ausfire Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 This is a strange looking mallet I picked up at a swap meet. For $5 it seemed like a good buy and I have tested it on the bending of a ram's head and it works just fine.I use a lead hammer for the same job, but it's getting very battered and I was glad to come across this one. No-one on the stall knew what it was and I'm not sure it is intended for blacksmith use. However, it works well. The hide is very tightly wound and is held firm by the large nut.Do you figure it is a homemade piece or what? It is marked with GREG STEEL, or that's what it looks like. Anyone seen anything similar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSW Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I have a very similar rawhide mallet and it's factory. If I can locate it, I'll try and get a picture, but I'm not sure if the faces are with it at the moment or not. I've also seen them with other faces, plastic, brass, lead and so on. They are often used when you need to hit something and not leave marks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Turley Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I have two rawhide hammers in the shop plus wooden mallets for hot work where I don't want to mark the piece with a steel hammer. The hammers have blind receptacles in the head to received the tightly spiraled rawhide inserts. I use wood glue when I install. The rawhide comes in various diameters, and I get mine from travers.com. I checked and the new hammers are expensive compared to flea market prices. I'm sure that MSC and McMaster Carr carry them, as well. I got my two hammers sans rawhide at the flea and on both occasions, the sellers agreed that they were surely "odd hammers." The sellers did not know what they were, and I DIDN'T TELL THEM! Otherwise, the price might go higher. I just completed a circular, twisted drop handle using the rawhide and working over a small log clamped tightly and projecting from the vise. What a trip, but I got it done without marring the twist. P.S. One becomes inured to the smell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judson Yaggy Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I was first introduced to these for driving timber framing chisels, they don't damage wooden handles and ferrules as badly as a steel hammer. Also good for straightening twists or anything else you don't want marred. Mine's made by the Garland Co. of Saco, Maine, USA, parts and interchangeable heads are still available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 well know in armor making circles both in old fleamarket and modern purchase forms. My rawhide mallet is know as "the stinky hammer" to my students and they learn not to leave it in contact with the hot metal for long! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpankySmith Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 You got a good deal, I've only seen one recently in an "antique" store, they wanted $40 for it. I passed, will continue to keep my eye out for one though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Tim215 Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I have 2. Large one and small one found in a pawn shop. Work like a dream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stash Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I have the Garland make, also. There was a choice of sizes available at my local mason supply store. Before I put on the forging side of the shop I used it for wet-set flagstone work. Sort of a pre- deadblow hammer. Old rubber mallets have a tendency to whack me in the forehead, the rawhide didn't. I have a rubber deadblow for stonework now. If you note, the bottom of the head is a big threaded nut, holding the 2 sides together. That's how you can switch out the rawhide when used up, or you can pop in lead, brass, wood. Replacements are still around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSW Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 Old rubber mallets have a tendency to whack me in the forehead, Well that explains a few things. LOL :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L Smith Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 They are also used to dissasemble heavy equipment. I used mine for removing parts on landing gears. Eventualy they begin to chip and fray. The plus side of their use "no hammer dings" on large equipment. The replacement heads are expensive. Like said in a previous post pre deadblow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 Well that explains a few things It certainly does! The rest of us have a history of doing it with steel hammers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSW Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 Hey! I resemble that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkmas Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 We use the large rawhide mallets to seat thick cut dimensional granite in a slightly damp portland cement and sand bed ( old style of high end paving). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris john Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Standard hammer in Leather craft, leather workers use them all the time in stampimg and carving . but not that heavy ones in the pix Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stick87 Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 I've got one with copper faces made by Thor hammer in England, who also sells replacement faces in quite a few different materials. It's a four pounder which cost me fifty bucks off the tool truck a couple months back. I really like the copper as it hits a lot harder than the new urithane dead blows yet still doesn't mushroom pins like a steel hammer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark F Posted October 30, 2019 Share Posted October 30, 2019 I picked up a Greg Steel mallet last Sunday. It had a handle, in not particularly good nick, that I have removed to clean up the head. It's a brand that I have not heard of before and this type of mallet is not very common in Australia which is why I grabbed this one. I see that the original posters photos are not available which is a pity as I would have like to see another example. If you're still around ausfire any chance of reposting some pics??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted November 2, 2019 Author Share Posted November 2, 2019 Mark, thanks for your PM alerting me to your response to this old thread. Yes, I am still around, and I did manage to dig out a couple of pics of the Greg Steel hide hammer from the file. I don't use it anymore, as it was difficult to find replacement hide parts, and the cost of a new one on line was quite reasonable, so I bought one. They are a handy thing and I use mine daily for bending heads on rams and bulls without marking the metal. How are things in Perth? I'm just watching the WBBL cricket on TV with the Perth Scorchers doing it tough against the Melbourne Stars. Anyway, here are the pics I found: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark F Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 (edited) Thanks for the pics ausfire. Mine measures 1.5" across the head openings. There is a guy selling pairs of Thor 1.5" hide replacement heads on ebay for $23.80 with free postage so I've ordered a couple of them. Hopefully they will fit o.k. Here is a link if you are interested. [Commercial link removed] Perth has had a return to winter over the last few days after being 36 degrees last Sunday! Strange stuff indeed. Just watching the end of the rugby with England being defeated which no one predicted. Edited November 2, 2019 by Mod34 Commercial link removed per TOS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuEulear Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 Ive got one just like it at a barn sale for 5 i think i use it anywhere i need a dead blow works great. If you ever want rawhide for cheap just buy a rawhide dog chew and soak it so you can un tie it. Then you can unroll it flatten it out and use it for well.... rawhide . Make what you like lol susan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark F Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 Mine cost me $10 at a swap meet. That's a great tip. Thanks Susan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 Welcome to IFI, Mark F! If you haven't yet, please READ THIS FIRST!!! In the US, these are made by a company called Garland in Saco, Maine. Here's mine, a #2: I got this from my favorite industrial surplus place in a box with some files, wire brushes, screwdrivers. $10 for the lot. Replacement heads are about $20/pair, but I haven't had the need to get any yet. 1 hour ago, DuEulear said: If you ever want rawhide for cheap just buy a rawhide dog chew and soak it so you can un tie it. Then you can unroll it flatten it out and use it for well.... rawhide Excellent tip. I just saw some enormous dog chews in the store yesterday and was vaguely thinking that might be a possibility. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark F Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 10 hours ago, JHCC said: Welcome to IFI, Mark F! If you haven't yet, please READ THIS FIRST!!! OOps. Have I done something wrong JHCC? I am familiar with Garland hammers. Unfortunately they don't seem to be available in Australia and having anything that heavy shipped from the U.S. these days has gotten ridiculously expensive. Even the replacement heads are not cheap on line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 1 hour ago, Mark F said: OOps. Have I done something wrong JHCC? Yeah, you can't post commercial links to the forum so send them in a PM instead and it's all good. I'm not John and don't claim to be, I have my hands full enough trying to keep out of my own trouble. Frosty The Lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 Other than the commercial link, no; I post that link to all new members as a matter of routine. 57 minutes ago, Frosty said: I'm not John and don't claim to be Nor do I claim to be Frosty. Of course, there are those who would say I can be a bit cold.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted November 3, 2019 Share Posted November 3, 2019 The Read This First thread is great and it helps in staying off the moderators radar by following all the tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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