Ball peen question

[bchee]

I keep reading that ball peen hammers are good for punches and chisels.

Are you supposed to hit the punch with the round face of the hammer?

 

[lbgradwell]

The round face is intended for "peening" rivets or shaping metal.

 

[superautobacs]

I keep reading that ball peen hammers are good for punches and chisels.

Are you supposed to hit the punch with the round face of the hammer?

Wouldn't that be a bit dangerous

Using a ball/cross peen for a punch has never crossed my mind.

 

[gReves]

I keep reading that ball peen hammers are good for punches and chisels.

Are you supposed to hit the punch with the round face of the hammer?

5,000 post counts and you ask how to use a hammer?

 

[Joe B.]

Oh, be nice. The round end is kind of pointless considering not many people peen rivets anymore.

I just use a big rock.

 

[xstubsx]

i was told that you can use the round part for making gaskets.

 

[Flange]

The round end is kind of pointless considering not many people peen rivets anymore

I do. OK the last time was about 3 months ago but they are cool fasteners in the right situation. Also, anyone who works on old stuff must need to use snap rivets now and then.

I was told you can use the round part for making gaskets

I have seen that done also but it is a bit too brutal on the part you are making the gasket for for my liking.

 

[blue dog]

Yes, in the future please use the round end of a 32 oz ball peen hammer to smack the punch that you are holding and make sure to video tape it and post it here so people will know the proper usage.
Oh, and happy holidays.

 

[billymade]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball-peen_hammer

 

[nw2571]

You guys are brutal!

Obviously you wouldn't want to use the rounded end to hit a chisel. But, I've always been told that claw hammers always have a slight crown to the face, which aids in driving nails (their intended purpose). Where as the flat face on a ball peen hammer is truly flat.

I've also heard that they heat treat the heads differently between ball peen and claw hammers. Ball peen hammers tend to be a little softer and less brittle. This makes them more suited for shaping metals, which is their intended purpose. Does anybody know for sure?

 

[littlekillertoad]

I keep reading that ball peen hammers are good for punches and chisels.

Are you supposed to hit the punch with the round face of the hammer?

If you mean the peening end, no. You'll probably hurt yourself.
Just use the face of the hammer.

 

[woody 73]

Man you guys are a tough crowd tonight! If you have a wooden mold shaped like a dish,you can place a sheet of metal over the mold and peen the metal disk into a bowl or whatever shape your mold looks like!
I know today they have computer classes,but in my day (just after the War of 1812) we used to take copper sheets and make bowls.

I have never heard of hitting a punch or chisel with the peen end but who knows what they teach young kids these days?

 

[wornoutoldman]

i was told that you can use the round part for making gaskets.

I must be using my hammers incorrectly. I've made lots of gaskets using the other (flat) side. I'll have to try the right way next time!

 

[lbgradwell]

5,000 post counts and you ask how to use a hammer?

You don't seem to realize that just because someone is a long-time member does not imply that they are a machinist or mechanic by trade. The OP might be a carpenter and never have even handled a ball peen hammer. Or he might be a computer programmer (or whatever) and handled very few tools period, but is interested in the history of tools, etc.

In any case, your reply was harsh & unnecessary.

 

[gReves]

You don't seem to realize that just because someone is a long-time member does not imply that they are a machinist or mechanic by trade. The OP might be a carpenter and never have even handled a ball peen hammer. Or he might be a computer programmer (or whatever) and handled very few tools period, but is interested in the history of tools, etc.

In any case, your reply was harsh & unnecessary.

Dont get your panites in a bunch. It was meant to be humerous

 

[PCO6]

... The round end is kind of pointless ...

No it's not. The round end makes the other end heavier so you know which end to hit things with.

 

[DavidB]

Who makes a good ball peen hammer these days? I assume, that like anything else, cheap manufacturing has found a way to turn out bad ones.

 

[Joe B.]

Who makes a good ball peen hammer these days? I assume, that like anything else, cheap manufacturing has found a way to turn out bad ones.

Vaughn, (I think all Craftsman ave Vaughn)
Estwing
Snap~on

All of the usual hammer suspects.

 

[plinker]

From the Red Green show;

And here we have a ball peen hammer.....I guess this is a ball on this end, and uh, a peen on the other.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

You guys are brutal!

Obviously you wouldn't want to use the rounded end to hit a chisel. But, I've always been told that claw hammers always have a slight crown to the face, which aids in driving nails (their intended purpose). Where as the flat face on a ball peen hammer is truly flat.

I've also heard that they heat treat the heads differently between ball peen and claw hammers. Ball peen hammers tend to be a little softer and less brittle. This makes them more suited for shaping metals, which is their intended purpose. Does anybody know for sure?

I think you are correct on both counts. The ball peen's flat face is most likely to be used to hit a punch, chisel, or other piece of hard steel. It would chip, causing dangerous flying chips, if it were as hard as the chisel or punch, so being a little softer is probably a good thing. A claw hammer is designed to hit nails, which are relatively soft steel, and thus, the harder face, and slightly rounded to allow for striking when not perfectly square, is ideal for this purpose. Never use a claw hammer to strike a steel punch or chisel, that is dangerous, as something will probably chip.

Charles

 

[Underdog]

I do. OK the last time was about 3 months ago but they are cool fasteners in the right situation. Also, anyone who works on old stuff must need to use snap rivets now and then.



I have seen that done also but it is a bit too brutal on the part you are making the gasket for for my liking.

Gasket making using a ball peen hammer works great, just use a small one and tap-tap-tap. You don't want to hit hard, just enough to cut the gasket.

 

[bchee]

This is from wikipedia:
"Though the process of peening has become rarer in metal fabrication, the ball-peen hammer remains useful for many tasks, such as striking punches and chisels."

 

[bchee]

I've also heard that they heat treat the heads differently between ball peen and claw hammers. Ball peen hammers tend to be a little softer and less brittle. This makes them more suited for shaping metals, which is their intended purpose. Does anybody know for sure?

I think you are correct on both counts. The ball peen's flat face is most likely to be used to hit a punch, chisel, or other piece of hard steel. It would chip, causing dangerous flying chips, if it were as hard as the chisel or punch, so being a little softer is probably a good thing. A claw hammer is designed to hit nails, which are relatively soft steel, and thus, the harder face, and slightly rounded to allow for striking when not perfectly square, is ideal for this purpose. Never use a claw hammer to strike a steel punch or chisel, that is dangerous, as something will probably chip.

Charles

This is what I was wondering about, the make up of the steel.
Cheap stores sell both claw and ball hammers, and I would be surprised if they use a different kind of steel.
So how do you tell the difference.
Can I trust the $15 harbor freight set to be a softer metal?
I'm not sure I've ever seen a ball peen advertised as "softer metal" suitable for shaping harder steel.

 

[nw2571]

This is what I was wondering about, the make up of the steel.
Cheap stores sell both claw and ball hammers, and I would be surprised if they use a different kind of steel.
So how do you tell the difference.

Just like everything else in life, you get what you pay for.

One thought would be to use something like an awl to scratch the metal. A softer steel should scratch more easily. Of course you'd have to calibrate yourself somehow against a "good" hammer. You'd also have to be willing to scratch a hammer at a store to know for sure!

My suggestion, if you think you need a quality hammer buy a quality hammer based on reviews, reputation, etc.

 

[Eric Commarato]

A ball peen hammer similar to a dead blow mallet has a "concentrated head" unlike a claw hammer which has an unsymmetrical head because of the claws. A ball peen hammer can place a more concentrated impact on a punch.

 

[ajchien]

I think you are correct on both counts. The ball peen's flat face is most likely to be used to hit a punch, chisel, or other piece of hard steel. It would chip, causing dangerous flying chips, if it were as hard as the chisel or punch, so being a little softer is probably a good thing. A claw hammer is designed to hit nails, which are relatively soft steel, and thus, the harder face, and slightly rounded to allow for striking when not perfectly square, is ideal for this purpose. Never use a claw hammer to strike a steel punch or chisel, that is dangerous, as something will probably chip.

Charles

Huh. Maybe that's why it always felt better to use my cross peen on a chisel, but not my claw. I just thought my claw was too light.

 

[airdale]

I think you are correct on both counts. The ball peen's flat face is most likely to be used to hit a punch, chisel, or other piece of hard steel. It would chip, causing dangerous flying chips, if it were as hard as the chisel or punch, so being a little softer is probably a good thing. A claw hammer is designed to hit nails, which are relatively soft steel, and thus, the harder face, and slightly rounded to allow for striking when not perfectly square, is ideal for this purpose. Never use a claw hammer to strike a steel punch or chisel, that is dangerous, as something will probably chip.

Charles

Correct! Haven't looked lately, but it used to be common to see a warning on claw hammers something to the effect: "Do not use for striking metal/tools".
I like Plumb ball peens (different company than Plomb). Ball peen hammer is tougher steel. Steel toughness and softness/hardness are not necessarily a linear relationship ie. different alloys can be heat treated to the same hardness but have different toughness.
Look at garage sales. You'll find a lot of uses for one as others have mentioned. (You must have a sloppy pliers laying around just waiting for a little peening on the rivet?) Seriously, they come in many different weights, and you can choke up on the handle for more accurate/delicate metal work. That and a small anvil = more fun!

 

[Vicegrip]

Chisels and punches are only fully hardened on the work end or they would chip when struck as well. Note that the struck ends mushroom out. Hardened through and through steel is hard strike as it rings back too hard. The peen end is handy when setting tight a still hot tack weld on an overlap type joint. If the tack leaves a gap a tap or two sets things tight for the stitch work.

 

[Vinko]

I picked up a Peddinghaus from here:

http://www.piehtoolco.com/contents/en-us/d658.html

I probably use a punch up to 300 times a day on hard metals, and the Peddinghaus hammers have been really good. I bought their 2000g engineers hammer as well. A total beast.

All reasonable pricing for being made in Germany (And I think some of the line in France).

 

[turkdc]

Kind of off topic, but when I was a kid, I thought it was called a ball ***** hammer... Slight misunderstanding...

 

[Coach James]

I think you are correct on both counts. The ball peen's flat face is most likely to be used to hit a punch, chisel, or other piece of hard steel. It would chip, causing dangerous flying chips, if it were as hard as the chisel or punch, so being a little softer is probably a good thing. A claw hammer is designed to hit nails, which are relatively soft steel, and thus, the harder face, and slightly rounded to allow for striking when not perfectly square, is ideal for this purpose. Never use a claw hammer to strike a steel punch or chisel, that is dangerous, as something will probably chip.

Charles

On American Chopper, Paulie Jr would use a claw hammer to hit chisels all the time so it must be ok. He is a genius after all, and the greatest motorcycle designer/fabricator in the history of the human race.






Coach

 

[airbuff101]

This is what I was wondering about, the make up of the steel.
Cheap stores sell both claw and ball hammers, and I would be surprised if they use a different kind of steel.
So how do you tell the difference.
Can I trust the $15 harbor freight set to be a softer metal?
I'm not sure I've ever seen a ball peen advertised as "softer metal" suitable for shaping harder steel.

Bchee,
I've had hundreds of quality BP hammers go through my hands over the years , New and used, U.S and European. You can be pretty confident of getting a hammer that will serve you well for at least a lifetime just by buying brands that you recognize for the most part.
Most every well known tool brand has offered excellent ones for the last century. If not new then they are easily/cheaply found in piles of old tools ..everywhere. . If no chipping or obvious, abuse they might need a new handle.
8,16,24oz. is a decent range for most folks.

Craftsman professional hickory handled hammers are an excellent, reasonably priced and high quality hammer line if new is preferred.
I just don't pay much attention to HF stuff or similar brands unless I know the OEM. Some of them may be good.
Rob

 

[Chris Adams]

Just generic on hammers in general, cheap hammers are more prone to be too hard rather than too soft.

Great savings in money in building a cheap hammer to over harden cheap steel so it works for awhile before failing.
If you made it out of all soft steel it would deform almost immediately and get returned.
Use soft cheap steel and case harden it and it will last... till it fails.

At swap meet new junk quality hammers sell for lots more than older really high grade hammers. About two to five bucks for a junker, .50 cents to three or four bucks for a plumb or other older quality hammer.
Of course handle damage is common but that ain't rocket science fixing.

 

[tradesmanschoice]

Ball peen hammers are great for knocking holes in brick walls... lol. I guess it's all to do with the concentration of force into a very small area, makes them more effective than a standard flat-faced hammer.

 

[jeejay]

The ball end works better than the average hammer head for breaking apart chunks of ice cubes that are frozen together, so you can get them distributed in the cooler, or that's just me.

 

[notlob]

The ball end works better than the average hammer head for breaking apart chunks of ice cubes that are frozen together, so you can get them distributed in the cooler, or that's just me.

You dredged up a 7 year old thread for this?

 

[jeejay]

Why go out of your way to point out to me that you're **** retentive? It's a freaking tool tip, get over it. And why stop there... most tools have been around since before networks, so go ahead and complain that the hammer was too old to talk about in the first place.

I keep having to explain that. Why so many date Nazis here? Date Nazis must die (or Surf Nazis... oops, old movie). If the threads were meant to die, they'd have an expiration date. Simple as that. Might have been anyway... ball peen hammers are so controversial.

 

[T45]

You dredged up a 7 year old thread for this?

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6613106&postcount=31

How can talking about hammers sound like trolling? Is there a keebler elf in your brain narrating what I wrote... oh well, I'm not checking the date ever (unless it's a box of crackers).

Just throwing the troll comment in there for no good reason sounds more like trolling, literally (shouldn't that be outdated by now). Anything can be entertaining though, knock yourselves out (as if hammers weren't exciting enough).

don't feed the troll

 

[mbshop]

Since chisels have been brought up, please make sure that things that are struck such as chisels, pawls, screwdrivers, etc that get a curl on the sides be kept dressed so there are no curls. Your eyes and other parts of your body will thank you.

 

[jeejay]

don't feed the troll

Oh yeah, everyone who commented about hammers after me commenting about a hammer was trolling, and the date nazis were not. This must be dry (stale) humor, at best.