Project by GrantA | posted 11-16-2019 01:36 PM | 990 views | 1 time favorited | 17 comments | ![]() |
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I drew duckmilk as a recipient for this swap, and knowing he has a forge and anvil I wanted to make a forging hammer. After seeing his collection (with some crafty help from fellow swappers and friends) I decided on a dogshead hammer, aka cutlers hammer or sawyers hammer. It’s a weight forward design best suited to thin precise work such as knife bevels or saw blades.
It started as a 1-1/4×2” stick of 4140 steel bar. I milled the eye (which was an experience of its own as I work hardened it multiple times until I got the right speed & feed sorted out- I’m still learning the machinist ropes!)
Next I decided to taper the bottom which made it resemble an axe head.
Here it is getting the sides cleaned up before sanding the whole thing to 120grit
2.69lbs- it’s got a good feel to it!
I decided to use some pecan from my yard that has been drying in the shop for a couple years to make a handle.
I hope duck gets some great use out of it!
17 comments so far
sras
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6697 posts in 4583 days
#1 posted 11-16-2019 01:40 PM
Good job! Nice choice for duckmilk.
-- Steve - Impatience is Expensive
Bill Berklich
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1344 posts in 1843 days
#2 posted 11-16-2019 01:41 PM
Well, awesome hammer! The taper is a nice feature and adds grace to the project. And your project make me want to explore the metal side. Though the heat treating it out for me
-- Bill - Rochester MI
GrantA
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#3 posted 11-16-2019 01:45 PM
Thanks guys! This one is not heat treated, it’s pretty tough steel as-is and since it’ll be used for thin work I feel like it’d be very easy to hit the anvil face so I wanted the hammer to be softer than the anvil. I told duck if he decides it’s too soft I’ll gladly harden it though! If anyone else needs heat treat done I’ve got an oven now!
Dave Polaschek
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10259 posts in 2036 days
#4 posted 11-16-2019 01:50 PM
Nice, Grant! Duck’s a lucky guy!
-- Dave - Santa Fe
EarlS
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5509 posts in 3802 days
#5 posted 11-16-2019 02:02 PM
You metal working guys put the rest of us to shame. Just looking at the picture, I could tell it had to be a hammer used around a forge. No frills, all business, or as Kenny would say – that’s a sexy beast.
I also need to find some pecan. Seems like everyone was using it this swap.
-- Earl "I'm a pessamist - generally that increases the chance that things will turn out better than expected"
jeffswildwood
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5132 posts in 3431 days
#6 posted 11-16-2019 02:02 PM
Very nice buddy, and very original. Duck should get a lot of use from it.
-- We all make mistakes, the trick is to fix it in a way that says "I meant to do that".
hairy
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3366 posts in 4986 days
#7 posted 11-16-2019 02:02 PM
You do good work. Really good work.
-- there's someone in my head but it's not me...
KelleyCrafts
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#8 posted 11-16-2019 04:20 PM
Awesome job Grant!!! I would use that sucker at the anvil any day!
-- Dave - http://kelleycrafts.com/ - pen blanks - knife scales - turning tools
duckmilk
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5161 posts in 2779 days
#9 posted 11-16-2019 07:34 PM
I think it is awesome Grant! I don’t foresee it needing to be any harder than it already is. I would rather re-dress any dings in the hammer than damage something I didn’t intend to. The folks at work who got to see it were really impressed. And, I was proud to show it off :-)
-- "Duck and Bob would be out doin some farming with funny hats on." chrisstef
James E McIntyre
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1885 posts in 2746 days
#10 posted 11-16-2019 08:22 PM
That’s a well made hammer. The home grown Hickory was the icing on the tool.
The handle looks properly indexed.
How’s the balance?
-- James E McIntyre
anthm27
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1853 posts in 2564 days
#11 posted 11-17-2019 01:30 AM
Superb build,
Very very nice that, and the home grown Pecan handle a real treat.
Nice one
-- There is no hope for any of us if we keep apologizing for telling the truth.
James E McIntyre
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1885 posts in 2746 days
#12 posted 11-18-2019 12:45 AM
Oops meant the Pecan-Hickory.
-- James E McIntyre
James E McIntyre
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1885 posts in 2746 days
#13 posted 11-18-2019 12:47 AM
Oops meant the Pecan-Hickory.
Anthm27 are you in any danger living in Hong Kong?
-- James E McIntyre
GR8HUNTER
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9610 posts in 2167 days
#14 posted 11-18-2019 01:40 AM
pecan wood really sets this mallet off GREAT JOB :<)) GRATZ TOP 3
-- Tony---- Reinholds,Pa.------ REMEMBER TO ALWAYS HAVE FUN :<))
JohnMcClure
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1498 posts in 2095 days
#15 posted 11-18-2019 08:24 PM
Great job Grant! I’m sure it will serve Duck very well!
-- I'd rather be a hammer than a nail
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