small hammers
- Thread starter M-EGT
- Start date
4xdog
Well-known member
Interesting... I mentioned in another thread earlier today (the first time in my life I've ever thought to speak about it) a little hammer I have from my dad, who told me many years ago he made it in a shop class in Cleveland, probably in the 1930s. Odd little thing -- and it looks just about *exactly* like yours.
nicksnothereman
Well-known member
Cadillac fan
Well-known member
Some people use them to make gaskets. I know I have used hammers around that size for that purpose.
People also use them for jewellery or fine pieces of wood/metal etc.
People also use them for jewellery or fine pieces of wood/metal etc.
I've got one exactly like the smaller one, and it is the most used tool in my box.
I'm a hot rodder, and play with cars a good bit--Every singe time you've ever needed to apply more pressure than your fingers are capable of delivering is when that hammer comes out.
It also works perfect for delivering light blows when you need to move something heavy, without binding, cracking or otherwise damaging it. I handed it to a friend when we were trying to separate a bellhousing from the back of a block, and he got pissed and told me to get another hammer. While I was walking across the shop, I heard him start to use it, and then he said "Damn... this one's working perfect... never mind!" and everything came free.
Then he marveled at the little hammer for a while.
I found one for sale here a couple years ago and bought it for him.
-Brad
I'm a hot rodder, and play with cars a good bit--Every singe time you've ever needed to apply more pressure than your fingers are capable of delivering is when that hammer comes out.
It also works perfect for delivering light blows when you need to move something heavy, without binding, cracking or otherwise damaging it. I handed it to a friend when we were trying to separate a bellhousing from the back of a block, and he got pissed and told me to get another hammer. While I was walking across the shop, I heard him start to use it, and then he said "Damn... this one's working perfect... never mind!" and everything came free.
Then he marveled at the little hammer for a while.
I found one for sale here a couple years ago and bought it for him.
-Brad
Those are school shop projects. Any school shop that had Southbends had Southbend's project book which had hammers like those and "C" clamps, etc. in it to demonstrate the use of their lathes. I made their "C" clamp in the sixties.
Have a look if anyone has that book...mine is in storage.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1559182482/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Have a look if anyone has that book...mine is in storage.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1559182482/?tag=atomicindus08-20
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
I have a couple small hammers like that. One of them was from a Warner and Swasey open house in the 50s.
IlliniBone
Well-known member
Looks like something Andy Dufrane used.
Deskmechanic
Well-known member
Bingo - every older machinist I've known has one. I inherited the one my step-grandpa made in the 50s when he was retrained by the railroad union to work as a machinist.
toolmiser
Well-known member
Looks like something Andy Dufrane used.
I just watched that movie again last week!
I have also acquired a few of those hammers, and a couple clamps. suspected they were made by students, back when working with your hands didn't involve a keyboard.
I just watched that movie again last week!
I have also acquired a few of those hammers, and a couple clamps. suspected they were made by students, back when working with your hands didn't involve a keyboard.
Not all of them are homemade. Lots of companies including craftsman made small all metal ball peins like that. Typically they are used for machinist type work. Adjusting pins, jigs, punches and even soft metal work. Downside is they are pretty hard so they can and will marr unlike a brass hammer. The round metal handles have some benefits at times over the standard oval wood handles. Not to mention manufacturing ease. As said above they are not something you are going to use a full on overhead swing with but for delicate "tap tap tap" work they are handy.
Can you post some dimensions please? Like face diameter and over all length?
Can you post some dimensions please? Like face diameter and over all length?
outdoorsman310
Well-known member
gasket making is what I would use them for.
sure. the smaller one is 7.5'' tall and is .5'' face. The "larger" one is 8'' tall and a .75'' face
and thanks for everyone's input!
