Daniel S Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Over the weekend, my dad and I made a couple of small hammers. I made the smaller hammer on Saturday as practice, and the larger one was made Sunday. One face of the larger hammer was rounded in a small swage block that we have. The whole exercise was very good learning experience. I would highly recommend anyone who has thought about doing it. There are a few more pictures here; http://s1078.beta.photobucket.com/user/jaimechimie/library/ , if anyone is interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Beautiful work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel S Posted October 11, 2012 Author Share Posted October 11, 2012 Thank you. This was the first time either of us had struck tools with a sledge hammer or done a project like this. Punching the hole took a few heats, but seemed to turn out ok. If we do another, I'm sure that we will do a better job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 Hammers look quite serviceable. Do those handles suit your hands though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel S Posted October 11, 2012 Author Share Posted October 11, 2012 The handle on the larger hammer does. The smaller handle was quickly roughed out of a piece of poplar with a hatchet, a rasp, and some 40 grit. It will be replaced. I made the larger handle out of a piece of cherry firewood that my parents had at their house. I will probably do another cherry handle for the small hammer, since I still have some laying around. A gentleman at the last monthly group meeting that, I attended, let me try his hammer with a similar handle. I sized this one to my hand. I admit, it is a much rougher version than his handle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 I like my handles to have a butt swell so I can grasp them more loosely yet not have them slide out of my hand. Cherry is generally too brittle for a good hammer handle, do you have any ash, pecan, hickory,... in the firewood pile? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel S Posted October 11, 2012 Author Share Posted October 11, 2012 Thank you for the suggestions. It was all oak(red and white), cherry, and poplar. I'll look keep an eye out for the woods you've suggested. Cherry was listed in another thread as a handle material, but making a handle is easy enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 White oak is probably the best of the list you gave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolfshieldrx Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 White oak will indeed make a servicable handle. I have one hammer that I handled with a piece of white oak from the firewood pile that is still going strong after 25 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardedpiper Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 Great looking hammers!! A project I wold like to try one day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 How about *tomorrow*, a chunk of car axle, a punch or slitter and a drift and you are good to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.