Thread: Preferred hammer for forging?

My favorite is a Tom Clark hammer. It's about 2 lbs. I was going to paste a link only to go to the web site only to see that Tom Clark passed away in november of 2008. So no more hand forged hammers are available. When you first start out most have a tendenancy to use to heavy a hammer. Everyone is built differently so will require a different weight hammer. With lighter hammers you will find you have more control but move less metal. Heavier hammers move more metal but you have less control. You will just have to try different one's until you find the one that fits you best. Also a heavier hammer will cause you problems in the elbows in later years. I've seen some guys use a 5lb sledge hammer cut off the handle to about 12inches and that is all they use. I can smash a piece of metal with that but have a really hard time forging anything to shape so I don't use that heavy of a hammer. I still have one but rarely did I ever use it. I have about 4 or 5 different hammers from cross pein, to ball pein, a hand made one from Tom Clark, and just some home depot special's and some from a blacksmith's store. They all have a place, but my most used hammer is the Tom Clark one.

How strong is your arm? How good is your control?

Lighter is easier to control. I think the straight peen I am using is 2 lbs?
and the hammer is 3 lbs?

Originally Posted by randydance062449

How strong is your arm? How good is your control?

Lighter is easier to control. I think the straight peen I am using is 2 lbs?
and the hammer is 3 lbs?

My arm is as strong as a wet noodle and my control? I could maybe hit the broadside of a barn. I'm willing to practice practice practice though.

Chris L

Old World Anvils - Blacksmith Hammers

Likely if you wanted to wait a bit, Nathan would custom fit a particular type for you.

And,

http://www.dancingfrogforge.com/
http://www.brentbaileyforge.com/
http://www.elmerroush.com/html/hammers.html

Would this be any use in the big hammer stakes?

Might get the job done quicker

If you cover the shipping, I'll set that up at my place.

Chris L

Chris,

For general forging I like the Swedish Blacksmith style hammers. I have the Peddinghaus 1000g and 1500g hammers. You can get them at Blacksmith's Depot, among other places. (The have lots of different styles too.)

For forging bevels on knives, I use these two. The first is a Saw Maker's Hammer, and the second is a Cutler's Hammer.