making a hammer handle

[overland]

Here's my somewhat crude attempt at a plane-adjusting hammer. The head is made of 1" brass rod and a slightly thicker piece of South American hardwood that I had lying around (plus a short piece of dowel inside to help hold the two together. The handle is maple. I was going to smooth the handle but it feels pretty good the way it is. I haven't used it yet: I'm still waiting for the glue to dry.

[C. in Indy]

And... here's mine.   I had gotten an HNT Gordon hammer that I liked, so I emulated that for another.  I used a small-size Link brand hickory handle bought new, and epoxied it into a Desert Ironwood head I made.  I knocked down the Link handle's varnish a bit for comfort and appearance.   This hammer gets used a lot; I made 2 for good measure, but very little wear has happened on the 1st user to date


<img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d38/C66RUPPEL/She_Oak_1st_cuts_zps7rrvejwl.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo She_Oak_1st_cuts_zps7rrvejwl.jpg"/>

[overland]

Nice hammer. How does the ironwood work on steel?

[Arlin Eastman]

Chris

Really like the hammer and love the plane.

Overland

I do not think you hit the steel, I think you hit the back of the plane and the toe to set the blade.

[bandit571]

Yep, you do hit the steel,  both to set the depth of cut, and set the lateral.   Almost every one iron I have ever seen has been mushroomed out on the end.    After a century of taps to set the iron, wear & tear happens.    You tap the heel to loosen the wedge, or you can hit the strike button out in front.    Once you have the iron set for depth and lateral, one whack on the end of the wedge finishes to set up.    Careful with that wedge whack, as it may move the iron's setting.    hit only  hard enough to fix the wedge in place, NOT to drive it "home".     Too  tight of a wedge can damage the plane's body.   Wedges also tend to get stuck  when driven too hard.   That is why you see the heels of plane body all beat to....heck. 

I use that riveting hammer to adjust the Ohio Tool Co. No. 81......try plane.

[C. in Indy]

Nice hammer. How does the ironwood work on steel?

It works pretty well.   Usually I'm using it on a thicker-bladed plane, so the blade doesn't 'split' the wood hammer head too badly.   I've also used some scraps of desert-ironwood for administering heavy hits like driving a steel back off of a backsaw blade.  It transfers most of the force, but prevents marring the steel.