I would like to get some feedback from anyone who has used rounding hammers. I am going to purchase one, and would like to know,

 

"Is there any difference in the quality..............NORDIC  VS. DIAMOND?"

 

Thanks

buy either, never had a nordic, Ive been using a diamond ( the same one ) for near onto forty years....i did have to replace the handle two or three times.

either one is good....depends on price which to choose I reckon

I love my nordic, just gotta dress it before you use it

A great man once said" Freddy you can buy a hammer or you can make a hammer" the making gives you much more pride

Haven't used a Diamond, but got a 2 lb Nordic in trade a while back. It was tempered a little hard, even after dressing, a small mis strike took a small, 1/8 inch chip out of the rounding face. Same think happened on again about a week later, again on the rounding face.

 

Both should be able to dress out, but I was surprised to get chips.  New hammer, shipped from the manufacturer (traded a 3 lb sinking/boilermakers hammer for it)

I've had and used both when I was a farrier, and I would not recommend either for two main reasons. First they are too light. I would recommend a three pound or larger hammer if you want to move metal 3/8 inches and up if you are an adolescent or older without physical problems. Light hammers will wear you out trying to move metal. Secondly, they are not ground very well for forging. A properly ground rounding hammer will afford you more surfaces to forge with. Hofi, Nathan Robertson, Big Blue, Aaron Cergol, Dave Custer and Chase Saxton forge larger rounding hammers that come with good edges for forging. They are a little more costly, but they are forged by individuals instead of drop forged.

I agree with Brian, a larger hammer in this case is better. Look at the hammer in Brian's profile photo. A hammer like that in the hands of an experienced smith can move metal quickly and efficiently. Efficient blows to the work is a key component to forging.

 

Perry

Thanks everyone, I appreciate you input.