Buying Blacksmithing Hammers - What to Consider

What should you look for when it's time to buy your blacksmithing hammer?

Is head shape the most important factor?

What about weight?

In this short video, we'll talk about how to keep it very simple and what to focus on.

Summary:

• Your first blacksmithing hammer should be between 2 and 3 pounds. This will allow you to swing it for a solid chunk of time without wearing yourself out too much. If the hammer is too light, you'll be swinging more times and be less effective. If it's VERY heavy, you'll only be able to swing it a few times before you're toast.

• I like Nordic Style 2.5 Pound Cross Peen Hammers. The hammer I use every day in the shop is this style because, of the styles I tried when I was learning, I liked the feel of it the best. It comes down to personal preference.

• Wooden handles over plastic, rubber, etc. While some rubberized handles can help with shock absorption, they can also burn more easily and cause worse blisters from added rubbing. Plus, wood handles are classic. 

Do You Have a Favorite Hammer Style?

Leave a comment below with your favorite blacksmithing hammer. 

Do You Need a Cross Peen Hammer to Be a Blacksmith?

Do You Need a Cross Peen Hammer to Be a Blacksmith?

The short answer: Nope.

There are plenty of people out in Internetland who will try to shame you or tell you that you need a specific piece of equipment to be an "actual" blacksmith.

Most of the time these people can't walk the talk. They want to feel superior by creating a hard line between who can and can't be this or that.

It says more about them than it does about you. The Internet is full of trolls after all.

In this post and video, we'll talk about cross peens, ball peens, and the most important factor to consider when it comes to hammers.

What Do I Use at Brown County Forge?

I have quite a few hammers that come into play when I'm teaching and making home hardware.

Here's a list of them off the top of my head:

• 2.5 pound Vaughan Cross Peen
• 3 pound Estwing mini sledge (I have two of them)
• 4 pound Kobalt Cross Peen
• 6 pound Vulcan full size sledge
• 2.2 pound Peddinghaus Cross Peen
• 2 pound Ace Ball Peen
• 1.5 pound Vaughan Ball Peen
• 8 oz. ball peen

My everyday hammer since March 2011 is the Vaughan 2.5 pound SuperSteel (Amazon affiliate link) at the top of the list.

They've painted it blue and raised the price by 6 bucks since then, but it's still the same hammer. 

Much cheaper than a fancy, $120+ Big Blu hammer and it's a style that has worked for hundreds of years. 

Where to Buy Forges to Get the Best Deal

After the anvil, the blacksmith's forge is often the most expensive piece of essential equipment.

Forges can range in price from next to nothing to well over one thousand dollars.

I've owned three different forges since 2011 that have ranged in price from $225 for a used NC Tool Company Double Burner to $725 for a used Forgemaster Blacksmith Double Burner Forge.

The only forge I've purchased brand new is a Majestic Knifemaker Economy Forge for $325. It's the one I've been using most often these past couple of months.

In this video from the DIY Blacksmithing YouTube Channel, I talk about where I point my students when they're ready to buy forges. Enjoy!

In the video, I mention a few different retailers. Here's a longer list for your reference:

• Centaur Forge - Great selection and the best price on shipping.
• Blacksmith's Depot - Solid company that I've relied on for years.
• Blacksmith's Supply - Competitive prices.
• Pieh Tool Co. - Solid, family-run company. 
• NC Tool Co. - Where the NC Tool Co forges are made.
• Forgemaster - Home of the Forgemaster forge line.
• Majestic Forge - Excellent. Compact. Reasonably priced.

What Forges Do I Use at Brown County Forge?

For blacksmithing classes, I use the Majestic Knifemaker Economy Forge.

For production work, I use the Majestic and my older Forgemaster Double Burner.