Sledge Hammers!

300Six said:
Well done jb, those cleaned up nice! I'm sorta thinking that oval eyes on any tool can benefit from the use of a wood cross wedge. Time will tell!
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Can you elaborate on this? I just hung a 40oz (2.5lb) ball peen (oval eye) last night and (my fault for tapering the haft a little too much) the top of the eye isn't perfect. There is a slight gap only at one side of the eye. I'm debating whether or not to leave it, use metal wedge... or dare I say... drive a small piece of poplar in there to fill the gap. Sortof looks like the one of the right in the pic below but smaller gap and only on one side. Kerf wedge was (intentionally) longer than the eye so that space is filled perfectly. Or do I just use the thing as-is and see what happens? I'm worried about cracks (like the left hammer). If I give it about a month-long BLO bath will it be fine regardless of cracks or gaps?

Also curious because I have a couple (not used yet) freshly hung sledges and two on deck to be hung...

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If you ever see a sledgehammer for sale for $5-10 and pass on it because you don't need one, take a look at the condition of the handle. Even it loose or damaged near the head, it could be 2-3 nice handles for you. And you get a hammer head as a bonus!

This is an old blacksmith head, about 3.5lb. The final product weighs 4lb and is 14.25" long.




 
I traded a Collins Homestead hatchet for this Quikwerks 16lb beast. I have no use for it and will likely never use it, but I love it and wanted it. Just because.

 
Quikwerk is an apt name for a 16 lb 'finishing hammer' jb. Smack something with that and for sure it's 'finished'!
 
Some things are just like that, it's the cool factor!

Whenever I say "the cool factor" it reminds me of Steve McQueen, the king of cool.
 
Another recent pair. One is a super nice small old ballpein on a House Handle oak handle. Total weigh is 17oz and it is 12" long. The other one is awesome. It looks like a super old hand made free form sledge. I thought that it wanted a similar handle. It is hickory from the logs that I recently split up. Total weight is 4lb and it is 12.5" long.




 
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Kerf wedge on that sledge looks pretty thin no?? I'm still pretty new to hanging things so I'm just curious. My first hang (Plumb Boy Scout hatchet) was pretty thin like that and I worry it won't hold up --but it has... Heartwood strip looks awesome! I'm in the market for any 3-4lb hand sledge head I can acquire for less than $3...
 
1215 said:
Kerf wedge on that sledge looks pretty thin no?? I'm still pretty new to hanging things so I'm just curious. My first hang (Plumb Boy Scout hatchet) was pretty thin like that and I worry it won't hold up --but it has... Heartwood strip looks awesome! I'm in the market for any 3-4lb hand sledge head I can acquire for less than $3...
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Drilling hammers are usually pretty common so I'm sure you'll eventually find something.
 
1215 said:
Kerf wedge on that sledge looks pretty thin no?? I'm still pretty new to hanging things so I'm just curious. My first hang (Plumb Boy Scout hatchet) was pretty thin like that and I worry it won't hold up --but it has... Heartwood strip looks awesome! I'm in the market for any 3-4lb hand sledge head I can acquire for less than $3...
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No, it's good. The eye is relatively small, that is what fit the kerf. I'm not concerned. Thanks, I also love the look of mixed heartwood. I have so many nice heads, but I pay about that for them. God news is that they can be had pretty easily at any flea market under $5.
 
Great looking and as usual great hang job. What is the haft/handle made from and how long is it.
Rick
 
jblyttle said:
Everyone needs a hand held ship maul, right?

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JB, that is a good question. The ones I have found are 5lbs and feel ungainly on the 36" handles they are attached to. I keep pulling them out of the bucket they are in, picking them up, and thinking to myself that they feel awkward.

3lbs on a shorter handle seems like it would be more useful. You did really nice work on that one. :thumbup:
 
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