brianstucker Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 Made a new hammer. Wanted to try out a blade smithing style hammer. Didn't want to pay a 100+ $ for one. Weighs 2.75lbs Made the handle out of some dried out hickory I have for smoking meat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianstucker Posted March 4, 2017 Author Share Posted March 4, 2017 I'm only getting around 50% rebound. I heated the whole head to non magnetic. Quenched in oil. Then tempered 2 cycles ar 425. Its mystery steel. It's a shaft from an old sawmill. The part that holds the circular blade. Is that normal for a hammer of this type or should it rebound more? It does work. I used it on a blade I'm forging. There is no dents or chipping to the face. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lionel h Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 Looks good , I want to make one myself ,I'm gonna use an axle for mine . How hard was it to drift the handle hole, I've never tried to drift a hole in that thick of steel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 It works? That's what counts. Did you do a spark test to guesstimate the metal? did it harden from the quench in oil? Going through the motions means nothing with the wrong steel and no desired results from it. But, you made a useful hammer. If it works, it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianstucker Posted March 4, 2017 Author Share Posted March 4, 2017 I spark tested the metal. It's some kind of high carbon steel. Then I file tested it after the quench. The file skated right off the metal. What's a good hammer making steel? 1 hour ago, Lionel h said: Looks good , I want to make one myself ,I'm gonna use an axle for mine . How hard was it to drift the handle hole, I've never tried to drift a hole in that thick of steel? I drilled a couple of starter holes first. And connected them with a die grinder. That made it easier. But it still was a chore. I also made a drift out of some other mystery high carbon steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Ling Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 A couple good hammer making steels are 1045, and 4140. 4140 being the more difficult to forge. Littleblacksmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 I have heard 4140 is a good hammer material. I was just curious as you stated you used mystery metal , and were wondering about your results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 Good Morning, Most shafting is about 1045. I looks like you didn't finish the Hammer face, you need radius edges and NOT a flat face (unless you are making a Flatter). You will learn how to make Hammers after you have a bunch. Using mystery Metal is a waste of your time, equipment and energy. Be careful when using 4130, 4140, 4330, 4340. Look up in the Heat Treating Data for Temper temperatures. They are "Blue Brittle"!! When the data sheets say to not temper to a certain temperature, there is a reason. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianstucker Posted March 4, 2017 Author Share Posted March 4, 2017 2 hours ago, swedefiddle said: Good Morning, Most shafting is about 1045. I looks like you didn't finish the Hammer face, you need radius edges and NOT a flat face (unless you are making a Flatter). You will learn how to make Hammers after you have a bunch. Using mystery Metal is a waste of your time, equipment and energy. Be careful when using 4130, 4140, 4330, 4340. Look up in the Heat Treating Data for Temper temperatures. They are "Blue Brittle"!! When the data sheets say to not temper to a certain temperature, there is a reason. Neil I appreciate the advice. And I agree with you. I was just researching radiusing hammer faces. I thought I had a radius on it. But mine is more like a bevel with sharp edges. I am going to find some good steel for hammers. I really hate mystery steel but it was what I had on hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donniev Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 I've got a block of 4340 I'm planning on making into a hammer in a few weeks. I've thought about trying out a hammer like this, I have an axle I would use, just curious what the front heavy forging hammer feels like in use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianstucker Posted March 4, 2017 Author Share Posted March 4, 2017 I tried to round the face. What does this look like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 Truck Axle makes a good hammer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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