Seek Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Yesterday I was looking for another hammer in the big box store. They had a decent model, 800 gram, flat on one side, peen on the other side and a hickory handle. Pretty cheap at 13 euro. The hammer and peen face were polished but the sides had a very rough texture. Just as if the hammer head had been cast, not forged. Would that be possible? Do our Chinese friends things like that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Evans Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Not a Chinese prerogative. Hammers are often made by casting, but not from cast iron as per your title. The Hofi hammers for instance are cast, I do not remember the specification of the steel off hand though…easy to search and find out.Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seek Posted September 23, 2015 Author Share Posted September 23, 2015 Ok, so this isn't evil? A hammer like that is still usefull on the anvil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Evans Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Not necessarily evil!….but it may be! I have used my Hofi hammers for most of my hand forging since he gave them to me. One is from the nineteen nineties and is forged the other is ten years or so old and is cast. The issue is the steel they have been made from.There is probably a good reason why those are very cheap. If you are looking for a good hammer to forge with... maybe check out a Peddinghaus or Hofi hammer. If you are looking for a cheap hammer to forge with, get one and try it. If money is the critical issue...look for second hand hammers and choose one with a lot of wear on the handle…the head is obviously good on that one!Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seek Posted September 23, 2015 Author Share Posted September 23, 2015 Searching around a bit I found some Peddinghaus hammers that aren't very expensive either. Just a pitty I must order them online, meaning extra postage. But probably a better idea then buying unknown cheap steel.In the mean time I have a very decent hammer, but I would like something a bit heavier too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basher Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 I have a lot of hammers, and make them and love them. Truth be told though I like some of the 50p boot fair hammers as much as the ones i have made myself and the rare old ones I have....I have had quite a few cast hammers chip on me , but then also quite a few drop forged ones also . and I have cast hammers that have done good work for 20 years. it depends upon the individual manufacturer their steel and HT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles R. Stevens Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Most box store hammers are prety soft, and poorly dressed. If you have a junk shop/used tool dealer or shop meet (boot fair?) then used hammers are a good idea, as you probbably want to modify and heat treat your hammer head anyway. So a loose head or a broken handle is an asset (very low cost) I have encounterd cast iron body hammers tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Cheap bad quality tools are not a new thing; Sears & Roebuck used to sell cast iron anvils as well as re-branded Hay Buddens; they were priced and described by their quality levels. The reason older tools are often better nowadays is that the cheap ones broke, were discarded and/or scrapped over the years so the good ones preferentially are available on the used market... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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