Refurbishing a Rawhide face hammer

[Boudin]

The finish on a Vaughn hammer I acquired is flaking off the Rawhide, and I'm wondering what I could use to refurbish it. I've tried searching online with no luck. Any advice?

I tried a brown paste wax to darken the chipped off parts but it just wiped off, and didn't darken the Rawhide.

Should I strip it down and use a Varnish, lacquer, linseed?

What would of been used originally to seal and darken it?

Thanks for any help



Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[organ]

Do you plan on using it ever? I wouldn't bother... it's leather, it ain't gonna last forever...

 

[Boudin]

I will use it, not often. The face is in good shape, even after using it. Just looking for insight on what it may of been coated with originally. These are labeled as made in England for Vaughan. I contacted their customer service to see if they had any info, awaiting response.

As seen in the pics, the barrel of it is chipping off. I'm a little OCD , I just finished polishing my ball peins to a mirror finish.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[turbowoodworker]

No expert here but what about a neatsfoot like oil or a baseball glove oil?

 

[Boudin]

I tried some neatsfoot also, but all I have on hand is Non darkening.

Any guesses to what originally was used to coat the hide?

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[bczygan]

You polished your ball peins??????

That's the problem right there.

All your tools need to be kept in a locked and conditioned vault, to protect from any deterioration whatsoever.

Bill

 

[Boudin]

It was more out of necessity. They had flat spots from the manufacturer. Spent some time sanding/polishing and reshaping to get them right.

I like your idea though

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[gnpenning]

Check your local farm store or saddle shop. They have products made for rawhide.

 

[Packard V8]

As seen in the pics, the barrel of it is chipping off. I'm a little OCD , I just finished polishing my ball peins to a mirror finish.

We're all OCD to some degree. "I do things correctly. You're a perfectionist and he's just bat-**** crazy."

 

[nine4gmc]

What about mahogany shoe polish?

 

[rlitman]

No expert here but what about a neatsfoot like oil or a baseball glove oil?

Do NOT do that. RAW hide is just that, raw and untanned [edit: just noticed that darned autocorrect had this saying "untamed"]. Oiling it is going to turn it into leather. Though I suppose it might make sense to have one face softer than the other.

That hide appears to have been dipped in a stained varnish. It will keep oils and water out, but is otherwise not really necessary. I'd consider it cosmetic only and do nothing.

PS. Rawhide is like a dog chew toy. It's pretty tough stuff. Water can soften it, but it will dry out eventually. Leather conditioning oils (such as neatsfoot oil) will soften it in the same way, but without drying. Soak enough oil into it, and you've pretty much got oil tanned leather.

 

[turbowoodworker]

^^^interesting, I learn something new everyday. I said I was no "expert".

 

[Boudin]

Do NOT do that. RAW hide is just that, raw and untamed. Oiling it is going to turn it into leather. Though I suppose it might make sense to have one face softer than the other.

That hide appears to have been dipped in a stained varnish. It will keep oils and water out, but is otherwise not really necessary. I'd consider it cosmetic only and do nothing.

Thank you rlitmam

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[Dave455]

Despite the Vaughan label, that is obviously a Thorex hammer, made in the U.K. as you state!

You can buy replacement rawhide inserts really cheap. Look online, (MSC certainly keep them in the U.K. so can probably supply them) or contact Thorex direct, they probably have a U.S. distributer.

Personally, I wouldn't bother. That looks like a new hammer, and as soon as you use it the hide will mushroom over!

If you prefer a hammer that doesn't do that, then Thorex offer all variety of hammers with faces of Plastic, Nylon and different Rubber compounds, as well as Brass, Copper, Lead etc!

They also offer a model with a T shaped head that comes apart to change the inserts quickly!

 

[Youngguns]

You could drip the faces in vinegaroon and turn them jet black.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

If it's 2" heads I have a surplus of Garland raw hide. I'll sell a couple extra sets if wanted.

 

[joecon]

use shoe polish.

 

[Flatland Dave]

Brown Sharpie?