What hammer to use with guillotine tool?

[Jesse Lange]

I'm building a guillotine tool, and my dies will be hardened. What type of hammer is best to use with the tool and with top tools? Should I get a soft iron hammer or a deadblow hammer?

 

[HSC ///]

I use a 4 lb engineer hammer.
Why do you think you need a soft or dead blow hammer?

 

[Jesse Lange]

I use a 4 lb engineer hammer.
Why do you think you need a soft or dead blow hammer?

Thanks. The question stems from the fact that both the dies and the hammer will be hardened. I know some smiths use mild steel dies in their guillotine tools, and the end which is struck can mushroom (same with top tools), but I've seen iron hammers advertised as for being used with hardened dies (to prevent damage to a nice hammer or to the dies). When looking into those, it occurred to me that a dead blow hammer might work, especially if I'm using squaring dies on a canister in the future. My current thinking is that I'll either get a cheap hammer from HF to use for hitting the dies, or get one of the iron hammers.

Here is an example of what I'm talking about: https://www.blacksmithsupply.com/Malleable-Iron-Hammer-3lb_p_512.html

 

[weo]

The question stems from the fact that both the dies and the hammer will be hardened.

From a blacksmithing perspective, the stuck end of any top tool shouldn't be hardened.

 

[HSC ///]

Yeah as said above I wouldn’t want my dies to be hardened and the one I use isn’t. And sure the top mushrooms, but so what? It doesn’t cause any problem…

I get my hammers from McMaster carr. I’d suggest that over HF. They don’t cost a lot at McMaster

 

[weo]

Also, don't forget that the working end of the tool will have prolonged contact with steel in the 1800F-2000F+ range, so unless you are making the dies out of S7 or another air hardening steel, you will most likely lose some of the hardness over time.

 

[Greenberg Woods]

a french one