I had an old X-acto modeler’s hammer. It really was not that great a hammer. The handle was not that comfortable, and the head was a raw casting. Looking at what was available for a new one, the price was running fifteen to twenty bucks. I decided, heck, I can make a hammer- how hard could it be. Looking through my metal scraps drawer, I found a length of brass rod, 1/2 inch diameter and about two inches long. Also, a stainless steel rod- part of an old sink drain control rod, and a length of half inch delrin plastic about an inch long. Those items should make a fair hammer.
Here is the result.
Handle is a length of 3/8 inch dowel, sanded and lacquer coated. Works great.
Looks good to me, Don, and I bet it’s good to use. It’s very satisfying to make one’s own tools, especially a specialist item that would be hard to find (and probably cost serious money to buy). I made a router plane a few years ago, to level & smooth the bottoms of some mortices on a woodworking job, using it feels special.
Hey, like the Hammer. That’s like me with tweezers. I am always looking for that perfect pair. Gotta have little teeth to grip those little paper and plastic parts without making a mark on them.
After cutting and shaping some leaves of spring steel from another project, Drilled them and Before riveting them together, I worked the tips in a Multi-Directional style with a shop style Mill file( Coarse) Had a perfect pair with almost needle fine tips, But with one difference. You could hold on to anything, including P.E, without the inevitable launch of the part. Still have them, now tinted Black from some kind of metal treatment stuff My LandLady uses in Stained Glass applications to age solder!
At ten years, they are just showing signs of rust from my body oils transfered from my hand! Spring steel works easier than stainless, and I didn’t have the tools to work with that.
I’ll bet that was a sulphite treatment. I know there are a number of treatments for simple steel alloys- just getting into it. I know boiling in oil is one I have to try.
I am not sure, the label has come off the bottle and she doesn’t remember where she got it or what it’s called! I asked a friend about that and he did something to them. They now have a hard glossy Black finish, Except in the jaws and the hand grooves!
Handle is a length of 3/8 inch dowel, sanded and lacquer coated. Works great.