Hammer Time
 

Between grandchildren playing with my Estwing claw hammer and a pile of burning leaves - here's the results. We just found it after I looked for it for days. I am thinking about burning off the rest of the grip and putting a new one on it. This is just something to do for the fun of doing it. I'm in no hurry, and would like some ideas you all might have for an interesting handle grip.

It is a Estwing 24 oz. HammerTooth Rip Hammer. The teeth are gone from around 30 years of usage.
[URL]https://www.homedepot.com/p/Estwing-24-oz-Solid-Steel-Hammertooth-Hammer-with-Blue-Nylon-Vinyl-Shock-Reduction-Grip-E6-24T/203075879[/URL]

I'm going to see how the 20 oz. one feels tomorrow. [URL]https://www.homedepot.com/p/Estwing-20-oz-Straight-Claw-Rip-Hammer-E3-20S/100032790[/URL] That will fit my needs better than the rip hammer now. I have a 4 lb. handheld sledge if I need a bigger hammer :lol:

This sounds like something Worth would know.

Nan

You can buy steering wheel wraps! You would only need a little for the hammer, you could then wrap any unpadded garden tool handle with the leftover. You could even get a bright color to make the tools easy to find later.

[url]https://www.walmart.com/ip/All-New-Classic-Grip-Steering-Wheel-Cover-Wrap-Tie-DIY-Gray-Synth-Leather/138393151?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=3001&adid=22222222222000000000&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=o&wl2=c&wl3=10352200394&wl4=pla-1103028060075&wl12=138393151_10000003239&wl14=steering%20wheel%20wraps&veh=sem&msclkid=cffdadcbda5115c67134f70e481778f3[/url]

Sue, that's an idea. :)

The hammer belonged to my father. He used it on the masonry jobs to nail on wall ties, and to build our 4 barns, etc. It was kind of special to him. I've used it for building countless things and building in the gardens for years. It has been a good claw hammer for decades.

I only used Estwing hammers for my masonry career. I still have two different sizes of brick hammers, and all sorts of specialty type hammers. A brick hammer looks like this [URL]https://www.google.com/search?q=Estwing+brick+hammer&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjmxs2km6LaAhUO71MKHWozD84Q_AUICygC&biw=1138&bih=562[/URL]
Mine are older and don't have that yellow end cap.

I put this thread in this BIY section for two reasons. One being that I want to rebuild the hammer, and two being that a lot of BIY/DIY projects - you need a good hammer. One that fits well in your hand and just feels good.

Estwing hammers are the best.

A wire brush, either on a drill or mounted on a bench grinder should take the rest of the burnt plastic off.

I have the same hammer. It is a good tool for digging in the garden and pulling stubborn weeds. I learned the benefits using it as a digging tool when I worked as a surveyor setting grade stakes.

Dip it!

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtjAdQu4Hjw[/URL]

I have no idea what the steel looks like under the rubber or what you could even do with it.
I like wood handled hammers myself.

Worth

Mine is an old leather wrapped handle 16 oz Eastwing hammer my husband received from his tech-voc program back in high school. He has about six other hammers floating around here, and his old apprentice hammer is the only one that naturally fits my hand, and the only one I can easily hammer nails in straight with. It's now officially my hammer!

Salt, I hope tour dad's hammer can be cleaned up.

I forgot about Dip it. I haven't seen that for years. If you don't want a cushy type grip, the Dip it would probably work great. I might look at the steering well cover for some of my own tools. I like to have a cushioned grip on a rake, for instance, and I think it could be cut into narrower strips for the hammer. I bet the dip it comes in some fun colors and would be water proof and tougher.

The thread title made me want to listen to MC Hammer. The song below was quite prophetic, in that he did become a reverend in his retirement from music.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mye1aCskFcM[/URL]

Sam Hammer
 

Have exactly the same hammer for 40 years built a log house, greenhouse, and 2 garages with it, can't kill it. Fix with tennis grip.

I would scrape/sand/wire wheel all that crustiness off and wrap with bike handlebar tape or cork tape before trying anything more drastic.

If that doesnt work id remove the rubber grip and see what kind of tang you have to work with. Id probably try making a new handle out of wood or micarta, and glue it on with 2 part epoxy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well, after $29 worth of cleaning - it looks like it's brand new :roll:

I also have some ocean front property in Arizona for sale. :lol:

I bought the 22 oz. smooth face E3-22S. I will look at all of the suggestions on repairing the melted handle tonight, but first I need to do some gardening.

[QUOTE=Cole_Robbie;693514]The thread title made me want to listen to MC Hammer. The song below was quite prophetic, in that he did become a reverend in his retirement from music.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mye1aCskFcM[/URL][/QUOTE]

I will be telling the grandchildren " U Can't Touch This!" :) [URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyEE0qpfeig[/URL]

It's a factory refurbishment.:lol:

Worth

handle repair
 

I saw a hammer handle that had been repaired by using what appeared to be number 5 or 51/2 lawn mower starter rope wrapped around the shank. Since the original handle was wooden the manner of attachment was small nails and glue. No doubt it gripped well.

Jon

I stripped the handle using an Old Hickory Butcher's knife while tapping it with a 4 lb. sledge. It looks like what I expected. I left the handle material flush with the steel ridges. I'm not sure if it would be better to leave like that or to use a small chisel to remove it? There is some warp to it. Here's what it looks like.

Well that looks like it needs more than something to wrap it in, it needs an actual handle. They actually have replacement wood and fiberglass handles.

[url]http://www.hammersource.com/Wood-Handles/[/url]

When I bought the cabin I'm living in...
I found a Stilleto hammerhead in the garage, bought the hickory, put a grip on it...
Best hammer ever!

Before I stripped the hammer handle down to the steel - I whittled down the burnt area. It was useful at that point and it didn't feel bad holding it. But... my curiosity wanted to see how it was built. I also wanted to show you all what it looks like in this thread. I already knew the steel was warped. I haven't always been disabled, and I was strong enough to damage it back then - probably still now.

I grew up knowing that time is money. It meant that you used a tool to it's fullest extent and sometimes, push it. I did. Seeing the steal twisted on the end was a surprise - although I did use that hammer a lot with my thumb, pointer finger, and middle finger. I'm thinking that is what caused the twisted steel at the end.

I used the new hammer that way today.

Bicycle handlebar tape could work -- it comes in various materials and textures and is sold at sporting goods stores. Maybe big box stores, too? Here are some examples: [url]http://www.jensonusa.com/Handlebar-Tape[/url]

I bet the hammer company would send you a new handle maybe.

The hammer is useful for digging up briar roots and stuff like that as it is. The handle and restoration will now be put away for another day when I have time to work on it - that day will come. First, the things in the "Coming Home" thread needs to be addressed. The new hammer will be of use very soon. [URL]http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=45993&page=14[/URL]

When I first saw the title of the thread I thought you had laid the law down around the place.:))

Worth

Salt, I have a somewhat easy fix for the hammer.
Go to the store and find a smaller handle replacement, one that feels a little small in your hand. You're gonna cut the handle in half and epoxy it to the hammer tang then install brass pins.
Lay it beside your old hammer and mark the length how you want it to lay on the tang.
Build a jig to hold the handle so you can cut it down the middle on a table saw or a bandsaw would work best with a thinner cut.
I would drill holes in the handle part you're not gonna use to screw it to the jig to hold it steady while you cut it in half.
Lay the handle on the hammer tang and mark the tang for 2 holes to be drilled to install brass pins. You should be able to find 3/16" brass stock if not then find 2 brass bolts long enough to cut off the threads.
Lay each handle half in the tang where you want it mounted, clamp it down and drill those handle holes 1/64" smaller so the brass pins fit snug. Repeat for the other half of the handle.

You should be able to find a 2 part epoxy in hardware stores, use that to glue the handle to the tang. Test fit it a few times to make sure you can get the pins aligned easy before the epoxy dries.

Let it cure and cut the pins to length and clean off any excess epoxy.

Fill in the gaps with more epoxy, you might need to do one side at a time to let it set so it doesn't run out.

It should be a fun little project, it seems like a lot but it will go fast.

Watch this video for installing a handle on a knife and you'll understand exactly what I'm trying to explain.

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-iM1_WFMAk[/url]

Or.......

If all else fails, you can get a new one here:

[url]https://www.amazon.com/Estwing-Hammer-Straight-Smooth-Reduction/dp/B0000224VG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1523221325&sr=8-4&keywords=estwing+16&dpID=417IzzuRoHL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch[/url]

Make the grand kids put up a road side stand and sell turnip juice till they make enough money to buy a replacement hammer.:lol:
[IMG]https://mcgarnagle.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/vlcsnap-00129.jpg[/IMG]

:lol: Turnip juice...eeewww:lol:

I bought a replacement hammer the day after we found the burnt/melted one.

I used the new hammer the other day, and when I asked my grandson to hand it to me - he said, "Remember the song says Can't Touch This." :lol: He handed me the hammer.

Today, I was using the old burnt handled one to dig briars out of a flower bed. It works even better than I thought it would. I used the head as a hand grip and it was easy pushing the shaft into the sandy loam to get to the briar root ball that was against a tree root.
It's two tools in one now. I think I'll leave it that way.