Justin Topp Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 I finally finished my first rounding hammer over the last few days. Biggest issue eat my spring fuller kept breaking and I don’t have big enough tongs to hold it well when I was adding the fullers. So the fullers are sub par. But function over form. This thing works well. I made it to replace a store bought hammer that sucked. It’s 4140 forged by hand. Weighs 4.75lbs. 18” hickory handle charred and coated in boiled linseed oil. A lot of mistakes and flaws And it’s over all ugly but it’s functional so I say it’s a win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmyiorn Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 Just keep after it, correct issues you know of and press forward. The correct tongs help dramatically, if you can’t hold it you can’t hit it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted December 27, 2019 Author Share Posted December 27, 2019 Yep. Planning on making more tongs to hold it better before the next one. Not that I’ll probably be making a hammer this big until my forging press is finished but for other smaller hammers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 Good Morning and Merry Hasbeen, There are no Miss-Steaks, just the School of Hard Knocks giving you a Lesson that you won't/shouldn't forget. The Boy Scout motto is Be Prepared!! Now you know what to Be Prepaired for. When your material is hot and you aren't ready, the heat wins. It just got an Easy Ride!! The Hammer doesn't care if it is perfect, Perspective plays with our Minds. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 I would say your hammer is a win. It looks a lot better than the hammers I have made, but work well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted December 28, 2019 Author Share Posted December 28, 2019 Wise words Neil! The hammer definitely doesn’t care if it’s perfect or not. It will beat iron the same. I’m the only one who cares thank you Irondragon F&C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrad.blacksmithing Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 That is good first hammer. Actually looks just like my first hammer but mine was made from round stock. One thing I can suggest is to bring the troughs closer to the eye so the proportions are more even. I did the same thing on my first hammer. Nice job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted December 29, 2019 Author Share Posted December 29, 2019 Oh wow that’s really close! Mine was from round stock. 2.5” round to be exact. I just squared it up as I like square better. And it’s easier to punch when it’s not rolling around. I thought I’d put the fuller in the middle but nope. Ended up further out and I should’ve put them closer like you said. Thanks. How heavy was yours ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrad.blacksmithing Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Mine was somewhere around 3.5 pounds. It's been a while. Have you heard of Brian Brazeal? He is the hammer maestro in my opinion and on his YouTube channel he has two "how to" videos on rounding hammers. He uses round for his hammer but its the same for square. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted December 29, 2019 Author Share Posted December 29, 2019 I have heard of Brian. I’ve seen his videos on rounding hammers. If I’m remembering correct wasn’t he one of the people who made rounding hammers popular among blacksmiths? I still like my straight peen better I just thought rounding can be useful and its easier than straight or cross peen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrad.blacksmithing Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Yeah he made the rounding hammer popular. They are very useful hammers for sure. I rarely use a cross peen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasent Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Spring fullers are a pain for hammers imo. May want to make a Guillotine tool for hammers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted December 29, 2019 Author Share Posted December 29, 2019 They are a pain for sure. I ordered a guillotine Kit from uncle bucks forge but that’s probably not gonna fit hammers. Might fit some because I usually make around 2 lb hammers. Thinner and longer but I plan to machine a guillotine like the one from uncle buck that’s 2.75-3” wide for making hammers of any size I want Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benona blacksmith Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Both of your first rounding hammers look just like my first. The one without a handle is my most recent attempt at forging a rounding hammer entirely under the power hammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasent Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Here is the guillotine tool I made with hammers in mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted December 29, 2019 Author Share Posted December 29, 2019 What’s with all our hammers looking the same?? Haha. wish I had a power hammer but all by hand for now. In the process of making a forging press from scraps on the farm. so that should help when finished I like that guillotine. Nice and simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 That guillotine is nice. The only thing I might do, is to cut a hole in the back to allow longer stock to go through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasent Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 I did after the picture was taken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Great minds think alike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasent Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 That they do Have you seen Joey vandersteegs guillotine tool. I like his design a lot! i built mine like I did because my large leaf springs fit perfectly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Yes, i like his design too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benona blacksmith Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 I plan on building a guillotine tool just like that but with a saddle to sit over the lower die of my power hammer. I would have to build mine to be a little shorter though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasent Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Could you just use spring dies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Topp Posted December 30, 2019 Author Share Posted December 30, 2019 i would think a spring fuller would work well under a power hammer. Or even just some dies with a round bar welded to them for fullers. But what do I know about power hammers ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasent Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Or just some fuller dies for the power hammer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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