Hammer handle wedges

[KevinB]

I have some old, old hammers: some belonged to father and some to father-in-law.

The handles are wood. Some have a steel wedge set into the top end grain of the handle the better to hold the hammer head secure. I've driven these in as far as I can but the heads are still not tightly held.

Others have no wedges and again the heads aren't tightly held.

Each of these hammers is a cabinet maker's hammer: some cross pein and one ball pein.

None of the local hardware shops have smallish wedges for sale.

Have forum members any ideas?

Regards,

KevinB

[IanW]

Hi Kevin, I have seen those wedges for sale, somewhere, but can't remember where & it was a while ago, so maybe they have disappeared from the shelves never to return. Judging by the number of old heads I come across, most folks must opt for replacement over repair.....

Unless I can salvage a metal wedge from an old handle, I use wooden wedges when fixing or replacing. Select a (nice & dry!) hard wood like Spotted Gum or anything similar & cut a suitable wedge, keeping the grain running through the centre. It's a bit of a dark art to judge how thick & what taper to give it, but the idea is to spread the wood tightly into the flared part of the eye. If the handles are loose enough to remove, I saw a couple of new wedge slots so that you can more easily start the wedges & spread the fibres into the flares. If you can't remove the handle without radical surgery, belt an old chisel into it to make starter slots.

I reckon there are few things in life more irritating than loose hammer heads, but I'm as guilty as the next person of just thumping them on to get the job done, & not fixing them properly until the head flies off! :U

Cheers,

[seanz]

Any ideas? Why, I'm just full of......ummm, ideas....

Over here, Bunnies stocks wedges....#1 or #2 should do.

If the handles are very old and 'well seasoned' maybe a soak in linseed oil would swell them up again? I've done this and the heads (hatchet not hammers) get tighter, not looser as you might expect from putting oil on them.

This poster accepts no responsibility for broken window panes ( or anything else) caused by flying hammer heads.
:)

[woodie2]

Soak the hammers in water before use or if using all the time leave the hammer head in water. This swells the timber and secures the hammer head onto the handle.

Ask a blacksmith (if you can find one) they store all their hammer heads in a bucket filled with water (Just enough to cover the heads and the top of the handle).

Hope this helps your situation.

Mike

[KevinB]

Thank you for your reply to my q about hammer handle wedges. I shall try your suggestion in a few weeks' time after the current spell of hot Perth weather. My shed is uninhabitable during January and February. Thank you again,

Best wishes,

Kevin

[les88]

I had that trouble and as the hammer was being used all the time the wedges did become a problem. So remove the existing wedge and cut some timber ones drive those in then use the original wedge to finish off. The soaking the head in water does work ok but it drys out and back to square one. I still have the hammer that I bought in 1949 as an apprentice
And it is still my favourite
les

[TermiMonster]

What les said.
TM (except for the bit about my buying my first hammer in '49.....I wasn't even a glimmer in my daddy's eye......)

[KevinB]

I had that trouble and as the hammer was being used all the time the wedges did become a problem. So remove the existing wedge and cut some timber ones drive those in then use the original wedge to finish off. The soaking the head in water does work ok but it drys out and back to square one. I still have the hammer that I bought in 1949 as an apprentice
And it is still my favourite
les
Thanks for you reply. I'm going to get back into my shed as soon as this spell of hot weather is over. 'Twas 48C in there yesterday. I gathered what I needed for a job, checked the thermometer and got out quick smart.