My friend just paused, took a few breaths, counted to ten. Nothing is like it used to be"Įxhibiting an enormous amount of patience, my friend then went over and opened the front door to cool things down, only to have his grandmother yell "close that door, can't you see you're letting all the heat out! That's what's wrong with you kids, you think money grows on trees." "Grandpa, you can't fix this with a hammer. "Well like I just said, the dang switch was stuck so I hit it a few times with my ball peen hammer." "Hey grandpa, how did the thermostat get like this?" So my friend went over to the thermostat only to find the unit cracked with a dozen or so dents across the screen. "Well it ain't working, can't you see - the dang thing won't shut off" the grandfather shouted. "What's up grandpa? Why's it so hot in here? I thought you said the heat wasn't working?" It must have been 100 degrees and his grandparents were down to their underwear. As he opened the front door, the heat hit him like a sauna. Worried his grandparents were freezing with temperatures dipping into the teens, my friend raced over to their house. The other day, during this recent cold spell, he received an urgent call from his grandfather that his heat wasn't working right. If you’re not within an easy drive, we have online courses for you through DIY Blacksmithing.A friend shared with me the following story. You’re welcome to join an in-person class at Brown County Forge. Conclusion: Are Ball Peen Hammers Good for BlacksmithingĪbsolutely, as long as you consider weight, the face, and the length. *Please note that links to products on this page are affiliate links from. I purchased that hammer 11 years ago almost to the day. You can see the updated blue version here (mine was black and less flashy, but they work the same). The hammer I’ve used the most is a 15.5 inch Vaughan Cross Peen that weighs 2.5 pounds. Swinging from the end gives you more power.įor what I do in the shop, I prefer a hammer with an overall length of 15 – 16 inches.Choking up on a hammer gives you more control.The longer it is, the more options you have for gripping: Whether it’s a ball peen, cross peen, or mini sledge, you want to consider the length of a hammer’s handle. Handle Length – The Final Hammer Consideration With a cross peen it means that the metal stays intact, but is compressed and pushed out. With an ax this means that the log is split in two. The wedge shape comes down and moves material to each side. The best way I can describe it is that it functions the same way an ax or splitting wedge does. However, they don’t move metal the same way as cross peens.Ī cross peen hammer is made that way to quickly move metal to either side of the peen. This is great if you want a pebbled or distressed texture. It removes material well and holds up better than cheaper options.īall peen hammers leave a distinct divot when they hit metal. My favorite flat file to use is a 10-inch Nicholson Single Cut Bastard File. You can see in the photo above that there are many sharp edges on that hammer’s face.Įach of those edges and corners can leave a mark on your steel. This means taking a flat file and/or a flap disk to: Whenever I get a new hammer, I take some time to “dress the face.” Hard edges will also create dents that mark up your metal. Hitting on the edge of a hammer’s face will create dents. Having the high point of the hammer face in the middle helps you hit with the center first.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |