My favorite hammer

Corey · January 28, 2012, 12:04:45 PM

Just got this, this week. This one is going in my collection. Just wanted to share and hoping others will share their pictures of old blacksmith hammers.

keykeeper · January 28, 2012, 12:23:35 PM

It's not a hammer, it is a fuller. Meant to be struck with another hammer, used in conjunction with a matching bottom tool placed in the anvils hardy hole. Could also be used with a bottom swage, to form the workpiece into a curve if wanted.

Very nicely made fuller, by the way. Thanks for posting.

rusty · January 28, 2012, 03:55:09 PM

Hand made from a sledge? or manufactured?

Branson · January 28, 2012, 09:04:15 PM

Looks to me as if it was hand made to this configuration, if I'm reading the pictures right. What appears to be the face was struck, like keykeeper says, and its "face" will be softer than a hammer face -- otherwise it would eventually shatter from being struck.

These are not always used in conjunction with a bottom swedge. Artificers were issued a 1/4 inch radius fuller, but no corresponding bottoms. It seems that these were used to smooth out a forge welded joint where a piece was welded perpendicular to another piece.

And it is a very cool fuller! What's the radius?

keykeeper · January 28, 2012, 09:23:57 PM

Quote from: Branson on January 28, 2012, 09:04:15 PM

These are not always used in conjunction with a bottom swedge. Artificers were issued a 1/4 inch radius fuller, but no corresponding bottoms. It seems that these were used to smooth out a forge welded joint where a piece was welded perpendicular to another piece.

My bad, Branson. I can see that use/purpose as well. I was just commenting on the general use of a fuller, and didn't get into too much detail.

They also can be used in conjunction with the face, the horn, or just about any surface the individual smith would want as a backing surface.

That's the beauty of blacksmith work, so many techniques and tools, and hundreds of ways of combining them together!

Mostly though, I was trying to get the point across that the tool IS NOT a hammer....it just looks like one.

Although that thought is good for blacksmiths, because if a lot of people knew what these absurd looking "hammers" were intended for, none of us could buy them at a reasonable price!!!!

amertrac · January 29, 2012, 05:27:43 AM

They also can be used in conjunction with the face, the horn, or just about any surface the individual smith would want as a backing surface.

hey keeper Is the horn of a hammer to blow when you hit your finger so no one hears you cuss bob w.
sorry but thats the first thing to come to mind( what little i have)

Branson · January 29, 2012, 08:24:40 AM

>My bad, Branson. I can see that use/purpose as well. I was just commenting on the general use of a fuller, and didn't get into too much detail.

No bad here at all. We got the 1/4 inch radius tool ten years ago because it was on the list in the 1859 manual. What would we do with such a weenie little thing repairing artillery? Didn't know... I found the use only last summer, using it as a sort of contoured set hammer.

In practice, every blacksmith tool does whatever the smith can make it do. I was taught to consider every surface and shape anywhere on the anvil as part of its function -- front, sides, feet, corners...

Branson · January 29, 2012, 08:26:44 AM

Quote from: amertrac on January 29, 2012, 05:27:43 AM
They also can be used in conjunction with the face, the horn, or just about any surface the individual smith would want as a backing surface.

hey keeper Is the horn of a hammer to blow when you hit your finger so no one hears you cuss bob w.
sorry but thats the first thing to come to mind( what little i have)

Nah. You calmly walk to the door of the forge, and then throw the hammer as far as you can, walk over calmly, pick the hammer up, and go back to work.

Branson · January 29, 2012, 08:28:17 AM

Looking at the header, "My favorite hammer," I find myself asking, "Favorite hammer for what?" I got a bunch of favorite hammers.

scottg · January 29, 2012, 09:49:00 AM

Quick rough count this morning shows around 50 hammers. All with restored heads. Many with resculpted heads. 90% with hand carved custom handles.

I am still patiently waiting for my all time favorite hammer to appear.
Optimism
yours Scott

Branson · January 30, 2012, 08:17:09 AM

Quote from: scottg on January 29, 2012, 09:49:00 AM
I am still patiently waiting for my all time favorite hammer to appear.
Optimism
yours Scott

That's about the size of it for favorite hammers. I really like the 3# straight pein I picked up last summer. Can't wait to put it to work. I'm very fond of my Stiletto cross pein, too, and the smith-made fancy cross pein. But I guess the hammer I reach for most often is the short handled rounding hammer, a prejudice I picked up from my first teacher.

Corey · January 30, 2012, 09:53:59 AM

Thanks for all the info. I guess this post really shows my newbie status.

rusty · January 30, 2012, 06:10:48 PM

>I guess this post really shows my newbie status.

Bah!....99% of the people walking around wouldn't know what a fuller is if you hit them over the head with it...

Tho...most of them don't know the difference between a screwdriver and a pry bar either...

Papaw · January 30, 2012, 08:42:30 PM

We've all been in that category before, no worries!

anglesmith · January 30, 2012, 09:32:43 PM

Not always easy to tell top (struck) tool from a hammer as a lot of hammer were abused. But an observation I have made is that commercial and blacksmith made top tools were made with little to no draught in the eye. They were not wedged on but were fitted with the "handle" projecting through so they got off quickly to adjust, sharpen or change the handedness. The handles btw can and were made of any sort of available wood as they only have to keep your hand away from the heat and the tool in postion!
Graeme

News:

My favorite hammer