Bud in PA Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 I have noticed that a lot of hammers, specially the expensive ones, have a waist behind the faces. What is the purpose of these waists? I have made a round face on a engineer's hammer I bought from HF. It is a 3lb. hammer, and since I have back and neck problems I was thinking that a waist behind each face would reduce the weight. Is this the reason the professional $200 hammers have waists? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dickb Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 The waist behind the faces makes it look pretty. Then you can sell them for a higher price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoggy Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Does a nicely proportioned waist rest well on the eye? I think it does, and that goes for hammers too, especially expensive well made ones! If you take a look at a variety of hammers of different sizes and types......for a given weight the waist provides improved balance, reach, and clearance as appropriate for the task the hammer is designed for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Distribution of mass also affects the balance and feel of the hammer. Contrast the balance and feel of a Peddinghaus Swedish style hammer with a French style by the same manufacturer. Think about how a farrier's rounding hammer is used as opposed the crosspien engineers hammer which is often called a blacksmiths hammer. I believe that each feature of hammers we see has evolved because people came to believe that they in someway contributed to work they were doing. My favorite hammer these is the Hofi Hammer. Hofi hammers are copied in style as Czech hammers, Nothing pretty about it unless you realize that it helps out with forging in ways that some others do not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rthibeau Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 the waist, or fuller, behind the hammer faces, if forged in, lengthens the hammer head but doesn't decrease the weight. Some like it for the looks, some like it for the greater leangth it gives for the same weight. Some just don't need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KYBOY Posted November 11, 2015 Share Posted November 11, 2015 Most like the looks(I do myself) and when you pay for a handmade hammer its expensive..A nice hammer is a time consuming thing to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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