My friend always thought that she can use anything for smacking. It was only after she developed a serious elbow pain when she started using a blacksmith hammer. She soon realized that the work could be done quickly, precisely as well as painlessly with least efforts!
Picard 0001601-0800 (Best French Hammer)
Features:
• This is a French pattern hammer made with a handle made out of ash wood which is considered to be a tree of the ancient Celtic mythology.
• It weighs 3.31 pounds.
• Its dimensions are 19.7 x 2 x 5.9 inches.
• This pattern of the hammer was made especially for riveting the Eiffel tower.
• Its peen is off-centered that helped in easy riveting on the curved shape which supports the tower’s structure.
Who is it for?
This is an exciting option for the blacksmiths who want to try their hands on something other than the traditional hammers. You can use it for crafting pure wooden artworks.
Pros:
• Original products come with a manufacturer’s labeling.
• It has a firm handle and is properly wedged.
• It is easy to handle and is long lasting.
• It has a polished peen and has an accurate chamfer on the striking face.
Cons:
You won’t find a lot of people using this hammer. But this doesn’t mean it won’t cater to your needs.
My final opinion:
I would prefer to stick with the traditional blacksmith hammers but yes, I can definitely try it in future because it comes with a good price tag to try something different.
Picard 0000811-1500 (Best Swedish Blacksmith Hammers)
Feature:
• Just like the French pattern hammer, this is also an exotic hammer that is different from the traditional hammers.
• This Swedish pattern hammer has a handle made of ash wood which has symbolic importance in Celtic mythology.
• It weighs 3.73 pounds and has dimensions 1.8 x 6 x 15 inches.
Who is it for?
This Swedish hammer is for someone who loves to own a different kind tool for blacksmithing. The narrow cross peen of this hammer helps in the creation of deep and smooth cuts in the stocks as well as for peening.
Pricing and Purchase:
You can purchase this fabulous tool from Amazon at a reasonable cost with free shipping which is worth paying for such a superb tool.
Pros:
• Its striking face has a good hardness.
• Its edges are very sharp. If you want, you can clean it on the grinder.
• Its handle is tight enough to remain intact while using it.
• It helps in faster spreading of the metal when the stock is hot.
Cons:
• It is heavy, so it may not be so useful for beginners. And even some may feel it hard on arms while handling it.
• Its handle is coated with paint and is somewhat thick. But you can get the paint removed using some elbow grease.
My Final opinion:
Since this is a heavyweight hammer and is available at a decent price, I would definitely opt for it as it can help me in spreading the metal quickly with less effort.
ABN Cross Peen Hammer
Features:
• This hammer has a handle made of fiberglass which has shock absorbing characteristics.
• It weighs 1.68 pounds and has dimensions of 15.6 x 4.8 x 1.8 inches.
Who is it for?
• This hammer is suitable for the metal fabrications works of heavy duty.
• It is also useful for those involved in stone and artifact works.
• It is advantageous during demolition activities also.
Pricing and purchase:
You can purchase this amazing product from Amazon at a very cheaper price with free shipping which is definitely worth investing.
Pros:
• The textured grip with molded rubber cushion on the handle of this hammer is fit for heavy-duty jobs and has oil-resistant properties also.
• Because of the fiberglass handle, its vibration is reduced and the shock gets transferred when you do heavy duty activities with it, giving you a smoother experience.
• Its handle is large-sized which ensures proper grip and ensures comfort while handling it.
• It has high strength and is long lasting because of the reinforced neck, and carbon steel forged material used to make the head.
Cons:
• n/a
Alternatives:
In case you need a cross-peen hammer of heavyweight, then you can opt for Mini craft pro-cross-peen hammer which comes with a wooden handle and is suitable for blacksmithing works which are not of very heavy duty.
My opinion:
ABN Cross Peen Hammer is ideal for heavy duty works, and I can perfectly do low duty tasks also easily using it. And when it is available at such a cheaper rate, I would definitely opt for this over any other type of cross-peen hammer.
Diamond Farrier Rounding Hammer
Features:
• This rounding hammer has a round crowned face on one side and a fat one on the other side of the head, both of which are beveled because of which the chances of chipping decreases.
• It has handles made of hardwood that ensures durability.
• It weighs 2.67 pounds and has dimensions of 15 x 3.5 x 1.5 inches.
Who is it for?
This is suitable for someone who needs to do shaping, drawing or general smithing works. It can be combined with a cross-peen hammer for excellent results.
It can be used in cold or hot shoes. The faces on the head of the hammer are used for rounding shoes.
The brand:
Diamond is the Royal Kerckhaert Horseshoe Factory’s subdivision which is the biggest independent horse shoemaker in the world since 1906. This product line has items that easily mingles with the renowned designs of Europe. Introduction of new options has been possible because of the vision and expertise of Kerckhaert.
Pricing and purchase:
This amazing hammer is available at Amazon at a great price with free shipping. Keeping in mind the brand and the quality, this is worth an investment that would last longer.
Pros:
• If you want a custom made hammer, you should go for this one which is less costly and will make you feel that buying it was really worth it.
• It is the perfect go-to hammer for petty blacksmith works.
• It is made of superior quality steel and does forging very well.
• The handle is properly and tightly fitted into the head. To ensure that it doesn’t loosen while working. the handle is locked in the head with a steel ring.
Cons:
• You may have to sand the rounded face in order to remove certain lines around its outline, if any, for better results.
• In case you do not like the appearance of its handle, you can sand off the coating and coat it with boiled linseed oil.
Alternatives:
If you want to get a cheaper alternative, then you can try Mustad rounding hammer which is sturdy and durable and comes at a lesser price.
My opinion:
I would definitely opt for the Diamond Farrier Rounding Hammer because it is a renowned brand that ensures quality and longevity. So it will be worth an investment. You can also opt for the cheaper alternative when the budget is a constraint.
Best Hammer Sets: by Goplus Tools
Features:
• This kit is made of superior quality heads that have high durability.
• It has textured handles that can be easily used.
• In this set, you will get 2 ball peen hammers one of which is 16oz and the other is 32 oz, a 32 oz rubber mallet, a sledgehammer weighing 3 lb and a cross-peen hammer of the same weight.
Who is it for?
• This set is perfect for someone who is involved in delicate as well as heavy duty jobs.
• You can change the shape of metal surfaces, make the edges of metal pins rounded and do riveting with the ball peen hammer.
• If you need to stamp the mortar beds, or in case you are working with timber, softer metals or tiles, then you can do that with a rubber mallet.
• The Sledge Hammer is suitable for construction and demolition works.
• You can strike, shape and bend the softer metals pr blocks, bricks, and stones using the cross-peen hammer.
Pricing and Purchase:
The set is available in Amazon just for $51.99 with free shipping which is the best investment you can ever make to own all these tools.
Pros:
• Forged and polished steel has been used for making the heads of these hammers which is suitable for accomplishing delicate as well as extensive works.
• The non-slippery handle lets you work with ease for longer durations.
• The shock gets absorbed because of the fiberglass that ensures total comfort during a hectic schedule.
My opinion:
I would always opt for this set as it has all the necessary tools that I can ever need and rely on. If you are a blacksmith by profession, this set is a must.
ABN Hammer Set
Features:
• The handles of the hammers are made of fiberglass which absorbs shock.
• The large size of the handles ensures proper grip.
• Carbon forged steel is used for making the heads.
• It includes 2 ball peen hammers of 16 oz and 32 oz, a cross peen hammer and a sledgehammer each of 3 lb and a rubber mallet of 32 oz
Who is it for?
This is a versatile set of hammers in which you can find a perfect sized tool for accomplishing a smaller or a complex job. It doesn’t matter if you need to just smack a place or pound on a piece, you will have the right tools for it.
Pricing and purchase:
This hammer set is available at a reasonable price in Amazon. It is the best hammer set available at this price which one must buy.
Pros:
• There are some hammers which can’t be effectively used for heavy duty jobs, but these tools are quite sturdy and reliable and their handles won’t break or heads won’t get loosened when you are doing any work.
• When you are working for long periods, you won’t be tired because it has comfortable grips which are oil resistant and can be cleaned with ease.
• The sizes of the tool are so perfect that you can easily access the areas which are difficult to reach.
Alternative hammer set:
If you solely need to have a ball peen hammer set and have a budget constraint too, then the Neiko Hammer ball peen set of 5 hammers is the perfect alternative you can have. The hammers in this set have a soft grip handles which are made of fiberglass, that are easy to handle and long lasting too.
But if you want to own a set having all different types of the hammer and can afford a little higher price then you can get the Goplus hammer set.
My opinion:
This set has all the tools which you can use for various purposes. So I will definitely go for it, especially when it is available at such an exciting price.
Major Types:
There are different types of blacksmith hammers but you can find the right one for yourself depending on your work. There is a different kind of hammer suitable for each of the fine decorative works, farrier work or blacksmithing works. The types are based on the following criteria:
1. Shape:
For blacksmithing purposes, you need to choose the hammer depending on its shape which is the major determining factor for shaping metal by smacking it.
2. Style:
There is a style of every type of hammer which you can purchase according to your choice. Some have a flat edge and some have shaped edge. In case of German-styled hammer, the cross peen is in the mid portion of the posterior edge. Similarly, the peen is in the center in case of a Swedish style hammer.
There is a segment that is curved in the upward direction in the French-styled hammers with a straight edge present below the top. In the case of Japanese styles hammer, there is a true hitting face along with a handle that is off centered.
All these hammers basically have the same functionality but you can select the design which best suits your style because not everyone feels comfortable with a particular type of hammer.
3.Weight:
Generally, the weight of a hammer doesn’t matter significantly. If you are a professional blacksmith then you can definitely opt for the heavier hammers but the main thing is the skillfulness in smithing and not the force you exert while doing the work. All you need to have is the control on the hammer and if you are a beginner, you will not be comfortable at handling heavier ones, so better go for the lighter ones in the initial stage.
When you are smacking the hammer continuously for 2-4 hours, its weight and your control of it will help in accomplishing what you want. It should have enough weight that it lands down with sufficient force.
So, these are the best blacksmith hammers which you can purchase from Amazon. But you have to first decide which one you need, the one that is suitable for you as per your requirements, and your profession, i.e whether blacksmithing is just your interest or your everyday job.
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