Tool Restoration
Another Hammer for the Stable!
Not every tool restoration starts with a rare find - sometimes it starts with a three-dollar hammer head and a good excuse to spend time in the workshop
Piggy backing on the No Name Needle Nose pliers restoration from last month, I have another little tool to show you. And, although you probably would never have guessed from the title of this post - this time it's a hammer! I know, I know - yet another hammer? Well, of all my hammers, I didn't have one of these! Well, now I do... let's get into it!
The Three-Dollar Find
During my trip to The Tool Box where I picked up those needle nose pliers and the quick change tool, I spied this old blacksmith's hammer head tucked amongst a bunch of other odds-n-ends.
With a $3.00 price tag, a knew right away I needed this hammer like Sponge Bob needed bottled water! Some things just aren't about need!
Cleanup!
This hammer head was in pretty decent shape, it just needed a cleanup and a little rust removal.
Into the Evaporust for a few hours...
Remembering the Previous Owner
Anyway, after it was all cleaned up, I could see there were quite a few dings, dents and scratches, but none fatal or even significant, so I decided not to remove them. It'll function just fine as is.
To die completely, a person must not only forget but be forgotten, and he who is not forgotten is not dead. —Samuel Butler
Priming and Painting the Hammer Head
It was time to move on to the painting phase of this restoration, and I thought it would be easiest to just lightly mount head onto an old handle. This made it so much easier to paint because I could just pick up the hammer and make sure I got all sides covered.
The first part of painting the bare metal on this hammer head, was priming. And of course - Rustoleum carries the day! Oh, I suppose I should mention that I decided small sections on each end would be unpainted so, as you can see if you look closely - I taped not just the ends, but a little way up the sides also. This'll all make sense shortly.
Next I gave the hammer a couple coats of Krylon's satin black paint.
Then it all went into the shop oven for several hours...
Less Than Subtle Segue
A note of transparency...I lifted this little segue from my post about Making the Workbench Hammer back in August of '21. I guess I liked it so well that I simply wanted to add it here! My farm - my pig!I've always been a fan of Westerns, and so is my dad. When I was a kid, we always watched Bonanza and The Big Valley, among others. Hoss on Bonanza was dad's favorite and I still remember dad being a bit saddened when Dan Blocker (Hoss) died in 1972. And The Big Valley...well now...so in all my years I only ever heard dad comment on 3 women - mom, Angie Dickinson, and Barbara Stanwyck - the matriarch of the Barkley clan. Interesting note - Stanwyck is one of my favorites too, having starred in some of my favorite Christmas movies.
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Okay, I've strayed somewhat afield but the whole point of this is that usually when I hear the word 'hang' my mind's eye immediately conjures the the poster for Hang 'Em High - one of the all time great westerns! I'm also a fan of both True Grit movies!
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Okay, I've strayed somewhat afield but the whole point of this is that usually when I hear the word 'hang' my mind's eye immediately conjures the the poster for Hang 'Em High - one of the all time great westerns! I'm also a fan of both True Grit movies!
Choosing the Right Handle
Either the second or third day of this restoration, it was time to mount the head onto the handle. As you can see in this picture I had a few choices. The second, handle from the left was my original choice, but after mulling it over for a little while, I liked the size and heft of that old one on the right which turned out to be the same 1 that I used for holding the hammer head while I was painting it.
Repairing the Old Handle
The only problem was this particular handle wasn't in great shape period but there wasn't anything. There wasn't any fatal flaws with this. Just some little chunks missing here and there, but I had a feeling I could fix it.
Hanging the Hammer
Then it was time to hang the hammerhead. I've hung a few by now and I'm starting to get better at trimming the neck of the handle to fit into the eye of the hammer. This time it only took about 4 or 5 minutes to whittle it down to the right size with the chisel. My previous personal record was probably 30-ish minutes!
After cutting the kerf for the wedge, I drilled a hole through the bottom of the kerf to reduce the likelihood of splitting the handle when I put the wedge in.
And of course, I actually have a number of poplar wedges and several different sizes and styles of metal wedges also, all of which were just leftovers from previous hammer projects.
Finishing the Handle
After mounting the hammer head onto the handle, I decided to finish the handle using some Gunstock stain and a coat of clear shellac. Unfortunately I didn't take a progress picture at this point but I think there's plenty of pictures here to tell the story.
I really liked how the handle showed its age, (I don't remember where I got it from) so I was careful not to overly sand it.
Just a few (of the many) hammer posts on 173:
✤ A Study in Hammers - February 2021
✤ Fancy(?) Handled Ball Peen Hammer - August 2021
✤ The Shed Hammer - April 2022
✤ Personalizing an Inexpensive Hammer - March 2023
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
While you're here, try some flower posts!
And finally, I thought it would look nice to paint the lower section of the handle. Of course, the ulterior motive was - it would be easier to paint over the wood filler than to try to stain it.
A Hammer Ready for Another Lifetime
I LOVE the way this all turned out. The old, worn look of the handle, and the paint half way up, coupled with the black hammer head with the bare metal ends gave it a little bit of an upscaled look! Not bad for an old, rusted, $3.00 hammer! Hey, thanks for stopping by and...see ya next time!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a blacksmith's hammer used for?Blacksmith hammers are designed for shaping hot metal at the anvil. Their weight and face geometry make them different from typical carpenter's or machinist's hammers.
How do you remove rust from an old hammer head?Evapo-Rust, citric acid solutions, electrolysis, and wire brushing are all common methods. Evapo-Rust is popular because it removes rust without aggressively attacking the underlying metal.
Should hammer dents and dings be removed during restoration?Usually not unless they affect function. Many restorers preserve normal wear because it reflects the tool's history and working life.
What wood is best for hammer handles?Hickory remains the most common hammer-handle wood because of its strength, shock resistance, and durability. Ash and oak are sometimes used as alternatives.
How do you fit a hammer head to a replacement handle?The handle is gradually shaved or rasped until it fits tightly into the eye. Removing too much material too quickly is one of the most common beginner mistakes.
Why drill a hole at the bottom of the kerf?A relief hole helps reduce stress concentrations and lowers the chance of splitting the handle when the wedge is driven into place.
What wood should be used for hammer wedges?Poplar, oak, hickory, and other hardwoods are commonly used. The wedge should compress well while maintaining long-term holding power.
Are metal wedges necessary?Not always. A properly fitted wooden wedge can hold a hammer securely by itself, although many restorers add metal wedges for additional security.
Should a hammer handle be stained before use?That's mostly personal preference. Some users prefer boiled linseed oil, while others use stain and protective finishes such as shellac or varnish for appearance and durability.
Is shellac a good finish for tool handles?Shellac provides a warm traditional appearance and is easy to repair, though many working tools are finished with oil because it leaves a less slippery surface.
Why do old hammer handles often develop character?Years of use create wear patterns, dents, discoloration, and polishing from hands. Many restorers try to preserve those details because they tell part of the tool's story.
Is it worth restoring inexpensive vintage tools?Absolutely. Restoration is often more about preserving craftsmanship, learning skills, and enjoying the process than the monetary value of the tool itself.
Keywords
blacksmith hammer restoration, vintage hammer, hammer restoration, rehanging a hammer, hammer handle replacement, Evapo-Rust, vintage tools, tool restoration, blacksmith tools, workshop project
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a blacksmith's hammer used for?
Blacksmith hammers are designed for shaping hot metal at the anvil. Their weight and face geometry make them different from typical carpenter's or machinist's hammers.
How do you remove rust from an old hammer head?
Evapo-Rust, citric acid solutions, electrolysis, and wire brushing are all common methods. Evapo-Rust is popular because it removes rust without aggressively attacking the underlying metal.
Should hammer dents and dings be removed during restoration?
Usually not unless they affect function. Many restorers preserve normal wear because it reflects the tool's history and working life.
What wood is best for hammer handles?
Hickory remains the most common hammer-handle wood because of its strength, shock resistance, and durability. Ash and oak are sometimes used as alternatives.
How do you fit a hammer head to a replacement handle?
The handle is gradually shaved or rasped until it fits tightly into the eye. Removing too much material too quickly is one of the most common beginner mistakes.
Why drill a hole at the bottom of the kerf?
A relief hole helps reduce stress concentrations and lowers the chance of splitting the handle when the wedge is driven into place.
What wood should be used for hammer wedges?
Poplar, oak, hickory, and other hardwoods are commonly used. The wedge should compress well while maintaining long-term holding power.
Are metal wedges necessary?
Not always. A properly fitted wooden wedge can hold a hammer securely by itself, although many restorers add metal wedges for additional security.
Should a hammer handle be stained before use?
That's mostly personal preference. Some users prefer boiled linseed oil, while others use stain and protective finishes such as shellac or varnish for appearance and durability.
Is shellac a good finish for tool handles?
Shellac provides a warm traditional appearance and is easy to repair, though many working tools are finished with oil because it leaves a less slippery surface.
Why do old hammer handles often develop character?
Years of use create wear patterns, dents, discoloration, and polishing from hands. Many restorers try to preserve those details because they tell part of the tool's story.
Is it worth restoring inexpensive vintage tools?
Absolutely. Restoration is often more about preserving craftsmanship, learning skills, and enjoying the process than the monetary value of the tool itself.
Keywords
blacksmith hammer restoration, vintage hammer, hammer restoration, rehanging a hammer, hammer handle replacement, Evapo-Rust, vintage tools, tool restoration, blacksmith tools, workshop project