WTB: Straight or diagonal pein hammer

[Twilight Fenrir]

Hello,

I'm a blacksmith, and have been having a hard time tracking down a straight, or diagonal pein hammer. Ebay is really hit and miss on this for some reason.

 The older the better, I won't buy anything made in China, or anything that tells me what to do. (I.E. "Wear safety glasses" stamped into it :P) Looking for something in the 2-4lb range. Handle isn't a necessity. As long is the face, and the pein are in good shape. Extra points for a tool with 'character'.

Thanks,
Richard

[keykeeper]

I've been collecting up hammers for over 8 years now for blacksmithing, and have YET to find an old diagonal peen for smithing.

You will have to buy a new production one from one of the many blacksmiths making them, like Nathan Robertson at jackpine forge, or make your own from an old hammer or forge a new one completely. I have one started from a 3 pound sledge, but I'm just grinding one face to be the diagonal peen.

Straight peens are nearly as scarce, but can be had, just have to look. Most I have seen are the ones marked Bell System with the hole for turning in the old screw in steps for poles.

[Charles Garrett]

Had a full set with both angles ,straight ,etc  but gone now.

[Twilight Fenrir]

I've been collecting up hammers for over 8 years now for blacksmithing, and have YET to find an old diagonal peen for smithing.

You will have to buy a new production one from one of the many blacksmiths making them, like Nathan Robertson at jackpine forge, or make your own from an old hammer or forge a new one completely. I have one started from a 3 pound sledge, but I'm just grinding one face to be the diagonal peen.

Straight peens are nearly as scarce, but can be had, just have to look. Most I have seen are the ones marked Bell System with the hole for turning in the old screw in steps for poles.

I've seen a few diagonal pop up on ebay now and then in big sets of hammers... there's a set on there right now I'm tempted to buy, has diagonal peins, and straight peins, 7 hammers for $90... a good deal to be sure, but I can't blow that much on them at the moment ^^;

I'm somewhat surprised how hard it is to find a straight pein, diagonal, okay there's no application for them outside of smithing really... but straight doesn't seem like it should be that uncommon... I've seen the Bell Systems ones, and I'd probably go for one of those if sellers didn't seem to think they were gold, selling them for $30 for just the head, plus another $10 in shipping >_> Not that I'm unwilling to spend that kind of money on a good hammer, it just has to be... Special... Have some sort of character to it that calls to me :P

[wvtools]

I recently sold a diagonal hot cutter struck tool.  It was the first one of those I had seen.

[OilyRascal]

Could you post a picture, or send me a link, to what it is you're seeking.  I think I know, but I want to be certain.  Google search isn't real clear to me.

[Twilight Fenrir]

Could you post a picture, or send me a link, to what it is you're seeking.  I think I know, but I want to be certain.  Google search isn't real clear to me.

Yeah, the internet seems to be confused on straight/cross pein hammers...



Left is Ball pein of course, 2nd is a left handed diagonal, then a cross pein, then a right handed diagonal. While the big one in the middle on the top is a straight pein.

This is one I'm keeping an eye on on eBay. It's a little heavy, but it's got character n.n And it's in good shape.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121479000132?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[john k]

I helped create a diagonal peen at the forge.  Made from a Caterpillar track roller bearing.  Lots of hot work.  For a lot less work, a straight peen can be made from an old ball peen,  1 man job, and made in the shape you want.   I just picked up a hot cutter out of a box of hatchets, good handle, $10.  It is out there. 

[keykeeper]

Some people reforge the hot cut tools to hammers, but you MUST redrift the eye for a hammer handle. The typical round hole on hot or cold tools are not drifted to the right shape for hammering. Hammers need to have an oblong hole, with an hourglass profile, to be wedged. That way, they don't go flying when they get a little loose.

[Branson]

I like the straight peins, and yes, it has been difficult to find them.  I've finally acquired three that I like.  The most difficult to locate was the straight pein riveting hammer.  That was the artillery standard in the 19th Century.   The other two are a 1.5 pound and a 2.5 pound.  Why they are so uncommon mystifies me -- they're so useful in drawing out.  I have a couple of others I picked up before I found the pattern I prefer. 

The diagonal peins?  Never found one available.

[Twilight Fenrir]

I helped create a diagonal peen at the forge.  Made from a Caterpillar track roller bearing.  Lots of hot work.  For a lot less work, a straight peen can be made from an old ball peen,  1 man job, and made in the shape you want.   I just picked up a hot cutter out of a box of hatchets, good handle, $10.  It is out there.

I've been trying to work a straight pein out of a caterpillar tread roller, actually. But it's not coming along how I'd like it to... I'm still working on it though...

The ball pein version is a bit smaller than I'd like, and not as stout.

Any pictures of thos Branson? I'd be curious to see that first one you mentioned.

[Chillylulu]

Twilight,





Chilly

[Twilight Fenrir]

Twilight,

Chilly

In an odd coincidence... I really like every other one in those pictures :P The first cross-pein, the hot cut, combination straight/cross pein, stubby handled old hammer, and the slitting/chisel. :D  Does that long handled hammer all the way to the right have 8 sides? o.o Don't think I've ever seen that.

[Chillylulu]

Twilight,

Chilly

In an odd coincidence... I really like every other one in those pictures :P The first cross-pein, the hot cut, combination straight/cross pein, stubby handled old hammer, and the slitting/chisel. :D  Does that long handled hammer all the way to the right have 8 sides? o.o Don't think I've ever seen that.

Yes 8 sides, that handle is a solid metal bar and should probably be replaced. It is 1" in diameter and 20" long.  It is the wreck that I smashed a finger tip and hit my leg with. 

On the bottom it is marked "2.5" on one side if the hole and "MEXICO" on the other side of the hole. Is that kilos or lbs? The whole thing weighs 6-1/2# appx, so probably 2.5#....

I don't need or can't use the following (from the list of your likes):
     The crosspein has a bad handle, can you fix that?
     The hot cut need to have the mushroom edge ground off
     The slitting/ chisel
I don't need so many sledges, either. So you can have one of those, if you can use it.

Here are some more / different pictures with details

[Chillylulu]

Details:

Sledge:






Hot cut?