Old hammers need handles

[John Timmins]

I have 3 hammer heads that need handles. Two came from my grandparents shed; the other my friend found. I think I have found handles that might need an little bit of sanding to fit and wedge although I don't know if they will be the correct length. Two are ball peen and one is a claw I believe the claw could be 80-100 years old. It is small. I will post pictures

When I research are hammer heads are they described by weight or are they also categorized by size ? Or were there no standards....just what the manufacturer made for specific use like for shoe repair or small woodworking like picture frame making ?

Are the eyes for the handle standard ? The two ball peen are oval and the claw hammer is rectangular.

The claw hammer says Philadelphia Tool Company in a cursive font. It is 3 1/2 inches long.

The larger ball peen ( 12-16 oz. ?) says True Temper and I think there's a 2 under that with others stuff I can't read.

The small ball peen (maybe 8 oz. ?) has no writing. I believe it could have come from a car tool kit. My dad said early cars came with some tools.

 

[Davefr]

Based on my experience, there are no standards when it comes to hammer sockets. You just need to find a handle end that's at least as big as the socket and fine tune the fit. A belt sander works well.

I'd try and get the length and profile as close as you can.

Unfortunately it's getting real hard to find good quality wood handles in B&M these days. I think Ace H/W is about the only source left.

I buy old stock hickory wood handles when ever I see them at g-sales.

 

[John Timmins]

Here are some pictures

 

[PacificaVette]

Try these guys---they'll probably have just what you need.

https://www.househandle.com/

 

[John Timmins]

Thanks for that web site. I have not found out much about the Philadelphia Tool Company. It was bought out by Plumb.- year unknown. I believe that claw hammer head is about 100 years old.

 

[driftpin]

Drill some holes in that stump remaining in the claw hammer before you look for a replacement handle. Since the handle inserts from the bottom, drive it-out from the top. Put it across the jaws of your bench vise, and use a 1/2" socket extension to drive it out with a baby sledge.

 

[John Timmins]

The ball peen heads have holes which pretty much fit the new handles I ordered. After some gentle sanding and fitting, maybe some filing, I will get them together with a wedge.

The claw hammer handle has a rectangular end that can shaped to fit but the handle is too fat and long. I might return it and get another small oval end like the ball peen handles but I will have to epoxy the void around the end of the handle and the steel .

what is good epoxy for hammer handles ?

 

[lilredex]

A little more detail on changing hammer handles...

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=400171

 

[gungatim]

The ball peen heads have holes which pretty much fit the new handles I ordered. After some gentle sanding and fitting, maybe some filing, I will get them together with a wedge.

The claw hammer handle has a rectangular end that can shaped to fit but the handle is too fat and long. I might return it and get another small oval end like the ball peen handles but I will have to epoxy the void around the end of the handle and the steel .

what is good epoxy for hammer handles ?

I just use JB weld. tap in a wedge and fill any voids then wire it off. I've never had real good luck just using wedges alone, i'm sure it's an art but I find if I put epoxy on the handle, put it on wedge it, then fill it up, the head never moves again.

PS. I have, in the past, made handles from firewood fairly successfully, but recently had an epiphany when I saw a bunch of used baseball bats at a yard sale for 25cents apiece. they were beat up, chips out of them, etc. but awesome hard wood (Ash?)

now I make handles for the dozen sledge hammer heads and miscellaneous ball peins that seem to constantly multiply in my shop out of used baseball bats. it helps if you have a bandsaw and decent spokeshave but even if you just square it up and hand sand it to shape they make really strong handles for peanuts...

 

[6PTsocket]

I have 3 hammer heads that need handles. Two came from my grandparents shed; the other my friend found. I think I have found handles that might need an little bit of sanding to fit and wedge although I don't know if they will be the correct length. Two are ball peen and one is a claw I believe the claw could be 80-100 years old. It is small. I will post pictures



When I research are hammer heads are they described by weight or are they also categorized by size ? Or were there no standards....just what the manufacturer made for specific use like for shoe repair or small woodworking like picture frame making ?



Are the eyes for the handle standard ? The two ball peen are oval and the claw hammer is rectangular.



The claw hammer says Philadelphia Tool Company in a cursive font. It is 3 1/2 inches long.



The larger ball peen ( 12-16 oz. ?) says True Temper and I think there's a 2 under that with others stuff I can't read.



The small ball peen (maybe 8 oz. ?) has no writing. I believe it could have come from a car tool kit. My dad said early cars came with some tools.

Knowing the weight of the heads, google. ** oz. Ball peen hammer or ** oz claw hammer and see what the specs are for similar ones. There is no standard but at least you will get a feel for what the length typically is for that size head. Then you can do whatever suits you

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[tibwd]

Newly handled hammers , sledges, axes, hatchets and the like are a pleasure to use, since you have resurrected them from the scrap heap. If you have a fire going, easy way to rid the hammer head of a broken handle stub= throw it in the fire, it burns out wihout any effort.....Plenty of how to vids on utube for hanging a new handle, also using glue or not, and treating the handle with boiled linseed oil (blo) good luck - Tom

 

[redheelerdog]

Hammer handle... sorry, I just had to