Tool Talk

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: dimwittedmoose51 on December 31, 2013, 04:16:41 AM

Title: What Function Do these Two Hammer heads Provide?
Post by: dimwittedmoose51 on December 31, 2013, 04:16:41 AM

These came in the big stash of tools I picked up a couple months ago and am just now getting around to cleaning up.  The smaller one has several "32"'s stamped on its side maybe meaning it's a 2 pound something or another .  My guess is a blacksmith hammer of some sort, but the funky tail has me curious.

The other one is also new to me.  Painted red, presumably from the factory, this head looks like an anteater nose; the barrel is about 15" long the head weighs right at 10#, but before I invest in a handle for it, I'd like to know what the special purpose of this design is.

Not sure how that ornery  1964 model pitted Par-X  1/2" drive rat sneaked into the photo.... I guess it was afraid it was going to miss out on its 15 minutes of fame and get sent straight to the collector drawer.

TIA

DM&FS

Title: Re: What Function Do these Two Hammer heads Provide?
Post by: Branson on December 31, 2013, 06:05:57 AM

The top hammer is a two pound straight pein hammer.  Not as common as cross pein hammers, but one of my favorites for blacksmithing.
The bottom one looks to me like a gandy dancer's hammer for driving RXR spikes.

Title: Re: What Function Do these Two Hammer heads Provide?
Post by: keykeeper on December 31, 2013, 06:26:22 AM

I agree with Branson on both of them!

Title: Re: What Function Do these Two Hammer heads Provide?
Post by: kxxr on December 31, 2013, 07:19:56 AM

Agree the bottom one is a spike maul. The extra length of the head allows one to reach across and over the top of the rail to drive a spike without breaking the handle. You could still manage to break the handle, but it makes it a little trickier.

Title: Re: What Function Do these Two Hammer heads Provide?
Post by: dimwittedmoose51 on December 31, 2013, 10:04:21 AM

I woner how many licks with that spike maul it took to get a spike down??  Not sure my aim would qualify for that job....lol


Thank you gentlmen.....Question Answered!!!


DM&FS

Title: Re: What Function Do these Two Hammer heads Provide?
Post by: kxxr on December 31, 2013, 04:00:35 PM

I can tell you from experience that it is possible to drive a spike in one whack if the wood is soft. I have seen hard oak that even a spike machine could not penetrate. On average though, with hard wood main line ties, it takes anywhere from 3 to 6 well placed whacks to drive the spike.

Title: Re: What Function Do these Two Hammer heads Provide?
Post by: jimwrench on January 01, 2014, 09:41:15 AM

 I don't remember,but I know it depends on who has the handle in his hands.

Title: Re: What Function Do these Two Hammer heads Provide?
Post by: Wrenchmensch on January 01, 2014, 12:55:44 PM

I believe two men, taking alternating swings, seated the spikes in quick time.