These are my hammers...I also have a fiberglass handled 3# double faced sledge.

I posted these on a thread where the guy was asking which hammer to use.

I used hammers at a friends to help me decide which ones liked... I also bought them because I greatly admire the two bladesmiths who made them. I can't justify buying one of their knives, but having a hammer they made was the next best thing! Of course, soon I'll make my own hammers, and won't but them either....

pics 7-15 two hammers i made with alec s 2.5lb and 3.5lb
https://picasaweb.google.com/113145630753657202976/DropBox?authkey=Gv1sRgCPb1npmvud6cggE#

well... monty... it's technically 3 3/4 pounds... how ya been?

alec

your "10lb" sledge is technically just over 9lb.
my tongs are now in miami, just the atlantic to go......

monty

I recently bought one of Brent Bailey's hammers. When I got it I thought it was probably too much weight for me but it was too pretty to pass up -- I'm used to a smaller hammer... luckily some of Brent's magic was contained in the hammer -- I can swing it no problem and it is now my favorite hammer!

http://www.brentbaileyforge.com/miscphotos/toolofweek1711b.jpg

-Tod

I probally use my Hofi hammer most, then the rounding hammer I made, then The Straight peen that Richard T. made. Then also use other hammers when needed .

I've probably got 15 hammers in the rack. But what gets the most use is the 2 1/2 and then the 3 1/2 lb cross peens. Both are Ozark pattern.

Generaly, I use a 2lb or a 3lb diagonal pein .... Pending on how fenimine I feel, .... I use a few types and sizes for different jobs, most of my hammers, I have made.

Whatever hammer is in my hand is the one I tend to use most.
I have a pretty good array of hammers that I`ve made/modified as I find that the ones I already have don`t quite fit the bill. On any given day I can be doing anything from stone work to carpentry to copper work to forging and I can`t think of any one hammer that I`ve ever come across that will do it all.
My personal approach is to pick up the nearest hammer that looks like it may work and try it. If it doesn`t work as well as I`d like then I at least have an idea of what may serve me better. If the rack doesn`t hold something closer then I make something that does.
The one thing that I`ve found to be really helpful is to leave my handles on the newly made hammers oversize. As I use the new hammer I can then cut and shave them down till they`re exactly the fit and length I require.
Yes,the rack does hold multiples of the same hammer head but if you look closely you`ll see that the handles are different.

..... if you need to use a hammer go to the rack a choose one just don't touch mine.....

I can relate. As a carpenter I'd sooner loan you my toothbrush than my 16 oz. Vaughan straight-claw.

for heavy forging I'd have to say my Vaughan 48 oz ball pein, for finishing work I have various cross peins and ball peins ranging from a 2 pound hoffi to a 16 ounce stanley ball pein.

Main hammer is my 3.3 pound Habberman hammer nice balance