hammerkid Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 I got to thinking the other day when I was watching a video of a smith making something that required tooling ( slitter, drift) I dont remeber who it was , they wa smaking a hammer though. And they used the same hammer for forging as they used for slitting and drifting the eye. I got to thinking if a hammer is hard enough an dthe top of the tool is soft what would this hurt? And I personally have been using a seprate hammer for those sorta operiations instead of my main forging hammer. And I thought this would be a good poll to start. Do you use your forging hammer for punch work or do you use a diff. hammer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ifitsmetal Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 I use another hammer to drive drifts, punches, etc. Its my own hang up that I have, amongst many others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welder19 Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 I always use a dedicated hammer for hitting tooling, this way I don't get any marks on my forging hammers, punches, chisels, etc. are hard and tend to nick, dent, ding and in general leave marks in your hammer, or they can any way, not worth the risk. welder19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 I use the same hammer, my top tools are not hardened on the striking end. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 I have a no name hammer I picked up at a discount store that is super soft, Could be cast Iron for all I know, unless the tool I'm hitting is A 36 of which I have a bunch that I use as drifts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkunkler Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 I use the same hammers, soft tool tops and hard hammer heads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fe-Wood Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 I just made up a bunch of slitters and drifts today...Slitters and Drifts are S-7 and H-13. A set of 5. Been wanting to do it for a while... So after I finished, I decided to make a pair of tongs using the new tooling. I usually use a "beater hammer" for tooling work. Today I used my Brent Bailey hammer(Atlantic 33). Lots of dents and blemishes, not Real bad but definitely there. I think I'll use the hammer for a bit and see what happens to the dents and blemishes before I sand them off. So I guess my vote would be NO, I don't use my smithing hammer as a regular tooling hammer. Today IS the exception:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finnr Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 I always use a different junk hammer. Finnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DClaville Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 i have two hammers i mostly use for tools a 800grams and a 1,2kg never other hammers for tooling and if others are using my shop with me there is a penalty fee (beer) for using one of my good hammer for hitting tools DC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBrann Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 I use a 2.2 kg hammer for driving punches and drifts. I made my own hammer and its a touch soft for my tooling. Why take chances with a hammer I like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragons lair Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Hmmm Let me think, $100+ hammer or $15 hammer. Which shall I chance. I'll use the $15 one till I can afford a cheaper one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petere76 Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 I use junk hammers for striking set tooling. After a time the tooling mars (dents) the finish on the good forging hammers and the marks end up being transfered to the finished piece. I don't intentionally harden the driven end of any of my set tooling but even still, the tooling will occasionally mar the hammer faces, thus the use of the "junk" hammer saves the faces of my favorite forging hammers. I believe this is covered under the rule of " work smarter not harder". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rthibeau Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 I make my hammer faces hard and tooling ends are softer so I use whatever hammer is handy at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecelticforge Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 I use what ever comes easiest to my hands, but I make sure that my tool faces are soft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Leppo Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 I don't hit tooling w/ my forging hammer, but i DO sometimes forge w/ my tooling hammer (such as to strainghten a hot-cut part a little, on the same heat) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcraigl Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 You need a couple more options/choices in your poll. I have to say "it depends". When I started making tooling out of H13, I noticed it dented my hammer so I started using the somewhat unweildy 3lb. straight pein. Then... I got to liking that hammer more than my "regular" hammer, so it's now my regular forging hammer. What I did do was "temper" the crap out of the struck ends of both my H13 and now S7 tooling. I am able to get the struck ends just a tad softer'n my hammer face by taking them to a very dull red and tossing them in vermiculite several times. Still I say it depends though as I still have a ton of tooling made from sucker rod, 4140, 4340 and ms and I don't worry about any of them. ML Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted July 31, 2009 Share Posted July 31, 2009 I usually use a ball pien for striking tools. At one of our meets, the demonstrator, Tom Latane, says he uses a mild steel hammer for striking his chisels and chasing tools. The hammer eventually dishes and that helped him center the blows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithgartner Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 I have an eclectic array of tools, self made, found, borrowed, purchased new, so I use a 2lb. drill hammer and keep one face dressed, so after slitting, punching, etc. with the flat tool striking face, I can flip it over and clean up any distortion the procedure may have caused. Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 I use ball peens found in flea markets for banging on stuff that would possibly damage my better hammers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 i use whatever i pick up but instinct tells me if i had more valuable hammers i may not do this....;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluemountainforge Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 I use an old Heller 4# sledge with tooling that is shaping( spring fullers, punches, etc.) I use a brass hammer on any cutoff hardies, because I have seen these ruin some hammers, and if I miss, less resharpening :p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kendrick Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 I have an eclectic array of tools, self made, found, borrowed, purchased new, so I use a 2lb. drill hammer and keep one face dressed, so after slitting, punching, etc. with the flat tool striking face, I can flip it over and clean up any distortion the procedure may have caused. Keith I use a cheap 3lb sledge or a ball peen to hit tools. I'm planning to do like Keith said here. My plan was to paint a red ring for hot work on the smooth end and a blue ring for the cold tools on the other. Kendrick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.C.M Ironworks Posted September 5, 2009 Share Posted September 5, 2009 I only have but two hammers (so far ) , so i dont use a different hammer for tooling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KYBOY Posted September 11, 2009 Share Posted September 11, 2009 I use a drilling hammer to work tools with..Good forging hammers are to hard for me to find, Im not gonna scag the face up if I can help it ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olcarguy Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 (edited) I have a hammer I made myself out of a 2" piece of copper pipe filled with lead. the extra weight makes it easy to swing and no damage that can't be fixed with a little heat. Edited September 18, 2009 by olcarguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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