Need help Making Hammers

[Andrew Smith]

I have been a blacksmith for a couple of years and I finally realized how much faster and easier the right kind of hammers would help. I only have a plain 4# hammer, a 3# cross pein hammer, an old flatter, and a 1# 1/2 fuller hammer.

I am wanting to make some more hammers that would help with flattening ball pein hammers for tomahawks, That is the main thing that I do. Frankly the price of most blacksmithing hammers are a little too high of a price given that I can make a decent one myself.

I was looking to start with a good 4-5# fullering hammer. I can swing a 3# hammer for at least 4 hours without getting worn out and a 4# for at least 3 hours.

I have heard that 4140 is a good steel. just to get to the point, I don't know the first thing about making hammers so just act like you are talking to a complete idiot. I can hot cut and drift and that is about it.

Thanks,

Andrew

[Nakedanvil - Grant Sarver]

Here's one thread that should interest you:

[NRunals]

I've been making some hammers lately, and I'll tell you what the very best way to learn is to just experiment. Make up some drawings based on hammers you might want to try out and give it a shot. To answer one of your questions 4140 is real good for hammers, pretty much anything between 40 and 60 points of carbon is gonna be a good steel to use. Also it helps to have an extra set of hands.

[DennisG]

I am making my own hammers now. I did a thread last week on the hammer I made ( ) I used the info from this pdf file and it works like a charm, also helps to look at lots of pics and read lots. Go down to page 5 of the file.

Hope this will help you out.

2001-02-cb.pdf

[ThomasPowers]

Make your self a good punch or slitter/drift combo tool as making the eye is the easiest place to mess up.

Can you buy cheap old hammers and rework then into what you want? I picked up a 2# cross pein for $1 at the fleamarket last Friday for reforging. Helps to lower the price that you *don't* want a usable handle in it and unhandled heads are usually quite cheap.

Really sounds to me more like you need to be making a treadle hammer than a hand hammer!

[Andrew Smith]

Thanks everybody for the input. I am going to order some 4140 in the next couple of days. I will try to remember to post some pics of them if they turn out ok.

ThomasPowers, I am currently saving my money to buy a Little Giant power hammer. Even once I get one though It is still good to have a selection of hammers in my arsenal.....I think...

Ijust thought about this though, I will need to make me some hammer tongs first, Don't want to burn myself by just using my gloves , that metal sometimes gets hot after awhile

-Andrew