What are hammers made of?

Osbourn

Osbourn

Joined
Jun 27, 1999
Messages
804
I ask this question for two reasons. First, I need a few specialized hammers and making them would be easier than finding them to buy, and much cheaper. The second reason is that in making one of those specialized hammers, my partner took a standard sledge and cut off the pieces he didn't want on it. I took one of those pieces and made a small knife out of it, but I need to know what steel it is to heat treat it. It's a little red hard, and a lot red short, med-hi carbon, with some chromium, judging by the spark test.
Thanks in advance for any input.

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Oz

"This is your life, and it's ending; One minute at a time."
http://www.freespeech.org/oz/
 
I believe hammers are usually made out of S-7 (or is it S-2?). Very tough, not great edge holding. I have seen them forged into some very nice tomahawks.
 
I think they are usually medium carbon 1050 4140 etc. some might be other steels depends on manufacturer. I have made very serviceable hammers from car and truck axles, about the same steel. If you have a piece of scrap fom the hammer to blade project try a water quench.

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It is better to bear the rebuke of a wise man than to enjoy the flattery of fools.
 
From what you guys are saying, it sounds like I could make a servicable hammer from 5160. Sounds good. What temperature to temper from a water quench?

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Oz

"This is your life, and it's ending; One minute at a time."
http://www.freespeech.org/oz/
 
I would be very careful quenching 5160 in water, water is a little fast for that steel, oil is better. I watched Enrique Vega on video one time. Hequenched the finished hammer FACE about an 1" of the face of a 2lb hammer, then buffed the face with a die grinder with a flap wheel. Watched the color run to yellow, than quench, then buff, then watch the color rise, then quench until the colors stopped coming up. The heat from the body of the hammer was tempering the face. He stated there are advantages to a differential heat treat on the hammer, part of which is shock to the arm and control of the hammer.

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If God did not intend for us to eat animals. Why did he make them out of meat?
 
I read in one of Alexander Weygers' blacksmithing books about making hammers. He was keen on using any old scrap high carbon steel and wasn't fussy exactly which type.

He definitely suggested quenching in oil, mostly because of the danger of cracking around the hole. He also annealed the area around the hole by shoving a heated piece of mild steel into the hole.

Dirty and straightforward, my kind of blacksmithing! Now to find some scrap tool steel
smile.gif


Roger
 
Sounds good to me. Mystery metal is one of my favorite mediums! If it dents when it's done, it's no good. They're not that tough to make, so I may as well just dive in. Differential heat treating sounds like a good idea to me no matter what, though. So does oil quenching. I don't anticipate a lot of warpage in a hammer, but no reason to take a risk on cracking with something that could come apart while it's being swung. Thanks again for all the input!

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Oz

"This is your life, and it's ending; One minute at a time."
http://www.freespeech.org/oz/
 
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