Incredible Wrought Iron Cobblers Hammer Custom Restoration with Blueing

This was an awesome little hammer to restore. In cleaning it up I learned that it is a C Hammond size 4 shoe hammer and that it was forged using wrought iron. To bring out the wrought iron lines I etched the metal a bit more using a battery charger and salt water and then used gun blue to darken the metal. I also made a custom handle from a thrift store softball bat made of, from what I though was white oak, but now I believe is ash (I had never used ash and though it smelled and looked a lot like white oak).
To help support my channel, so I can continue to provide videos like this, below are Amazon affiliate links for products used in this video:
Birchwood Casey PERMA BLUE - amzn.to/2UuIeWL
Evapo-Rust The Original Super Safe Rust Remover, Water-Based, Non-Toxic, Biodegradable, 1 Gallon - amzn.to/2SVKiWb
Rust-Oleum Watco Danish Oil, Cherry - amzn.to/2XPIQZ9
Boiled Linseed Oil, 1-Quart - amzn.to/2XLuMzM

[@user-hx9tp9cn2h]

A friend gave me an old bucket full of rusty bolts, nuts, & tools in which was a Cobbler's Hammer. For a long time I did not know its identity. Before I watch this video I wanted to tell you that, as a new subscriber, I am more interested in restoration of OLD TOOLS that bikes. I'll turn 83 in a few weeks, so I am too old & too fragile to ride any more. A fall on a bike would probably finish me off. BUT I look forward to watching all the tool restorations, especially axes & Hatchets. I look forward to watching this video on the Cobbler's Hammer. Thanks for your investment of time & energy in producing the videos! May God bless you & yours. By the way, I have been playing the piano 70+ years. The Old Preacher

[@OliveKnoll]

I actually purchased that hammer head from a junk store some time ago. I didn't know what type it was till a year or two after. It will get a new handle in 2024 maybe from the old baseball bat in the garage! I am getting into leather working with the goal of making my own work boots one day. That hammer head may end up getting used for its original purpose. How cool is that!

[@abelincoln95]

I am going to offer some tips, although it seems that everyone really wants to find their own way, With the cold blue, use a little heat on the part before application. Also, after cleaning with water, quench/wipe part(s) with a little lightweight oil and allow oil to soak in. Also, I always pour the bluing solution in a small bowl so I don't contaminate the bottle with used swabs, but, I have been told that is not an issue. Nice job!!

[@BarrettPvP]

from watching all of these restoration videos, I honestly think im going to go to my local antique shops and buying some of the old tool stuff i know one shop has a box of and trying to restore them all. I think its awesome to restore these old tools and it looks very fun to do.

[@oldshovel]

Lol 😂

[@shedmanx3640]

Tank Warrior128 it is addictive. I started watching Scoutcrafter and now watch as many restorations as I can. These subscribers have taught me a huge amount and I now have a pretty extensive collection of restored vintage tools. I’m running out of room in my small shed to keep them all.🇦🇺👍

[@robertphillips93]

A friend gave me his late father's cobbler's hammer, used in his amateur bookbinding pursuits, since I was a retired bookbinder. It's a cute little thing, and not much like the one we used in the '60s at the shoe store to tenderize stiff leather. The one I used to round and back books was a similar shape but much bigger -- believe it was intended for use in the auto body repair business. A real brute . . . but both uses need a smooth slightly convex face with well-dressed edges to prevent damage. (A genuine cobbler is going to have one for nailing and another for surfaces more delicate, I'll wager.)

[@user-hx9tp9cn2h]

Incredibly impressive job!

[@hbjtf]

Using a couple baseball references and analogies, your play by play descriptions are fantastic.

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@mdlipps]

Instead of salt water and a battery charger, you could use ferric chloride. That's what bladesmiths use to etch damascus blades. It reveals the layers of the steel very beautifully.

[@Erinnem]

This one was kind of special to me because as far as I know my dad grandfather great grandfather and my great great grandfather and even my great great great grandfather were all cobblers and I have inherited a tiny bit of the tools I wish I had their hammers but I have none and this video brought back memories of my grandfather who died when I was young and I remember using a hammer just like this one in his shop thank you for doing this video

[@mercoid]

Erin Nemeth ... do you know what the function of the curved peen on the backside of the hammer is? Just curious

[@pemtax557]

Really nice results, blueing the head was a stroke of genius as was using an old softball bat. It's this type of creative thinking that made this a very cool video. Cheers

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏 I’m glad you liked it.

[@stevenhoman2253]

Great method for wrought iron. Never seen it done before. I'll keep it in mind.👍👍👍

[@oldshovel]

It was a fun one to do also. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@SARSteam]

Very nice resto. Awesome sir! Thanx for sharing.

[@neilchristiansen1123]

What a great idea using a thrift store softball bat as a wood source for the handle

[@oldshovel]

Thanks! I’ve seen bats used for axe handles and I saw this bat the day I was trying to decide what to do and it thought , this would be perfect.

[@ignaciohenao4110]

Beautiful real restauration keeping almost untouched parts of the hammer to preserve its history. The gun blue finish looks awesome. Thank you for sharing

[@oldshovel]

Thanks I’m glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!

[@TC-bq5ri]

agreed!

[@clarklindquist8137]

Love that ya are such a natural with a hatchet. I see bushcraft folks doing that alot

[@oldshovel]

Thanks I love carving with a hatchet, it’s therapeutic. Thanks for watching!

[@edka1031]

Wonderful job!

[@paulhare662]

C. Hammond, made in Philadelphia, Pa. around 1880 to 1900 I believe. I have 2 of their carpenters hatchets, a No. 1 and a No. 2. Interesting how clearly visible the strike face and blade edge are joined to the iron of the main body on these pieces. I wish I could go back and see how they made them. I imagine a very noisy factory.

[@dannydoj]

Love the white oak finished handle 😊

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@fenderstratguy]

Wow that is really beautiful

[@peterrandall9523]

Proper lovely that !! 👍👍👍

[@GregAlanEdwardsEmmanuelRidge]

Nice job on bluing and handle. I might have sanded down the dings on the sides, but that's just me. Should last a long time once again!

[@joenadeau4419]

The blue was pretty clever, nice job.

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@TheSuperwrenchGarage]

Man it turned out to be a nice project. The blueing was a nice touch

[@oldshovel]

I agree. The blueing is awesome. I need to do it more.

[@OldtimeIronman]

It was common, back in the day, to weld a steel face onto a wrought iron body, since steel was much more expensive and less common than it is today.

[@raulrrodriguez7552]

job well done

[@oldshovel]

Thanks

[@craigmooring2091]

Gorgeous! You really ought to devise a Maker's Mark, one worthy of your craftsmanship.

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏 perhaps I will someday. Thanks for watching.

[@JimRodgers]

Looks great! I like the idea of using a reclaimed softball bat for the handle. I'm looking for an old cobbler's hammer. Might have to hit some estate sales and garage sales this summer.

[@oldshovel]

Awesome thanks for watching.

[@bigseanSM]

You could smell that the bat was oak! Best line ever 😎 and really cool restoration job 🙂👍🏻

[@MissLady-pq4hc]

I so enjoy watching you work, very good at showing us as you go. Thank you.

[@chiplane3976]

Love that handle! I also liked the blueing - I like the look and it still retains some history. Great Job!

[@steventrosiek2623]

Good job

[@clarklindquist8137]

Love this. Watch some videos on making Damascus steel, and how they etch the lines in it for future reference. What an amazing find....

[@KaiHowells]

If you really want to accentuate the grain in the wrought iron, get some dilute Ferric Chloride solution and soak it in there for a few minutes. Rinse it off, buff with steel wool and repeat if necessary. It's one of the main things that knifemakers use to etch Damascus (pattern-welded) steel.

[@GamesByJDK]

I really like the old hammer - I wish you have trimmed the handle closer to the head - but looks great.

[@Debtfreehomesteaders]

Thumbs up for the baseball bat handle! -Will

[@oldshovel]

Thanks Will!

[@jastimbal60]

Great job! Looks great!

[@user-dx6pt9oo6h]

Very good restoration 👍👍👍👍🔨🔨🔨

[@oldshovel]

Thanks!

[@cofaul1174]

Turned out awesome!

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@davidspinney2664]

good idea for the handle from an old bat another idea i had was a handle from a broken shovel someone is throwing away. I have a hatchet exactly like that i got in a batch of tools I had no idea it was that old

[@oldshovel]

The old hatchet pattern has been around for a long time and axes of that pattern were made as recently as the 1960’s. Thanks for watching.

[@katielambert6607]

This is so cool 😎

[@bumbygumby]

Hammer came out great, finish is beautiful. A bat made of oak?...that's pretty unique. Usually they're hickory or ash...cool stuff.

[@arifatabay4153]

Bütün video boyunca yaptığınız işten çok daha fazla konuştunuz kocaman bir sıfır.

[@honeybreme5479]

What a beautiful hammer

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@frankg3072]

Very nice!

[@oldshovel]

Thanks!

[@mattmac1985]

Absolutely amazing. I love it.

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@ironbomb6753]

Very nice job. Very enjoyable video to watch. I subscribed. 👍😎

[@oldshovel]

Thanks for watching

[@prudentiaski]

Do a tutorial on picking an old mountain bike such as which ones have decent geometry etc

[@tonyrevels4436]

Love your videos. Constructive criticism, lower video sound and slightly increase your voice over sound.. awesome work....it’s a pleasure following you!

[@oldshovel]

Good feedback. On my more recent videos I try to do this more.

[@bighaze51]

That turned out great man! Nice job

[@oldshovel]

Thanks!

[@Everythings_Adjustable]

That turned out nice 👍

[@sonyhk3824]

So nice. Thanks

[@oldshovel]

Thanks, I’m glad you liked it.

[@michaelpugh4894]

Nice restoration.

[@oldshovel]

Thanks!

[@twin_o7m.730]

Well Done 👍

[@oldshovel]

Much appreciated! Thanks for watching!

[@tbone9664]

I've used oak for many axe and hatchet handles although I never heard of an oak baseball bat.

[@morgankoenig7541]

Question if you polish everything anyway why do you bother with the evaperrust

[@oldshovel]

I cleaned it with several other tools before I had decided on what I would do. In face it was after cleaning it that I could see the grains of the wrought iron.

[@geraldwilder2309]

Have you ever used an etching liquid like some knife makers and blacksmiths use to bring out the design in the metal?

[@pablozuma1200]

Oh my god... Is he really using that beautiful bat to make the handle? No... he wouldn't... Wait, he is... He did it!!!

[@markharris5771]

Very nice indeed, I really like it.

[@oldshovel]

Thanks 🙏

[@stefknivescollection4150]

Pretty nice hammer 👍🏻

[@oldshovel]

Thanks!

[@markhosbach9420]

Nice job!. After you cleaned the rust, there was a crack visible where the carbon steel head must have been joined to the wrought iron.

[@mantaship]

Love these cobbler hammers. So rarely seen, they look like they should be in Mario Bros. Thanks for saving it. #throwawaythethrowawayculture

[@oldshovel]

Thanks Will. I love the hashtag, awesome. #throwawaythethrowawayculture

[@Butterflyknifes1]

Nice work man keep it up and I'm going to press the Subscribe button right now

[@oldshovel]

That’s awesome thanks 🙏

[@TC-bq5ri]

@@oldshovel Had to sub myself...great channel

[@Thundercat68]

Binge watching. Enjoying very much. 👍🏻. Sub’d

[@oldshovel]

Awesome thanks 🙏

[@ThePipeiper]

Finds out later that bat was priceless....

[@oldshovel]

Lol 😂 From some dude in the comments

[@gus6rocks]

nice

[@oldshovel]

Thanks

[@dougwalker4947]

Never heard of oak being used for a bat. Most wooden bats are usually made out of ash.

[@oldshovel]

I know. I was surprised also, when I cut into the bat as the smell of oak.... but truthfully I’ve never made anything out of ash, does ash resemble and smell like white oak? Perhaps I was wrong and it was ash...

[@PiraticalBob]

@@oldshovel I was going to say myself that Hillerich and Bradsby - - the Louisville Slugger people who made that bat - - use ash almost exclusively, or did so in the past. That finished hammer handle has the look of ash rather than oak.

[@Mikenperu]

Most bats are ash. Some are Hickory or Maple. Never heard of an oak axe .... But hey it is what it is

[@oldshovel]

I actually think it is Ash. I had never worked with ash and To me it looked and smelled just like white oak.

[@virtualviewer61]

@@oldshovel Looks like hickory to me, ash is not as fibrous. Great job on all your work.

[@tootall5559]

use about a 3 volt adapter for your etching, This hammer would also work as a body hammer for some jobs on cars.

[@tinksfawn08]

Awesome job! Love you channel and love the work you do! In later vids your voice volume is much clearer & I certainly appreciate that. One question, why do you hit the bottom of the handle when setting the heads? Seems it would make it un-set or is that the idea? To show you if it isn’t totally seated?

[@oldshovel]

Hitting the end of the handle is the preferred way to set a head on a wood handle. The momentum of the hit on the handle drives the head deep into the shoulders of the handle as the head ends up heading opposite the hit as an opposite reaction.

[@SAIFULSULAIMAN]

Bro..u should test nail it Aftr every restorations..tq👍👍

[@alexanderchapman1]

Great restore. Question: how come you didn't sand the top of the handle sticking out flush?

[@erkeltree]

I believe you will find out that the bat is ash. White oak would be so heavy you could not swing it. Nice ob on the hammer.

[@oldshovel]

I believe you are correct on that. I learned I did not know the way ash looked and smelled. It definitely reminds me of oak.

[@mercoid]

Hammer

[@BarryS-fh2rg]

I love your videos and I have two tools I'm starting to work on. On a side note, may I ask what is that cool, square point knife with the green handle on the table at 11:47 in this video?

[@oldshovel]

That’s a Boker Strike. I mention it in my last edc video kzbin.info/www/bejne/mX2qhqGJlLl3ea8

[@aaronjaben7913]

you can blacken metal by immersing in hot oil...rapeseed (canola?) I've heard

[@bmb49]

@oldshovel I see that Evaporust works wonders and have been considering wether to get some for my axe head restorations or use electrolysis instead. I understand Evaporust is said to be a non toxic product safe to come contact with your bare hands etc but given your Recycle Reduce and (Restore) & Reuse environmentally friendly approach I was wondering if you've ever used electrolysis for rust removal instead? As it just uses organic simple and cheap ingredients and a car battery charger to transfer the rust from the donation rusted steel to a piece of sacrificial scrap steel and leave no bad byproducts behind. No comments against Evaporust just wondered if you had any expierence with using electrolysis and what your opinions were on it in comparison? Thanks, & if not it's a good video idea. Assuming you haven't already. lol

[@jorgegonzalez8646]

Deberían decir en los ingredientes el nombre del producto ,

[@floydcrase625]

FYI bats are made of ash and look nothing like white oak

[@christopherumberger6142]

Nice! How well does the bluing hold up over time?

[@oldshovel]

I will find out. This was my fist bluing project and that was just over a week ago. I’ll try and keep folks updated as time goes and I use it more. I’m sure it will depend a lot on the amount of use.

[@TC-bq5ri]

I have done the same bluing method on a few Old Hickory knife mods and it looks amazing even 3 years later with zero rust!

[@tomjeffersonwasright2288]

I have several cobblers hammers. Your handle is much longer than the original handles on mine. While you use it to drive short nails, the use of the other end is easiest with a shorter handle. But then, I use my tools, pretty takes a back seat to functional. Do you do any shoe repair or make new?

[@oldshovel]

I do leather work and have used the head to flatten stitching I have not used the other end for flattening stitching on the welt on shoes as I don’t, or haven’t yet, tried making or repairing shoes. As to the length I researched what the C Hammond company used for a number 4 hammer and went with that because truly I am no cobbler.

[@TheLoxxxton]

Oh God that electricity etching looked way sketchy lol

[@oldshovel]

It works great 👍 I’ve seen it done with a 9 volt battery, the 12 volt battery charger just worked a little better.

[@carlaclarke6650]

Will it kill zombies

[@oldshovel]

Lol. If you hit them hard enough

[@leonruvalcaba1549]

O sweet Lord, y can't eye find a Cobbler's Hammer?

[@oldshovel]

Im sure there’s a few on eBay ...

[@TheSuperwrenchGarage]

Link to Instagram?

[@oldshovel]

@Oldshovel_ on Instagram

[@890mikes]

It could be that the face of the hammer was case hardend.

[@oldshovel]

Yep. It was darker after the Evaporust which tells me it had a harder metal on the face.

[@user-nl3nv7rh7b]

Такую биту загубил !!! У вас что в стране дефицит древесины???

[@simonefavilli]

What's incredible? These clickbait titles are really ridiculous. Sanding, blueing, and a new handle. Calling it restoration is a compliment.

[@Zoso14892]

He's saying the hammer head is incredible because he hasn't seen anything like it I guess? Sure the clickbait titles make me cringe a bit but he does nice work. Also how is that not restoration? Doing any more than that changes the original project thereby stopping it being a restoration.

[@jag8901]

LOL - you ruined it - ground off the 4 and theen ground out the etch as well ! then cold blue - you are a really strange refinsiher