What to do with old hammers?

[M-EGT]

I came across quite a few hammers, a few are in good shape and I will keep (seeing as I only have 2 hammers... haha) - however, some are broken and some have very loose heads.

I was thinking of taking them to the scrap yard?
Or is there a better idea?

 

[d.mcfarland]

Pictures? Handles are cheap!! You could always sell here on the classifieds too.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Calling Outlaw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL.

There are ways to gently file the handle, rap the head down and then retighten the wedge to get the handle snug.

Or you can always rehandle what you have. Usually $5-6 a handle.
Easy and fun.


Hammer heads last lifetimes and I seldom see one that cannot be saved.

Post up some pics and let the experts decide...

No scrap yard though. Nope. Nada. No.

 

[Monte]

I was thinking of taking them to the scrap yard?

noooooooooooooooo

 

[PugetDude]

You might be surprised what eBay brings if there are any really old collectibles in the mix. If not...

1. Donate any usable ones to Habitat for Humanity.
2. Save the hickory handles and turn them down on a wood lathe for custom handles for screwdrivers, carving tools, etc. Rockler sells a nice stainless ice cream scoop and a bottle opener that would look good with a framing hammer handle...
3. Yard art?

 

[Geurt]

I was thinking of taking them to the scrap yard?

Blasphemy!

You can find instructions here and here

 

[woody 73]

If the head is still in good shape with no breaks just pick up a new handle. If you have no clue how to put on a new handle you can find several (Youtube) videos that will help you out. If you are not comfortable with doing it yourself find a mom & pop hardware store and they will do it for you.

But please don't scrap good hammer heads at your local scrap yard.

 

[M-EGT]

yikes, didn't think I'd get such a vehement response

Here are 2 heads and one wobbly one. There are others too that are just loose, but not too bad.

 

[Talisheek]

Looks like and easy fix with a new handle.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Clean up the heads or soak in Evaporust or vinegar , put on new handles and done.

Those appear just as good as gold.

I just did a cross peen/blacksmith hammer that was mushroomed and far worse than those last month and a little sanding/cleaning on the head and a new handle and it's as good as new.

 

[PugetDude]

OP, not trying to threadjack, but how many hammers does a man need? You might need a 12-step program to help rid yourself of them...a support group might help.... ..... I'll go first:

My name is PugetDude and I have 28 hammers. ...

 

[jeffmoss26]

Send them to myself or Outlaw for a proper disposal...into our toolboxes!

 

[CNGsaves]

Blasphemy!

You can find instructions here and here

x2 on above . . . . . GJer's almost always PREVENT good stuff from scrapyard!

SAVE those hammers . . . gotta "live the Outlaw dream" and get yourself a full stable of hammers. That great warm feeling of saving a hammer will overwhelm you !!

 

[M-EGT]

perhaps I'll send them to the people mentioned

 

[ATC]

Scrap? You are insane!

Besides, they don't weigh enough to even trip the scales!

 

[Outlawmws]

Wow, either I have a rep, or a problem... (And yes, I do have 140 hammers...not counting other striking tools like dollies, hatchets and axes, and sledges...)

It's not directly about hammers, but this thread is also the same principal:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=152785&

 

[Gidge]

I too have many old hammers and would never think of scraping them.

It seems the quality was much better way back when, buy why -- isn't the process for making steel pretty much the same now as it was then ?

ETA : Nevermind...I just looked at Outlaw's hatchet thread.

 

[rusty65]

I also a agree just get some new handles for the heads and rock on and use them till they need new handles and rinse and repeat and the heads look clean besides a little rust.

 

[Alchymist]

Hammer head in the upper left in the picture - looks like a cheap cast iron "homeowner" hammer - the other two look like worthwhile projects.....

 

[neophyte]

I too have many old hammers and would never think of scraping them.

It seems the quality was much better way back when, buy why -- isn't the process for making steel pretty much the same now as it was then ?

It may not be the steel that's changed, it may be the methods used to work the steel or harden it. Steel worked using a different type of hammering action may wind up slightly denser or with a finer grain structure, both of which might affect durability, hardness, or other attributes of the steel. The type of hardening and/or tempering process can also be affected by simple changes that might not be considered by bean counters.

 

[Gidge]

It may not be the steel that's changed, it may be the methods used to work the steel or harden it. Steel worked using a different type of hammering action may wind up slightly denser or with a finer grain structure, both of which might affect durability, hardness, or other attributes of the steel. The type of hardening and/or tempering process can also be affected by simple changes that might not be considered by bean counters.

Thanks, makes sense, beancounters see short term gain as more important than a long term customer base for quality tools.

 

[king nero]

Wow, either I have a rep, or a problem... (And yes, I do have 140 hammers...not counting other striking tools like dollies, hatchets and axes, and sledges...)

It's not directly about hammers, but this thread is also the same principal:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=152785&

140 hammers?
seriously, 140 hammers?

I've got a lot of everything, and two wooden crates with hammers (lets say, 35 or 40 of them), but one hundred and forty?

D'you mind sharing some pics pretty please?

 

[Davefr]

Sorry to hijack the thread but what would you all do with this brass hammer head? Scrap it or save it?

Machining it back to flat faces would shorten it from 4" to about 3.25".

 

[jakemac]

Polish it and use it as a cool paperweight. If you don't want it, send it my way. I'll give it a good home.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Wow, either I have a rep, or a problem...

I believe the anwser is ...yes.

Wait. Was that a question? Or two questions? Or a statement? Or...

LOLOLOLOLZZZZZ

 

[justanengineer]

Or you can always rehandle what you have. Usually $5-6 a handle.

Twice in the past two years Ive found a box of ~20 new hammer handles and once a mixed box of shovel and broom handles in the local thrift shops for less than a buck a piece. Keep your eyes open, never know where things will show up.

 

[Arachnotron]

I buy my axe handles from House Handle. Nice quality.

http://www.househandle.com/

 

[bullitt67]

I can't stop laughing at ARACHNOTRONS avatar pic!!!

 

[KEH]

I have a few hammers. I keep one in each tractor tool box, one in th emergency tool box in the wife's car, one in each truck tool box. Those are generally of good quality or at least good condition. I have a Craftsman steel handled claw hammer with the small notch in one claw for small nails which I bought new. Some of varying quality I've picked up here and there, including a new HF claw hammer somebody left on a bench at a fireing range. Never would have bought it but free is good. One or two hammers came when I bought a complete tool box at the pawn shop. Last purchase was a 32 oz( I guess) Westcraft ball pein head from the flea market. Striking surface cleaned up good, sides had been used as a striking surface and they didn't clean up too good, but with new handle it's servicable.

KEH

 

[Rickster]

Two old hammers walk into a bar, the first one says "See that fir over there... I nailed it."

 

[woody 73]

Oh King Nero... Outlaw, Jeffmoss and myself have only a very small collection if some kind soul can help with a link to the following YOUTUBE video you will be amazed at his collection.

Hammer collection
By Tom Allen

 

[Hornman]

Sorry to hijack the thread but what would you all do with this brass hammer head? Scrap it or save it?

Machining it back to flat faces would shorten it from 4" to about 3.25".

If the handle hole is straight, not tapered, just rehandle it upside down! That way the face angles will be the correct angles again.

 

[Jim Johnstone]

I would take that ball pein and re handle it and put it straight into my toolbox at work

 

[Haveblue]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two old hammers walk into a bar, the first one says "See that fir over there... I nailed it."
Second hammer replies, "Id hit it!!" LOL! I agree with you guys, theres never a good reason to throw away a usable hammer head! My ball peens were originally wood handled, but had broken after years. They now have Donco fiberglass handles. They dont look as good, but I dont care, they are durable and the epoxy is really strong.

 

[CNGsaves]

Oh King Nero... Outlaw, Jeffmoss and myself have only a very small collection if some kind soul can help with a link to the following YOUTUBE video you will be amazed at his collection.

Hammer collection
By Tom Allen

Ask and you shall receive . . . . nearly 2,000 hammers . . . AND from the video appears that vast majority of them have wood handles. Many handles were home-made.

Google nailed it on 1st try . . . keywords:
hammer tom allen site:youtube.com

 

[kwblack]

Saw this once. Cut the handles of three or four at an angle. Attach to barn wood plank by whatever means you like. Ta Da! Coat hanger for shop.

 

[ilovevocs]

Ask and you shall receive . . . . nearly 2,000 hammers . . . AND from the video appears that vast majority of them have wood handles. Many handles were home-made.

Google nailed it on 1st try . . . keywords:
hammer tom allen site:youtube.com

Holy wow.... Fetishes come in all forms I guess.

 

[celticbhoy]

Weld a new handle onto them heads.

 

[Outlawmws]

OK, that collections of near 2,000 make me feel s little inadequate, (But only a little... ), but you asked so I shot pics of most of them. We've been here before, but not recently, and there have been some additions...

I had the bulk of them in buckets, and it was killing me for floor space, so when I found this a year or two ago, I first didn't buy it, then went back and bought it for the striking tools" and it's become mostly striking tool central.

And this is not all of them; there are 8 BP hammers and an engineer's hammer near my main bench vise, and another 20 BP's hanging on a rack I made in the work room (Now double stacked...) a couple in the "tiny Tools box" a couple small ones in my desk in the house, at least one is on the shed so I have one handy there, a couple in different vehicles, and some more jsu there and there...

And I was incorrect on the qty, I'd forgotten I had not put the latest 4 additions into the inventory workbook, so it's actually at least 144, or one gross!


And the contents of the Kennedy: Hatchets first (Most of them)

Now we are starting into Hammers:

Two more drawers worth in other boxes to come:

 

[Outlawmws]

Body and fender hammers:

Sheet metal Hammers: