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Cutting a full size Sledge to make a drilling hammer

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pastro

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Apr 8, 2024
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I saw this asked many years ago and there was a ton of answers that punished the OP. So at the risk of incurring the same treatment, I do have a similar question.
I need a drilling hammer that is at least a 10 lb sledge. At the local big box store they sell 4 lb ones and on the online big box there is a large shipping charge. So, I'd like to cut down one from a local store. But, the handles are fiberglass. Anyone have an idea if fiberglass handles are hollow? I suspect they aren't, but wanted to reach out if anyone has done this already.
 
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pastro

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PCustoms said:
Several 16" handle options:



hammersource.com

10 lb Steel Sledge Hammer with 16" wood handle

100's of Hammers for Industry, Trades and Hobbyists! Blacksmith Hammers and Tongs. Framing Hammers. Brass Hammers, Copper Hammers and Aluminum Hammers.
hammersource.com hammersource.com



Wood handles that could be cut down:




Click to expand...
Appreciate the reply. I did see the couple of hammers you mentioned. I was being frugal to not spend quite so much. One hammer had a delivery fee of ~$40 that I had looked at previously. The best value is the one you listed though for $55. Again, thanks for the reply.
 
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Spareparts

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Garage Sales, Flea Markets, 10lb. hammers are to heavy for most people so they go cheap, and yes on NOT cutting
the fiberglass handles they splinter real bad, wood is better. Another Hint told to me by the older generation
Never Paint Handles, Paint contains Lead.
 
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pastro

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Spareparts said:
Garage Sales, Flea Markets, 10lb. hammers are to heavy for most people so they go cheap, and yes on NOT cutting
the fiberglass handles they splinter real bad, wood is better. Another Hint told to me by the older generation
Never Paint Handles, Paint contains Lead.
Click to expand...
Ah good to know about fiberglass handles. I going to find a hickory one and cut that.
thanks
 
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egdede

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^^^ My favorite hammer is my 'engineer's hammer' which is a 3 - 5 lb head on a 12" handle. I can wack the **** out of anything. I wouldn't hesitate to use it with an old star drill except that old star drills ****. I can't imagine swinging a 10lb head on a one-handed hammer. Maybe the OP iOS John Henry and I am a mere Giligan. : )
 
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pastro

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PCustoms said:
Pretty sure lead paint has been banned for a while....



I can't imagine swinging a 10lb hammer on a 16" handle. Why?
Click to expand...
Limestone boulders in the ground. You have to hit the **** out of it to get anywhere.
My jack hammer gets the job done, but you have to really want to use it to get it out.
I took the sledge off my old 12" hammer when the handle broke and put it on a 3 foot handle. That was 11 lbs. Used to work pretty good for breaking up rocks in the ground.
Maybe I'll downsize to 8 but less than that, I think will just be exercise and not rock breaking
 
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neophyte

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Spareparts said:
Garage Sales, Flea Markets, 10lb. hammers are to heavy for most people so they go cheap, and yes on NOT cutting
the fiberglass handles they splinter real bad, wood is better. Another Hint told to me by the older generation
Never Paint Handles, Paint contains Lead.
Click to expand...
Most modern paint dies not contain lead, with the exception of certain industrial paints, restoration paints, specialty artists paints, and crappy paints from 3rd world countries.
Further, the likelihood of the paint poisoning you thru your skin is minimal.
As long as you don’t inhale or eat lead paint chips you will be fine.
 
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2oolhound

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The math works like this: Hit it 30 times with a 5lb hammer or hit it 10 times with a 10lb hammer (or something like that).

Most of us can swing a 2 LB hammer for 10 minutes. Do it everyday and in a couple weeks your up to a 3 LB, next a 4 LB. Eventually you'll be swinging a 10 LB-er. Trouble is most of us have diversified interests that don't include devoting so much time into swinging hammers so it's hard to maintain the ability.

I commend anyone for attempting this type of activity though. Case in point, an acquaintance used to be a blacksmith, machinist, welder type but in his later years enjoys jewelry making type work because it's easier and a cleaner activity. His shop sits abandoned. I'm taking up all the things he's giving up and he's doing the opposite so needless to say we don't hang out together so much. I saw him the other day and was shocked. His shoulders have shrunk to skeletal proportions and he's all hunched over from bending over tiny objects that he works with his finger tips like a squirrel.

The Morrow of the story is - Doing hard work keeps you young. This is why young people spend time and money going to the gym. Now get back to work!
 
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Spareparts

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Yes "Most" paint does not containe Lead, but when I was told about the lead it was in the 60's, Old hammers still have
old paint. The work I do in my shop I always have cuts and abrasions on my hands. But don't worry about it I will
just read and keep my mouth shut until it gets to the point it is not interesting then I will just shut it off.
 
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WildBill

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I've never heard of a drilling hammer until today. I am only 52 though, still a spring chicken compared to a bunch of you guys. I don't think I want to need one though, my chit is sore enough every morning without doing something involving one of those.
 
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RTM

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WildBill said:
I've never heard of a drilling hammer until today.
Click to expand...
I met one for the first time at about 30 and it's my favorite hammer for so many tasks where you need to hit something with a little precision. I was whacking chisels to take up a hard tile floor and now I used to drive tent pegs etc etc where the two-handed swing of a small sledge is too much.
 
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ihateminimumwage

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Sawed off sledges are used in heavy equipment for knocking out pins, and generally making things move or split. I have an 8lb with a 12" handle (HF) and a 10lb with an 18" handle (Local farm store buy). The 8lb became my daily use hammer, which will build up some weird muscles on you arms after a couple of years...
 
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jubilee

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There was a guy, in the small town where I grew up, that would set a 12 lb. sledge by his right foot, handle came up to just above his knee.
He would grasp the end of handle with right hand, swing sledge up, touch his nose with sledge, then slowly lower sledge to floor.

He worked on the drilling rigs in the oilfield where there were plenty 12lb. sledge hammers. To see him do it cost pint of whiskey.
 
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Walkers

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pastro said:
I saw this asked many years ago and there was a ton of answers that punished the OP. So at the risk of incurring the same treatment, I do have a similar question.
I need a drilling hammer that is at least a 10 lb sledge. At the local big box store they sell 4 lb ones and on the online big box there is a large shipping charge. So, I'd like to cut down one from a local store. But, the handles are fiberglass. Anyone have an idea if fiberglass handles are hollow? I suspect they aren't, but wanted to reach out if anyone has done this already.
Click to expand...
It would be far easier to simply tell us what you want to do. Are you wanting to actually drill with star drills, or are you wanting to use this as a demo hammer? I can guarantee that whatever your plans it has been done before by several guys here.
 
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pastro

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Walkers said:
It would be far easier to simply tell us what you want to do. Are you wanting to actually drill with star drills, or are you wanting to use this as a demo hammer? I can guarantee that whatever your plans it has been done before by several guys here.
Click to expand...
I end up digging a lot of holes that are say 2ft deep by 3 ft diameter. The first 6"s are dirt, the rest is limestone. I used to break this up with a drilling hammer and that works ok. I own plenty of small sledges of the 2 -3 lb variety that don't do much. I mentioned that I also own a jack hammer, but it is very heavy to get out and use and especially if the surface is on a hill.
 
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speed bump

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I've cut a few hammers down but a 10lb one isn't really my shoulders favorite idea for hand steeling. Cut whatever handle down and tape up the end. My guess is you'll want a 4lb hammer soon enough.
 
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Robinson1

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What you’re describing is common to find on heavy equipment service trucks. Heck I’ve seen 20 pound sledges with 18 inches or so of gas pipe welded in for a handle. You can’t swing a full length handle under a dozer and track pins don’t come out easily. Those tools will separate the men from the boys.

I’ve got something similar to what you want with an 8 pound head. Great for setting form stakes.

Just buy a wood handles hammer and cut it down
 
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pastro

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RTM said:
Hmmmm, suspiciously sized from the CSI mind set. 😜. I suppose you could be planting trees in those too.
Click to expand...
haha. Yeah I suppose I should clarify. Planting trees, bushes, etc that come in 15-30 gallon containers.
 
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2oolhound

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pastro said:
I mentioned that I also own a jack hammer, but it is very heavy to get out and use and especially if the surface is on a hill.
Click to expand...
For jack hammering rock on an angle we used to slap a small tripod together and hang the jackhammer from it. You could position the legs so the jackhammer was leaning in a bit. You could work at 90' or any angle effortlessly (if there is such a thing when jackhammering).
 
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wssix99

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Here's what you want from Amazon with free delivery: https://www.amazon.com/Sledge-Hammer-Fiberglass-Handle-HMFSL-10SP/dp/B0752S5DG8?tag=atomicindus08-20

Where do you live? Are there any stone mason's supplies near you? Is anyone building a cathedral or pyramid near by?

pastro said:
I saw this asked many years ago and there was a ton of answers that punished the OP.
Click to expand...
I would never criticize the purchase of a tool.

However... it sounds like the work you are about to perform is best left for prisoners.

1606667225905-reallyhot01.gif
 
O

ocelotltum

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Kentucky
pastro said:
Limestone boulders in the ground. You have to hit the **** out of it to get anywhere.
My jack hammer gets the job done, but you have to really want to use it to get it out.
I took the sledge off my old 12" hammer when the handle broke and put it on a 3 foot handle. That was 11 lbs. Used to work pretty good for breaking up rocks in the ground.
Maybe I'll downsize to 8 but less than that, I think will just be exercise and not rock breaking
Click to expand...
I used a splitting maul to break up limestone in a barn for a root cellar. The maul and splitting wedges produced the sought-after results plus garden curb stones.
 
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