG_20180227_073243 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr

IMG_20180227_073259 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr

IMG_20180227_073318 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr

IMG_20180227_073359 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr

IMG_20180227_073337 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr

IMG_20180227_073331 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr

jblyttle · Feb 27, 2018

IMG_20180227_204648 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr

IMG_20180227_204359 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr

IMG_20180227_204458 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr

IMG_20180227_204629 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr

IMG_20180227_204521 by Justin Lyttle, on Flickr

Square_peg · Feb 28, 2018

Have you identified that? Is it a tinners hammer?

jblyttle · Feb 28, 2018

Square_peg said:
Have you identified that? Is it a tinners hammer?

Not specifically, but I think it's a coppersmithing head. Though it should work for any softer metal.

jake pogg · Mar 1, 2018

jblyttle said:
It's a small flatter

Sorry,it's not.It is a set-hammer,used for shouldering.

jblyttle said:
it's a coppersmithing head

I've never heard that coppersmiths have different names for their tools.Looks like a common raising hammer.Suitable for raising or setting down any metal worked in like fashion.