Recommend a knife forging hammer.

[R H Clark]

I have been interested in learning to forge for some time.It looks like everything is coming together.I have a make do anvil.I've got material to build a forge.I've got blade stock and just a couple days ago I salvaged a truck load of coal.

I got in touch with my local forge council.There is a master blade smith a couple hours away from me that has teaching meetings once a month.I'll be at the next one but I need my first hammer.

Can anyone recommend a first knife forging hammer at a reasonable price and where to purchase it? When I asked the smith he said to pick up one at a flea market.That may be fine if you know what to look for but I don't.

[Ray Hammond]

they look "bulbous"...fatter and stubbier than a claw hammer...with typically a rounder, thicker look, shorter length with a bigger diameter "face" to strike the steel with, and a cutting or chopping head on the other end.

At least the ones I got with my gifted anvil are that way.

look at the ones on this link

 http://www.bigbluhammer.com/products/blacksmith_hammers.shtml

[tippit]

Everyone has their favorite hammers.  These are the two that I use 95% of the time...two pound cross peen and three pound diagonal peen.  tippit

 

 

[Lin Rhea]

My favorites are ball pien hammers that I reshape a little by heating to red and hammering the ball down into a flatter shape. I use a 32 oz most. I'm thinking about modifying a 48 oz for moving metal faster. Here is a 16 oz that I have for finish forging. Same basic shape. Lin
 
 

[oldpaths]

Dang MR.Rhea I like that ball pien,now Im gonna try to forge a hammer to try to forge a blade.    

[Steve Nuckels]

Now that's too cool!

[Stonedog]

I like a 4# cross pein.....

[R H Clark]

Thanks for the help guys.Would the 1 1/2lb or 2lb forging hammers sold by Jantz be ok to start with? They are about $50 each and I hate to spend more untill I get a better feel for what I need.

[Lin Rhea]

I'd go with the 2 lb, if you just have one hammer.

I have bought several hammers costing up to $100 each and found the modified ball pien to be the one I use most. I think it was given to me. I could have put a lot of hammer money into my anvil or other tools. Lin

[Jeremy]

I picked up a 2-1/2# cross pien at Home Depot last year for no more than a regular hammer.  Other than that, ball pien hammers have seen the most use.  I didn't have a forge with enough umph to reshape a hammer head until recently, so the hammers are still unmodified... won't be for long though.
I also plan on making myself a 1 to 1-1/2# diagonal pien hammers from scratch just to prove that I can.

[skillet]

Start with a 2 or 2 1/2 lb ball pien hammer. Your teacher will show you how to dress the face of the hammer.  First new or used hammer should be a cross pein of about the same weight. You can always go heavier once yer arms get used to the activity. Too much hammer will tire you out and make your blows less accurate and effecient. Best of luck!

[R H Clark]

Thanks everyone for the advice and pictures.The pictures have given me a better idea what to look for.I'm going to a big flea market Sat so maby I'll find something there.

I'm very excited about getting started and maby I'll have a knife to brag about before too long.

Thanks again
Randy