Keykeeper,

So the low-crown rounded end works pretty much like crowned body hammer... i.e. it stretches, thins, and expands the metal.

Yes, basically it pushes hot metal in all directions with a good, straight strike down on the metal. It will also move it other ways depending on how you tilt it when hammering. Problem is, you have to be real careful in how you are hitting the metal, because the round crown will move metal away from the face in a round pattern. With a cross peen, you can be more controlled when you want to draw out the metal in a particular direction.

Best way I can explain on how it moves is to advise getting some modeling clay and forming it into a bar and then gently hammering it to see how it moves. Hot metal will move the same way as the clay does when forging.

keykeeper,

While I was looking at rounding hammers today I ran across a video by an Austrialian black smith on how to hand forge a rounding hammer.  It was an incredible video... about 10 minutes long start to finish.  He started out with a 3" long by 1-1/2" diameter piece of stock and was done in no time at all, with the help of one assistant.  Opening the eye was the long straw in the process, taking about 2 minutes.  Everything else took very little time, and the rough finished hammer looked good enough to use.  Never seen anything like this before; I was inspired.

Lauver, is that video available for us to see?

Several posts about hammers this week. Here is a website for a company who sells all kinds of hammers. The link opens on their blacksmith hammers (6pages)!

http://www.hammersource.com/Blacksmithing_Hammers/

Hope this helps someone!

Bill D.

Quote from: Papaw on March 09, 2012, 07:02:29 AM
Lauver, is that video available for us to see?

I don't have a link to the video.  But I can tell you generally how I got there:

Googled "rounding hammer". This produced 1,000's of hits for ebay, various commercial sites that sell hammers, various forum sites like Tool Talk, and You Tube videos on the subject. I sampled some of the videos, and the rest is a blur.

So, this video is available on You Tube if you can find it.  I should have bookmarked the You Tube link. Sorry.

>But, what specifically do you guys use the low-crown rounded end for. 

Imagine trying to turn the inside of a curve with the flat face...

The rounded end spreads metal in all directions for spreading and thinning, and with a flip of the hammer in your hand, the other face smooths out the work. It also works like a giant ball pein, and does some really nice, relatively subtle texturing.

>Do the initials "BK" suggest any possible manufacturers? 

I don't see a BK.  I see a K W, and that would be the owner's initials.  It's altogether possible that K W made his own hammer.  I have several smith made hammers, most of which look nearly factory made.

Lauver,

Is this the video you are talking about?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQnzlK9YsL8

Bill D.

That is certainly educational without being too technical. I enjoyed that video!

Quote from: lazyassforge on March 09, 2012, 10:57:15 AM
Lauver,

Is this the video you are talking about?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQnzlK9YsL8

Bill D.

lazy & papaw,

Bingo... that's the one.  Nice work finding it.

I had to watch it again.  I'm still impressed and inspired.  He makes it look so easy.  You don't suppose he's done it before, do you?

Quote from: Branson on March 09, 2012, 09:49:58 AM
>Do the initials "BK" suggest any possible manufacturers? 

I don't see a BK.  I see a K W, and that would be the owner's initials.  It's altogether possible that K W made his own hammer.  I have several smith made hammers, most of which look nearly factory made.

You are absolutely correct it is K W.  Where the hell did I get BK?  I'm loosing it...

I agree, K W was probably the previous owner and possibly the maker of the hammer. 

Gang,

I just wanted to come full circle and show you the completed rounding hammer.  It's got a little lipstick, a new shorter handle, and both ends are refaced.  In short, ready to go to work:



The original broken handle, shown below the refurbed hammer, measured about 16".  The replacement handle is just over 13", more to my liking and the way I will use this hammer.

Hope ya like it...

BEAUTIFUL! Very well done!

You done good!  You're gonna love this hammer.  Like I said, it's usually the first hammer I reach for, and the short handle is a good thing.