How to weld a ‘ETCG’ hammer

[Steve Webb]

Hey guys, I hope you’re well.

I bought a set of 3 hammers withe wood (hickory) handles.

The biggest one is the one I use the most and is a really nice weight. I initially tapped in some pins in the top to spread the wood out so the wood would remain in place in the hammer head. However it recently separated. I’ve tried re-pinning it but it’s just loose.

I would like to blatantly copy ETCGs idea of welding an exhaust pipe to the hammer head (sorry mate lol) but I was wondering if it’s going to weld? The hammer head is hardened steel according to the spec. So do I grind a bit of it clean and MIG weld it?

Topic

[James]

Is there a reason you can’t re-hang the hickory handle or get a new one? What you did with the pins might be part of the problem, only metal you should have is a small cross-wedge slotted into the main wedge. Boiled linseed oil will expand the wood a bit and ensure a very tight fit too.

[Steve Webb]

To be honest mate I could probably fix it but I’ve always fancied the exhaust pipe handle lol

[David]

Depending on how you use the hammer, I would be leery of welding it up… if the weld fails, bad things could happen – particularly if you are really laying into something. If you want a metal handled one, I’d buy a forged all-metal design. Depending on the material in the hammer head, you could have issues reliably welding it – higher carbon levels (from the alloy itself or from the case hardening treatment it probably has), as an example, can lead to hot cracking in the weld, which will serve as a fatigue initiation point during use.

[James]

For a striking tool it’s very important to use the right alloys and heat treatment. Welding can ruin the proper heat treatment of the hammer head. Welds can fail unless you re-heat treated the hammer. Hickory is an excellent material, shock absorbing and durable when properly done.

[zero]

I believe some of the Estwing hammers are the same thing as the Mac tools hammers with the one piece head and handle design. http://www.estwing.com/s_ball_peen_hammer.php Either way, I think that’s the best option, at least in concept.

[James O’Hara]

Hammers in my opinion should be hickory handles and make sure the grain is running front to back. The fiberglass handles do not hold up over time and splinter and can be fun to try and change spewing glass fibers everywhere which requires glasses and a face mask, and gloves. Steel handles normally come down to a point even if it’s a smooth point if you miss, which happens everyone makes mistakes, your finger and/or anything else will not appreciate you hitting it. If you feel you will break the wood handle you can measure the circumference of the handle and buy conduit/thin pipe with the same inside circumference. Bend it using a vice or hammer to shape of the handle and heat it with a torch and drive it down till it hits the head using a punch, if necessary, alternating sides with each hit. If replacing a wood handle it is easier to put the conduit/pipe guard on first though you will need to dry fit the head of the tool and mark the bottom so as to install in proper location without obstructing the proper wedging of the handle into the hammer head. You want to use 2 steel wedges to put the tension against the hammer head. Drive them as deep as you can get them to go use a punch if necessary. I have a guy hold the handle with his hands and leather gloves as I drive the wedges in You want them on a 45 not running straight face to face length wise. Once you do this get a double cut carbide bit grind out 1/8″ Fill it with 2 ton epoxy. Let it dry for 3-4 days. Then use linseed oil to swell the hammer handle it will also help protect the hammer.

If you do it this way it will not come loose. It will protect against miss strikes. I use my 3lb drilling hammer to knock loose shit people use sledges on the handle hasn’t budged. I use craftsman or Vaughan supreme handles. You have to make sure that it fits tight and that it fits down on the shoulder. Here are some videos on how to get it right.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lyAH40ihy4&index=35&list=PL-gZT3I9va10kKHyZRdAE-1WnVoGI2QTW[/video]

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUi5lD02MPk&index=36&list=PL-gZT3I9va10kKHyZRdAE-1WnVoGI2QTW[/video]

[zero]

Sorry that won’t work.

I can’t get a beard that bushy.

[Author]

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