Timothy Miller Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Me and one of my helpers were working at the forge this morning. We were double striking with 12 lb. sledge hammers upsetting a hardy tool into my 400 lb. Hay budden with a 1-3/8" hardy hole. We were hitting as hard and fast as we could because the bottom edge was getting cold faster then the top where it was in contact with the anvil. This was causing the forging to mushroom on the top. Out of the blue the my helpers sledge hammer head comes flying at me. He was making good clean blows and there was no damage to the handle it seemed to be in good condition by all appearances. It was strange time seemed to slow down. I twisted to the side just missing the flying hammer head with just enough time to hear it ringing as it hit the floor. The weird thing was the handle had snapped off inside the head right in the middle. The wood seemed a bit dry but not rotten I guess the wood was just a bit old and not up to the task. I guess the moral of the story is if you really use your tools replace old handles even if you think they look good. I probally would have broken a rib or two if it had hit me in the chest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macbruce Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 Sounds like a fluke to me, like they say in the boxing ring......''defend yourself at all times''........... ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Once I was watching Tal Harris and some of the other regulars team forge at a NC tractor show, when the sledge head flew off and bounced off the wall ten feet behind the tongs guy. Everybody stopped and checked the heads on the rest of the hammers. There were spectators on the other two sides...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted August 31, 2012 Author Share Posted August 31, 2012 This sledge hammer had its handle properly installed with a wood wedge and a steel wedge. I have seen them crack right under the head but never in the middle of the head. When the wood breaks it usually sort of just flops off this one went flying. Its possible the handle was decades old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsoldat Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 Not smithing but sledges, Had two equipment operators driving in track pins on the 322 cat loader. One was hitting the link the other the pin to keep the link from spreading. Missed blow and the one guy took it full in the chest. Knocked the wind out of him but nothing broken wonder of wonders it didn't drop him dead. A lot of thump behind even an 8lber. Especially when wielded by loggers with more brawn than brains. Things were left to us mechanics a little more after that. finesse with die griders makes thngs easier... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkrankow Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 I've had a couple hand hammers break like that. They too were rather old hammers (this happened to all of Grandpa's claw hammers when I was young). It looked like the wood let go at the bottom of the saw cut for the wood wedge. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macbruce Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 My Dad in 1957.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLMartin Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 Please dont tell me it was Frank that lost the hammer head. Hes lost one before already about 3 years ago and the thing came down on top of him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted September 1, 2012 Author Share Posted September 1, 2012 I don't fault the man I fault the tool. The man knows his way around a sledge hammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MLMartin Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 I am not intending any ill to Frank, hes a good fellow. I would just be sad if he hit himself with a sledge again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timothy Miller Posted September 1, 2012 Author Share Posted September 1, 2012 My Dad in 1957..........He reminds me of my grandfather. They could have been brothers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fe-Wood Posted September 1, 2012 Share Posted September 1, 2012 I have seen that kind of break before. I always thought it was caused by the saw cut in the handle for the wedges. When the wedge is driven in, it seems it may stress the handle wood right there compressing the grain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Speculation on my part, but this type of brittle failure seems to only be a problem on kiln-dried wooden handles. Standing the heads in a garage sale bread loaf pan of mineral oil or similar product for a week or two after installing the handle works for me. I had several brand new Craftsman handles break on claw hammers in the '70s when I did concrete forms, always pulling nails, never driving them. Sears got tired of seeing me. The problem only went away when I switched to all steel claw hammers, which are still perfect today. The proper use of a cat's paw and small pry bay in the tool belt helped as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 I've seen this happen with handles that were often "watered" to make them fit tighter. It's called "Dry Rot" but it does need some water to happen... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macbruce Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 I've used this stuff to good effect. It can usually be found at the HW store.... http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=wood%20joint%20swelling&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCoQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.westernwooddoctor.com%2Fchairloc.htm&ei=nRhGUIztGomSiAKL64HwBA&usg=AFQjCNEdx_7CVBTV3yyZnH5mvZjQXo1veQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 I happened to recall a old Hershel House video (really, VHS) where he talked about 'smithing under the shade of a tree on a hot summer day. As he was forging hot and heavy, the hammer head came loose and went straight up. He could hear it coming back down thru the limbs as he sprinted for daylight. I guess that goes to show if you do anything long enough, something will go wrong. We just need to anticipate, and have contingency plans and an exit strategy. Good reflexes don't hurt, either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagGeorge Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 Checking a tool’s efficiency from time to time goes a long way. Good thing, you were spared from this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 My opinion... the stress of use combined with the compression of the wood's cells when the wedge is driven in, doesn't do that joint any good. Add in age and dry-rot and you've got a recipe for a break. Any time I get an old tool in, the old handle gets a good long soak in thinned linseed oil to, hopefully, rejuvenate the wood. I mix 1 part of Boiled Linseed Oil with 3 parts thinner to get something that's really watery. The thinner it is, the easier it is to penetrate the pores of the wood and get in deep. Glad you weren't hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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