Removing Handle From Hammer

[Bull]

My new tool-dabble is looking for hammers at the flea.

I picked up one from a USA manufacturer (can't read rusty head for exact name, though) but it needs a new handle.

I'm not completely stupid (close, but not quite) so I have a few ideas about how to separate the tightly wedged old handle from the head. But, I figured I would ask you fellows what your preferred method is.

 

[Duker]

Bull, I will describe the best method I have found so far but would love to see others as well. My father is a major collecter of hammers so I am always looking for unique ones to give as gifts so I have re-handled maybe 12-15 for him.

I cut off any remaining handle under the head. If it has wood wedges, I place into a vice and drill a hole all the way through next to the outer edges and then partially drill out the wedges which relieves some tension. Usually that is enough be able to knock the remaining piece/s with a punch without having to heat the head. If it has metal wedges I will drill a series of holes around the wedges, heat the head from the bottom then can knock out the rest. A couple of older (Vaughn I think) were tough and I almost had to drill out every bit of it. I have seen some folks use heat first but my father likes the patina of the older hammers and that can change with too much heat and I have also been told it can remove the temper. I am not sure how accurate that is but I have tried to use it only sparingly in the removal process as it can be the best way to loosen up some of those old epoxy resins.

 

[reptilezs]

cut the handle right below the head with sawsall then drive out the plug. if the head is double tapered then drill a few holes and punch it out.

 

[Gmonkee]

^^^^^^^good info^^^^^^^

I've changed many a handle over the years and this has never failed or damaged a hammer yet. I'll be more brutal on my old workhorses than any collector hammer though. Those will be finished off by use so a few scars don't matter much.

 

[Stephenw]

I use a flush cutting saw and cut the handle off right below the head. Then I drive the nub out through the top with a drift punch.

 

[bgott]

All of those have given you good information. There is no pretty way to get 'em out.

 

[Case IH]

If it is a wood handel...coudnt you ust throw it in the fire for a while, then clean the head with brake cleaner or something to remove the soot?

 

[Kirbot]

I cut it off flush with the head, drill a few holes through it, and then pound it out.

 

[Stephenw]

If it is a wood handel...coudnt you ust throw it in the fire for a while, then clean the head with brake cleaner or something to remove the soot?

That might change the temper of the hammer head.

 

[KCarGuy]

I have done exactly what every has said...I didnt need to cut them (cause they were already broken). Drill a few holes and knock the remaining handle piece out.
Just watch out if it has a Metal Spread shim in there.

I then dropped it in my fire pit (small sledgehammers) and burned the rest out.
Cleaned the Hammer up and after I Installed the new handle, I drove in the spread shim nice and tight and then melted wax over the top to seal it all in.

A good quality handle will add years and years of life to That old Hammer!
Good Luck.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

Generally the handle is already broke, so I don't have to cut it. One was split, so I just put it in a vice and drilled out some of the wood by the wedge, and then used the split handle as a lever to wobble the wedge out and the handle dropped.

Picked up three yesterday, along with some other tools, from an estate sale.

 

[Bull]

The wedge is metal.

I'll go and see if I can git 'er done now, and take a pic or two of the poor old thing.

 

[Lotek]

You aren't going to get it hot enough in a wood fire to affect the temper.

Bull, why are you screwing around with an old hammer, you have a list of projects, focus...ooh, a bright shiny thing.

Lotek wanders off

 

[RPH]

Temper changes at low temperature. Depending on the metal, it can be 500 degree F. Time at temp doesn't help either.

 

[Stephenw]

You aren't going to get it hot enough in a wood fire to affect the temper.

Bull, why are you screwing around with an old hammer, you have a list of projects, focus...ooh, a bright shiny thing.

Lotek wanders off

Tempering is done in the 300 to 500 degree Fahrenheit range for steel. A wood fire is more than hot enough.

 

[Lotek]

Takes time at temp, and you have to get it hotter than that to start, not likely to happen just burning out a handle, that said, it will affect the patina.