Re shaping body hammers

[Kielbasavw]

Any tricks of the trade to get a body hammer back into even shape after someone ruined them?

Bought a couple hammers that have an Un even crown and quite rough.

The only thing I can come up with is belt sander with constant and consistent movement.

 

[jakemac]

That's how I restore the used ones I buy at sales. Then I finish them off with an angled die grinder with scotchpad rotolocs. You need a steady hand and a good eye.

 

[TommyK]

Check out MP&C's fabrication thread. I believe he gives some tips on this subject.

 

[jim]

I just got done redoing 3 body shop hammers that I bought at a garage sale. I used an assortment of files and sand paper to get all the nicks out. Some were very deep and took quite awhile. Tried to follow the original shape of the hammer. Do you think a grinder will be too much? Do you have a link to that thread you were talking about. Jim

 

[gungatim]

I have one good pexto I bought used after I got the HF set. it was so nice, I re-did the HF hammers to be close.

I used files, sander, and then buffed on the buffer to a really smooth polished surface. the hammers weren't too bad, but it made a HUGE difference on the body dollies...

just take your time and don't overheat them...

edit: will add that I did not use a grinder as the faces really are not flat, so it is hard to get the contour. with the belt sander I used the loose flexible space at the end between the roller and the flat plate...then by hand with sand paper like putting chalk on a pool cue stick.

 

[Kielbasavw]

The hammers I'm wanting to refinish someone took them to a grinder of some sort, ruined the shape and quite Un even on the crown. I bought them on ebay from some lady she listed them as brand new. What I recieved was obviously not. She insisted that they came that way from factory and I am suppose to shape them to what ever shape I want (wtf? Haha)
Contacted sh industries (majestic) they agreed that was nonsense. So I mentioned to them she was selling more of their products and telling lies about their company.

I also got an email outside of ebay from seller threating to sue me for defamation of character because I left negative feed back. Lol.

As far as sandpaper and files go these things are a little too out of whack to start that way. I need to make a whole new shape on parts of them. The slack of a belt sander seems the best way to me for that. Just wondering if there were any other tricks.

 

[creativecars]

Its kinda hard to tell with the pics, but I think they are new. Brand new very cheap hammers. Sorry, but they look like less than Harbor Freight quality instead of being an abused quality hammer.

 

[Kielbasavw]

They are not new. I have handled majestic hammers before. They make quality stuff. Made in usa. This are currently worse then horrible freight beca use someone took em to a grinding wheel. And a very coarse belt sander

 

[Kielbasavw]

Here is a snap on hammer I bought "new condition" which quite obviously isn't the case. Luckily the cases were just very rought, buy crown even all the way around. No re shaping needed just a polish

 

[creativecars]

The snapon hammers are a nice forged piece and can benefit from just a little finishing to clean them up a bit.
The other hammers look to be a cheap casting with a wide cast line. Do you think someone would grind up the faces, then repaint the black part without damaging the handles or even the wedge is placed?
Maybe a Majestic knock off?

 

[Strouty]

Please share the username, so no one else ends up buying anything from them! That is just awful, were they cheap enough that you want to keep them? Ebay/Paypal will get you your money back if you want.

 

[Kielbasavw]

$35 for the pair. I'm still contemplating sending them back with a claim through paypal. She won't reimburse any shipping cost. Which is bs on her false advertising, and non sense lie and story.

Creative car.... that snap on was not a snap on finish.. neither is the majestic. And who the hell would knock off a hammer not too many know about. That's just non sense. Your way of thinking, I think you may be related to the ebay seller.

 

[Strouty]

I would file a snaid and say they are not new, you will win and the return shipping should be covered. Seems like a lot of work for those hammers.

 

[creativecars]

$35 for the pair. I'm still contemplating sending them back with a claim through paypal. She won't reimburse any shipping cost. Which is bs on her false advertising, and non sense lie and story.

Creative car.... that snap on was not a snap on finish.. neither is the majestic. And who the hell would knock off a hammer not too many know about. That's just non sense. Your way of thinking, I think you may be related to the ebay seller.

Knock offs happen all the time or just somebody trying to make an easy buck by repackaging. A bit odd you say I may be related to the seller, you really don't know me. I was just trying to save you from your self. Have a good day.

 

[Kielbasavw]

Haha okay

 

[Hammer1963]

The hammers I'm wanting to refinish someone took them to a grinder of some sort, ruined the shape and quite Un even on the crown. I bought them on ebay from some lady she listed them as brand new. What I recieved was obviously not. She insisted that they came that way from factory and I am suppose to shape them to what ever shape I want (wtf? Haha)
Contacted sh industries (majestic) they agreed that was nonsense. So I mentioned to them she was selling more of their products and telling lies about their company.

I also got an email outside of ebay from seller threating to sue me for defamation of character because I left negative feed back. Lol.

As far as sandpaper and files go these things are a little too out of whack to start that way. I need to make a whole new shape on parts of them. The slack of a belt sander seems the best way to me for that. Just wondering if there were any other tricks.

I hate to say it, but they are probably NOS Majestic hammers. I have seen some very crude Majestic and Streamline body tools that were new. Send them to me. Seriously. I'll take care of them for you at no cost. If you doubt my sincerety or ability, research my post history. I can repair, refinish, restore or fabricate from scratch any body hammer you'd like. Yes it is an odd hobby but I enjoy it.

 

[Kielbasavw]

I have handled 3 different majestic hammers and they had a very good finish. I also contacted sh industries and they said it would have never left the factory that way. Also they laquer coat the faces when finished. These are obviously not coated. Well except for the surface rust.

Thanks for the offer. I may take you up on that if I decide I can't figure it out myself. I like doing stuff on my own, I just don't currently own a belt sander that has a slack section.

 

[zakmartin]

I was using some terrible, TERRIBLE Bondo body hammers and dollies up until about 3 years ago, when I made a point of picking up one new body tool a month.

Now I have a full set of Martin body hammers, dollies and spoons. Expensive as hell to buy everything separately, but holy moly, they're nice pieces.

One of the Bondo hammers got re-purposed as a meat tenderizer my wife likes to use when she's making Veal Parmesan.

 

[Kielbasavw]

Found some free time. And my old hand held belt sander. Flipped it over on the bench and zip tied the trigger. Worked good enough. Then hand finished 100-150-220-320-400 wet

 

[Brians VWss]

Those turned out nice

 

[d.mcfarland]

Much better now.

 

[Kielbasavw]

Thanks. I put a little bit larger crown on the round face since all my others are shallow. That little hand held Rigid belt sander did get quite hot at times. Had to give it multiple breaks

 

[afazz]

Very nice!

 

[pacemade]

good work!