Hammer time!

[GX460DIYguy]

Found this head in the bottom of a bucket in grandpas shed. It was covered pretty bad with rust and the only thing I’ve been able to make out so far is the 16 on the top and bottom of the head. There was a safety goggle warning on the side but it’s been pretty much worn off. Any ideas on the maker?


Also found this curved claw. The handle and the rectangle opening at the top filled with red epoxy leads me to say it’s a plumb, but not sure if others copied that style. Found out that when the ranch was enduring lean years my great grandfather worked as at a lumber yard in town and did carpentry jobs to pay the bills. He also built the house they lived in for over 50 years.

 

[Beerhippie]

^ Not you.. . I was referring to @GX460DIYguy 's new acquisition.... I don't think you'd want to be swinging 40 ounces of ball peen with a sketchy handle.

Aw, pull yer shirttails out and live a little!

What happens to coworkers is their responsibility.

 

[GX460DIYguy]

Aw, pull yer shirttails out and live a little!

What happens to coworkers is their responsibility.

It’s home is out at the ranch so my coworker is my dad. Sometimes I’d like to have 40 ounces of metal flying at him

 

[GX460DIYguy]

Also, I was surprised to see a snap on 48oz(although in much better condition) go for over $140 a few days ago.

 

[GX460DIYguy]

Found this head in the bottom of a bucket in grandpas shed. It was covered pretty bad with rust and the only thing I’ve been able to make out so far is the 16 on the top and bottom of the head. There was a safety goggle warning on the side but it’s been pretty much worn off. Any ideas on the maker?


Also found this curved claw. The handle and the rectangle opening at the top filled with red epoxy leads me to say it’s a plumb, but not sure if others copied that style. Found out that when the ranch was enduring lean years my great grandfather worked as at a lumber yard in town and did carpentry jobs to pay the bills. He also built the house they lived in for over 50 years.

So as far as the ball peen head, the only old ones I can find that had the weight behind the face like this one is Mac tools. The sides are pretty worn and only very faint markings that can’t be made out are visible along with some gouges. Seeing that I’ve found a few Mac items mixed in with everything else, I’m gonna say I’m 75% sure it’s a very old Mac head. I’m gonna just clean it up as best as I can and throw another handle on it. I need to find a better way to clean stuff up than brass brushes and scouring pads. Might be time to invest in some evaporust and a bench grinder with wire wheels.

 

[Outlawmws]

One pic at that angle doesn't help with ID - just sayin'...

 

[GX460DIYguy]

One pic at that angle doesn't help with ID - just sayin'...

Like I said, there’s really nothing to see on the sides. I’ve looked through a lot of pics from different brands and Mac was the only one that had the weight behind the face of it and the design is pretty similar. I can’t say for certain that it definitely is, but it’s pretty similar.



Here’s a Mac that’s on eBay

 

[GX460DIYguy]

Picked this up recently. I’ve shied away from them just due to the cost, but made a few trades and ended up with a 40oz dead blow.

 

[KnurledNut]

Fresh new handle on this Berylco H60 beryllium copper claw hammer I picked up for $1. Undecided on finish.

 

[fishwatcher]

I just got this little Plomb(?) bell-faced(?) claw hammer. The head cleaned up well with a wire wheel and abrasive radial brush. The head is a little loose. I will try to tighten it up with a little upside down pounding on the bottom of the handle tomorrow or maybe a soak in antifreeze.

 

[Outlawmws]

That one is a PLUMB FW, not a Plvmb. thousands of examples if you look for images, or even their old logo.

 

[KnurledNut]

#Custanite Flex-Flo Safety Hammer

 

[Outlawmws]

Never saw one of those before, even in a post.

 

[genog]

Been on the hunt for vintage handles in nice condition to use on these Craftsman heads
It's been a while now....no luck
So it's about time that I make an order with House Handle

 

[AntiqueBen]

I pulled this hammer out of a toolbox I haven't been through in a while. It weighs exactly 31 oz? Pretty hefty hammer. I need to find the right handle for it though. It looks to be older & is somewhat crude with all the exposed forge marks & octagon shaft. Personally, I like seeing the forge marks. Basically left over evidence of when USA forging was the best. Unfortunately I can't find any manufacturer marks, or any marks or stampings at all. Any ideas?

 

[AreBeeBee]

I had one like it (ReStore item for a few bucks) which had a hatchet handle on it, certainly not the original. I don't do framing, and after de-rusting the head and cleaning up the handle, I redonated it to RS on the catch-and-release principle.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I like my short handled hammers. I use my shorties more than any of the others. I decided to put a short handle on this hammer & it turned out nice. It'll be a nice beater around the shop.

 

[Zippercat]

I like my short handled hammers. I use my shorties more than any of the others. I decided to put a short handle on this hammer & it turned out nice. It'll be a nice beater around the shop.

I’ve never beaten a nice before! Any tips?

 

[Outlawmws]

Picked this up most of a month ago, Cheney Nail starter. 1927 patent. One of these has been on my bucket list - Not practical for day to day use but when yo have a hard to reach spot and can't practically hold a nail while you start it, these can be invaluable. Tap to start, reverse and drive it in:

,

 

[MisterEd]

Snap-on BH-16 with Original Handle.

 

[Patrickm82]

Grabbed these two hammers at estate sales recently. A lixie C in pretty good shape and a shop made machinist hammer with a cool handle. It is all 1/4”, plastic of some sort, disc’s stacked and the bottom unthreads. Someone painted the insides of alternating discs for the colored look

 

[Beerhippie]

Grabbed these two hammers at estate sales recently. A lixie C in pretty good shape and a shop made machinist hammer with a cool handle. It is all 1/4”, plastic of some sort, disc’s stacked and the bottom unthreads. Someone painted the insides of alternating discs for the colored look

A DIY hammer grip of stacked acrylic... that just about screams seventies!

 

[Beerhippie]

Found in the pub parking lot while cleaning up some trash today:



What I'd call an English Pattern head.



Been used a lot for side-nailing.

I wasn't aware that Calumet made hammers. Now I am. I was more familiar with Calumet as a knife company--and, of course, baking powder.

 

[four.cycle]

Calumet / private label brand of Hibbard Spencer Bartlett / marked on claw hammer / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/calumet-hammer.521500/

there's one of those on ebay right now - guy is asking for $110

 

[Beerhippie]

Calumet / private label brand of Hibbard Spencer Bartlett / marked on claw hammer / https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/calumet-hammer.521500/

there's one of those on ebay right now - guy is asking for $110

I found the same catalog, but not that page--thanks!

I'm willing to make someone a great deal! I'll let this one go for the low, low price of $105!

 

[Tchicken]

Folks - is there a general source for old hammer restoration and/or identification somewhere out there? (aside from the many posts here)?

I've a couple old beaters that came from me gramps, he'd a been 118 last month, so they have no markings I can find. We grew up in northern Ohio, lots of manufacturing back when, but I haven't found a place to guide id or fixing them back up. Thanks, sorry for the intrusion

 

[Beerhippie]

Folks - is there a general source for old hammer restoration and/or identification somewhere out there? (aside from the many posts here)?

I've a couple old beaters that came from me gramps, he'd a been 118 last month, so they have no markings I can find. We grew up in northern Ohio, lots of manufacturing back when, but I haven't found a place to guide id or fixing them back up. Thanks, sorry for the intrusion

First thing to do is to clean the sides of the head with some fine steel wool--4-0 is my go-to. This will often reveal markings obscured by many years of dirt and rust. Hammer stampings, as you can see in the many photos above, are often shallow to begin with.

 

[Tchicken]

That's the one I own. A workhorse.

First thing to do is to clean the sides of the head with some fine steel wool--4-0 is my go-to. This will often reveal markings obscured by many years of dirt and rust. Hammer stampings, as you can see in the many photos above, are often shallow to begin with.

I tried that (000) then some Rem Oil with a patch - all I can make out is what seems an inverted V shape on the show side of the heavy ball peen. Gramps probably bought Cleveland made hammers when he lived in Alliance. Thanks will see if something is exposed in the am

 

[Outlawmws]

Nice clear pics of what you have may help, but many hammers are unidentifiable today as there were hundreds if not thousands of sources.

 

[Tchicken]

Thanks - problem is they don't show anything that would appear in a picture .. I was looking for maybe a way to get down to the stampings .. in the old days parking downwind under the foundry stack the remedy was oxalic acid .. like that.

 

[Beerhippie]

Thanks - problem is they don't show anything that would appear in a picture .. I was looking for maybe a way to get down to the stampings .. in the old days parking downwind under the foundry stack the remedy was oxalic acid .. like that.

Nitric acid would be the go-to for revealing worn stampings. It's pretty nasty stuff, but can be dealt with. Look up etching pattern-weld steel.

Many hammers--see my Calumet above--have been pretty severely abused. Mine was obviously used to drive fasteners with the side of the head--a trick for nailing in restricted spaces--which did a good job of nearly obliterating the the stampings. Just the mass of a hammer rattling around in a portable tool box does a lot of damage.

Of all the mechanic's hammers I have in my shop, I think maybe four still have anything resembling legible stampings--many probably never did have anything.

 

[Outlawmws]

Thanks - problem is they don't show anything that would appear in a picture .. I was looking for maybe a way to get down to the stampings .. in the old days parking downwind under the foundry stack the remedy was oxalic acid .. like that.

Occasionally the head shape and design can be ID's back to the Mfg. not always, but this is why you start with good pics from all sides.

 

[GaryM909]

I got this Cheney Hammer about 25 years ago from my uncle when he moved into an old folks home.
It's in pretty good shape including the handle. I never had to clean it up at all.
I leave it in the basement to hammer on paint lids

 

[Beerhippie]

I got this Cheney Hammer about 25 years ago from my uncle when he moved into an old folks home.
It's in pretty good shape including the handle. I never had to clean it up at all.
I leave it in the basement to hammer on paint lids

Oh, gawd, no... just no....

That's what rubber soft-blow hammers are for. I can't count how many ruined near-full gallons of paint I've seen from having the rim dented....

 

[Outlawmws]

I got this Cheney Hammer about 25 years ago from my uncle

I think that's the same model I posted above early last month:

 

[GaryM909]

I think that's the same model I posted above early last month:

I saw that but it didn't dawn on me at the time. I had never checked what brand this hammer was until I was doing some painting a couple days ago when I used the hammer.

 

[kinglukas38]

Small project on the week off, new handles. Had these heads for a little bit now with the larger of the two seeing actual shop use until the handle gave out when it was dropped. Wanted to add the smaller to the shop rotation for less aggressive hammering tasks, so it was a good chance to get both to functional order.
The smaller head is around 150g and the handle is made from the core of a balsam log. Slight concerns about longevity as its soft wood but I really shouldn't be swinging this one too hard.

Large head here comes in around 480g, handle from a hardwood dowel. Some added flair with my stamp burned into the handle butts, unlikely that they walk away in the shop but can't be too careful.

 

[Outlawmws]

Cool hammers, and interesting curves to the handles.

What work do you do with them that the curves help with?

 

[kinglukas38]

Cool hammers, and interesting curves to the handles.

What work do you do with them that the curves help with?

these will be mostly driving punches and pry tools, the curve is just for ergo. Doubles that I don't have to think if I'm using the flat face or rounded face. The first handle I made for the larger head was straight so I figured some curve couldn't hurt this time around.

 

[Eric Brown]

Andrew Hexdall sheet metal hammer. When I bought it, it came with a hand-written note. I typed it out for easier reading.
Patent # 2606468 (Aug 12, 1952). Not on Datamp.org.