Restoration and Recasting of a Vintage Lead Hammer

Restore and recast a vintage lead hammer and hammer mould.
Lead hammers are used when you need high-impact but don't want to mar whatever it is that you're hitting. They also don't spark, so won't cause fires and explosions. The downside is that the lead takes the beating instead of what you are hitting, and over time they become deformed and need to be recast. This old hammer came from Cook's Hammer Service. They would provide these hammers as a service, and swap them out for new ones when needed. They also manufactured the lead hammer moulds so shops could recast hammers themselves. They are still in business and you can still buy newer style hammers and moulds from them.
LEAD SAFETY: Lead is toxic and bad news if not handled properly. When working with lead, or casting metal I always use appropriate safety gear and safety procedures. If you want to cast your own lead please read the NIST material safety data sheet for lead before you start:
www-s.nist.gov/m-srmors/msds/...
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[@AcmeRestorations]

Please feel free to post questions and comments. I'll try to answer all the questions. If you enjoy these videos please subscribe and click the little bell icon so you'll get notified when I post new videos. I have a ton of restorations in the queue! Thanks for watching. I post regular in-progress updates of projects, as well as shorter 1 minutes videos on instagram and facebook if you're interested in following along. My instagram: instagram.com/acmerestorations/ Facebook: facebook.com/AcmeResto

[@warrmalaski8570]

As with bullet casting, the mold has to be heated to make a good pour. But not so hot that the lead won't harden.

[@dakotamarion8651]

Where did you get the mold from?

[@beltfed4624]

What is a lead hammer used for? Obviously it's not for striking metal surfaces, due to it being a softer metal, and it's not suitable for hot work, so I'm curious as to what a lead hammer is used for? My guess is for working hardwoods and perhaps leather. I'm a craftsman, so I'm very curious.

[@AcmeRestorations]

@@beltfed4624 It's for banging on metal mostly. The whole point of using lead is that it's very dense/heavy, so a small hammer provides a lot of force. The soft head (usually mixed with some tin to make it a bit harder) means that it won't bounce much, and when you hit something, the head will deform instead of marring whatever you are hitting. For example if you wanted to coerce a drive shaft into place, you'd use a lead hammer without worrying about damaging the drive shaft. Basically the vintage version of the modern dead-blow hammer.

[@zufarshafeev5200]

@@beltfed4624 мягкие металлы не создают искру, не меняют сечение и не портят поверхность (шлифовка, резьба...)

[@IratePuffin]

I love that you restored the mould too! I thought the first hammer came out great but halfway through the second one I thought, “ok, now you’re just showing off!” 😂

[@AcmeRestorations]

I had a lot of left over lead! :)

[@AmandaGreen-ed8ml]

Interesting video, I love molten lead. It goes without saying that yours looks so much nicer. Great job.

[@RestoRad_Beograd]

Always a good day when Acme posts a video. :)

[@boondocker7964]

It does not hurt.😁

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks. Bit of a longer one this week!

[@gehutch]

Excellent work! The origin of these molds comes from the forging and blacksmithing era. When I pour a new lead hammer in one of these molds, the mold is simply laid on the forge fire with the ladle part in the hot center. When the lead is melted and "soaked" ( brought up to temperature) the whole mold is hot and ready. Just tip it up and the lead zips into the mold. I think these molds are still being made. My favorite lead hammer is a four pound. Light enough to handle at arms length if needed, but heavy enough to nudge something into place.

[@chartier67]

Just think in a hundred years someone will be restoring your vintage lead hammer.

[@D-B-Cooper]

Lead will have been outlawed like mercury and asbestos, besides no one will be strong enough to use a lead mallet let alone have a use for it.

[@LordQuintix]

At that point, it'll be a historic object.

[@bryco32]

30 years ago I started out as a Floor man at a machine shop. One of my jobs was to go around and collect the flattend lead hammers and melt the lead hammer heads down. We had several of the Molds. So you could really assembly line them out. I could get 50 or so done in a day taking my time. We would always wait for a decent day outside and set up a spot in the shade. It was Very therapeutic. I still work at that same machine shop. We just buy the hammers now from Cook as cast.

[@AcmeRestorations]

Wow that is awesome. I could have used some tips on the first pour. I got it sorted in the end.

[@Resto-Rob]

Awesome! Really like the new and old versions.

[@HalsPals]

The new one is cooler. Great job!

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks!

[@pfcparis]

It looked like the crucible on the mold was intended to melt the lead. If the whole mold was hot, I imagine you would get a better finish on the hammer as the lead would not cool so quickly. Perhaps it would make no difference.

[@AcmeRestorations]

Yes it really does make a difference. The second hammer you can see I spent some time heating the entire mould with the torch.. Ended up with a perfect pour that time.

[@bryanlatimer-davies1222]

Agreed, the hammer should have been cast using the mold to melt and pour the lead as intended then restored.

[@ricogoss]

I love how you put 2 restorations in one video. Kudos man love it!!!!!

[@garyjones2582]

Very nice work A.R.. Your creation turned out better than the original.. Thx for bringing us along....

[@AcmeRestorations]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@juziii808]

Came to this channel because of the name, stayed for the content

[@Austeration]

Wow that was pretty epic 👍 never seen a casting tool like that before. Great job

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks 👍

[@chikeungleung2782]

😉😩😁💔😏👍✨️

[@scaldybobandson]

Very nice work… huge fans from Dublin Ireland 🇮🇪

[@69kaveman]

What awesome work, you scored big with getting that mold.

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks 👍

[@jerryjohnsonii4181]

Awesome and impressive at the same time to watch !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@RustyDudeRestorations]

Your description is very educational. Didn’t even know those hammers even existed😊 Good job😃👍

[@AcmeRestorations]

Glad you liked it!

[@gizzymeows5847]

Well done 👏 melting metal and sandblasting is awesome to see. Thank you for sharing 😊

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@finalbossediting]

Great work as always and thanks for the great videos. Looking forward to what you come up with next.

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thank you very much!

[@samanthadean1083]

Stunning job!!! Though, I hope you wore protective gear while near that melted lead… 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@AcmeRestorations]

I did! The works. Put a blurb about that in the description. Thanks for watching!

[@GT_Racer347]

9:50 lead Damascus! Way cool 👍 😍 🤣

[@otherpatrickgill]

thank you for putting the filter over the camera for us when welding. the care you take explaind why you're getting closer to 100000 subscribers when there are already so many excellent restoration channels on youtube.

[@AcmeRestorations]

It is my pleasure! Thanks for watching!

[@TheParkAttendant]

Wow! Two restorations at once, good job!

[@cmccoy3972]

I’m so glad to see you making more videos. You where one of the first and you got me hooked on restoration videos.

[@markchatman9583]

I was thinking how you we’re going to mold the hammer, then you started on the mold 🤯

[@michaelh.7960]

Klasse Arbeit!! So ein Teil hätte ich auch gern!

[@augustm.moschera8646]

Very nice job! Good restoration on the old one and beautiful work on the new one! I would be proud to show off a hammer like that if it was mine!👍👍👍

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thank you very much! I've now got one to show off and one to whack things with!

[@user-in3bb6rc7c]

Geez nobody said reinvent the mold... oh you're just restoring it! Never mind.

[@shirleyannconfer9651]

Got a couple of nice looking hammers there. Good job.

[@DancerOfClouds]

Well done!!! I thought this was going to be interesting, espeacially once you melted the original head. The mold was a huge score. My dad had an old Eastwing hammer with a leather handle and I loved the one you made. Awesome work.

[@AcmeRestorations]

Yeah, I've been looking for one of these moulds for a long time. Old Estwing rock hammer with leather washer handle restoration coming in a couple of weeks. Thanks for watching!

[@marcuscicero9587]

nice havin the mold from the manufacturer of the hammer. great vid

[@lolcec81]

Комментарий в поддержку канала и ролика, а также труда мастера.

[@alexandernevalainen]

used to have lead hammers at work but then EU-classed lead as poison with heavy enviromental consequences, so now we have copper hammers instead. i really liked the lead hammers because they where softer and gave a more effective whack to stuck parts without the bone-jarring vibrations and risk of damaging the stuck parts.

[@Anmobgoccult20]

Amazing, bravo, best video, super product, awesome work, abs. respectful from old BG.

[@SpunkMouthwash]

From the title of the video I was expecting a full resto of the vintage hammer then It went completely of the topic to making a custom new hammer. This could of been it's own video .

[@AcmeRestorations]

Also restored the mould, which I used to make the second hammer, so I don't think off topic. Anyways lots of other people enjoyed the video.

[@maryannrurup353]

Great job on both of them

[@clarklindquist8137]

Great job. Thanks for sharing

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks for watching!

[@kirkyd123]

Watching that lead melt makes me want to watch Terminator 2 again.

[@AcmeRestorations]

I had the exact same thought while I was doing it! LOL. 😂

[@oneshotme]

Loved the whole video!! Great job restoring the old hammer and making a new one from scratch!! Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks 👍

[@crazyedo9979]

Northridge Fix would like to say "Better than factory" 😁

[@todtiger]

Great job

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks!

[@DrewDiaz]

Put the handle in the mold before pouring the the lead, heat the mold, me I just put it in the lead furnace for a few minutes after fluxing & skimming. Tip the mold so the lead runs out of the cup and into the mold if you’re going to melt it in a separate container. The cup on the mold is all about melting the lead with a torch which heats up the entire mold if you go that way when it’s filled with molten metal just tip it.

[@AcmeRestorations]

Yeah that's basically what I did when just remelting the hammer head. Using those old fishing weights I knew there was going to be a lot of dross, so I added the extra step of melting all that in the larger pot and skimming the dross there, then transferring it and reheating in the mold. FInally got it dialed in though; that last pour was pretty good.

[@RestorationAustralia]

Super cool, well done. 👍

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thank you 👍

[@JLCra87]

How funny, when I saw the lead hammer mold, I was like hey... they should restore that too. And then you did lol.

[@charleenheath6116]

Your 3rd was prefect. The handel is a work of art. Gerat video. leenotcharleen

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks. Definitely a learning curve.

[@dixonqwerty]

Looks great!

[@SNRestoration]

Great job 🙂

[@hownow8442]

Nice job on both hammers. I don't need a lead mallet but want one now.😜

[@AcmeRestorations]

Right on

[@darryllcrook376]

I am concerned that the home brew one might not have enough ability to retain the head. Yes, the shank is square, but on the factory one, it also has concave parts to provide mechanical interlock. You can use linseed oil window putty or similar to form a seal between mould and handle to help control overspill.

[@AcmeRestorations]

You may be right. If the head comes loose I'll probably melt it off and weld a washer on the top. TIme will tell. That's the nice thing about having the mould :) Can always do it again fairly easy. Thanks for watching.

[@Cypher791]

I don’t think I ever heard of a lead hammer 🔨😯

[@Wolshanze]

You have a real obsession with lead hammers “ Weird “

[@AcmeRestorations]

???

[@pakview313]

Nice work bro

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks 🔥

[@vinceianni4026]

Good job mister well done

[@Roadkillstew]

they used to sell kits to make 6 at a time back in the day. great video.

[@AcmeRestorations]

Oh great. Now I've got to try to find one. :). Thanks!

[@TheWolfster001]

Nice, Thank you for sharing... That's a tool I haven't seen used, in a long time.. I'd love to see a "BRASS" Channel lock plyers restoration.. I just subscribed... Love the channel.......

[@AcmeRestorations]

Do you mean like copper beryllium?

[@TheWolfster001]

@@AcmeRestorations Those are basically the same, they were mostly used cause they are non-magnetic.. I used to have a few of them, but they were stolen with other tools years ago from the shop I had at the time... The only down side to brass channel lock pliers is, brass is a soft metal.. Copper Beryllium also is soft.. I just always thought they were neat...

[@robertovillalobos4798]

Excelente trabajo 👍👍

[@peterbeley3067]

nice work

[@alanrobison3298]

Nice job!

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks!

[@pb222221]

First video of yours I have seen. Liked and subscribed. Now time to watch the older videos. Great job. I appreciate the work you put into your restoration. I noticed during the remelt after the failed first pour the hammer started getting a smooth finish before it melted. Maybe try doing a light surface melt on your homemade hammer to give it a smooth finish?

[@AcmeRestorations]

Maybe a heat gun. Of course in reality smoothing out a lead hammer is like putting lipstick on a pig. :) Thanks for watching and subscribing!

[@Mountain_Paladin]

Cool video ! Now you have a lead hammer to use on old dry asbestos....😁

[@CJ_7519]

Looks like the viewers got a double deal, today👍🔨!!

[@capers72424]

Triple deal, two hammers and a mold.

[@restorerestoration4705]

Very nice 👍

[@pxjydz303]

I have this exact hammer. I would love any additional information you have available on it. Thank you!

[@AcmeRestorations]

They are still in business. You can get new handles from McMaster Carr. Hard to date them though because they haven't changed much in 100 years. You can Google them; they have a website.

[@dersturm366]

При отливе надо добавлять ПФ-3 или его аналог для рафинирования и повышения текучести, а так нормально заморочился 👍👍

[@user-pi8vt7ut3n]

... только не пойму!-, для чего нужен свинцовый молоток?!!

[@non7top]

@@user-pi8vt7ut3n там мелькает надпись cook's hammer, т.е. поварский молоток, что оставляет ещё больше вопросов.

[@fwsoft1]

@@user-pi8vt7ut3n Для работы с мягкими металлами !!

[@_JohnRedcorn_]

Very cool

[@chriskythreotis4686]

Well this is something different! Well done for a fine restoration…….I’m amazed they even made lead hammer mould’s….I mean how often do you use one that you would go out and buy one…..amazing…….👍🇬🇧

[@AcmeRestorations]

Well if you are a machine shop back in the day, you'd beat up your lead hammers pretty fast and need to recast them. They also were sold as a service; they'd come round once in a while and replace them with fresh hammers.

[@re-fix9678]

good restore👍👍

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks 👍

[@RedraspusMusic]

short sweet and solid

[@andrzejporeda7281]

Śliczny jest ten aluminiowy obóch do czaskania kotletów schabowych pozdrawiam twórcę tego filmiku mile i serdecznie 👍👍👍👍

[@Akathepriest]

Why go through the sandblasting process on some parts where the next step is wire wheel?

[@AcmeRestorations]

I like to be thorough.

[@hectorescalona8945]

Una restauración compleja para una herramienta común y sencilla. Un dos por ciento de aceptación

[@_BLANK_BLANK]

Aw man you've got to always show a demonstration at the end! Lol nah, great video though. A lead hammer seems like such a great idea. Lead is cheap, its soft so it's not going to marr up what you're hitting, heavy so you can use less of your own strength and let the hammer do the work. These seem like great tools. I'm guessing we don't see them anymore because, well. Its lead. I would love one of these though.

[@npfrestoration]

very good i like it

[@carrestore]

good job

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks

[@jasonsummit1885]

You could also use tin solder as a substitute for lead if you didn't want to work with something as toxic.

[@AcmeRestorations]

Tin's not very dense, so it wouldn't be a very heavy hammer.

[@jasonsummit1885]

@@AcmeRestorations What about pewter? It's relatively heavy.

[@silvahawk7109]

Infinite hammer cheat code! Awesome work. You should make Thor's hammer 😂

[@AcmeRestorations]

A Thor's hammer sized lead hammer would weigh about 90 pounds :)

[@Ivegotwormsinme]

You know how when you order a hamburger and fries then go home to eat it, and when you take it out of the bag only to find a few onion rings at the bottom and you're like "Yeah! Bonus food!"? That's this video.

[@AcmeRestorations]

LOL!!!

[@fnafplayer6447]

Surprised you didn't use bluing solution

[@nicks3521]

Did the hammer come with the recasting tool, or was that part of the extended warranty?

[@villegasluisalfredo]

Excelente trabajo. Lo que me intriga... es saber para que se utiliza o utilizaba... un martillo de plomo ??? Saludos... desde Argentina.

[@MrMarkRoads]

I like your hammer.

[@capers72424]

How many times did you cast the hammer heads to get that beautiful result? Was there only the one learning casting?

[@AcmeRestorations]

The first hammer I did 3 times, the second one came out perfect the first time.

[@capers72424]

@@AcmeRestorations thanks for showing the learning casting. I thought it looked neat, like wood grain. I appreciated the explanation of what you saw there, and how it had happened.

[@peterpaliwoda1527]

What are ( or were ) they used for ? please

[@Gawrik94]

Дома есть/точно где то был такой молоток , и я в первый раз за свои 30 лет вижу его в новом виде, да еще и ремкомплект специальный

[@adammosher1115]

I make musket balls and fishing weights were do you get led or do you salvage it

[@AcmeRestorations]

The lead was from fishing weights that I found in my family's boat house. Also helped clean out a friend's shop and got a bunch from that. If I were looking for cheap lead on the regular, I'd ask tire places for their used tire balance weights.

[@adammosher1115]

@@AcmeRestorations ok I'll give it a try

[@gamerinduty8971]

What kind of job a led hammer can do????

[@marcuscicero9587]

both are gorgeous

[@goat5635]

If watching KZbin taught me any thing I believe were he went wrong was not preheating the mold before at the lead and letting them both cool down at the same time

[@Trinexx]

Why would a lead hammer be used over rubber or brass? The handle seems to be some form of rubber so lack of access to rubber doesn't seem likely to me.

[@AcmeRestorations]

3 pounds of brass is $$$. Lead is cheap and more malleable. Also, a bit dated. A rubber dead blow hammer is the modern equivalent, but you have to throw them away when they get beat up.

[@chadwedul1787]

Is yours the same outfit that supplies Wile E Coyote?

[@drlegendre]

"Looks like the lead wasn't hot enough.." Nor did I see you preheat the mold. Did that occurr off-camera?

[@AcmeRestorations]

You can see me pre-heat the mould with the torch in the second two pours.

[@davidjohnston330]

PERFECT 👌👌👌👌

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks 😆

[@larrygeorge3599]

It's called bluing. Not blacking. You put the metal in a cold cast. You always preheat your cast and allow it to cool slowly with the part. Good job though.

[@AcmeRestorations]

Well my blacksmithing book calls it 'blackening'. I've done several types of blueing on other projects using hot salts. I sure wouldn't classify this as blueing. Seems everything under the sun these days gets labeled as 'blueing'. Hell, there are a dozen videos on KZbin of people just heat coloring steel calling it 'blueing'. You're right about pre-heating. You'll notice I did that in the two casts that turned out. Spaced it on the first one. Thanks for watching.

[@tracybowling1156]

So you treated the mold like you would a cast iron skillet? Is this made of cast iron? I'm very curious! ☺️

[@AcmeRestorations]

Sure did. I believe it's cast iron. It could be cast steel but most likely cast iron.

[@jimmymckay73]

You should get yourself a makers mark .

[@AcmeRestorations]

I actually thought about that for this project but ran out of time. Maybe in future projects. Thanks for watching.

[@warrenmusselman9173]

Sweet job making your own hammer. Did you get the original hammer and mold together?

[@AcmeRestorations]

No I found the separately. The hammers are fairly easy to find; the mould was the hard part. Thanks for watching.

[@Little_Red_Riding_Hoodlum]

Is there and fume risk when melting lead? I know zip about this type of thing.

[@AcmeRestorations]

That's a great question. Not at low temperatures. Lead melts at 621.5°F/327.5°C but won't release fumes until it hits 900°F/482.222°C. The real danger is dust and residue. Thanks for watching!

[@Little_Red_Riding_Hoodlum]

@@AcmeRestorations Thank you for the knowledge!

[@earnierosenow9834]

what would a lead hammer be used for ? seems the metal is too soft for any practical use

[@AcmeRestorations]

Lead hammers are used when you need a heavy impact but don't want to damage whatever you are hitting. They are used a lot in mechanics shops and machine shops. I will most likely use these to coerce machinery, like a vise handle, etc.

[@earnierosenow9834]

@@AcmeRestorations thank you for the info, i use a deadblow for stuff like that but now can see the thought behind this

[@rhino5419]

Hello. I think the mould is a rarer find than the hammer.

[@AcmeRestorations]

I think so too.