Rusty Old Ball Peen Hammer Restoration

I really need a small ball peen hammer. Luckily, I have a few old hammer heads laying around ready to be restored. This one was in particularly bad shape, but with a little elbow grease it turned out great.
The restoration begins with cleaning and grinding to get down to bare metal and get rid of as much pitting as possible. Once complete, I finish sanded everything with a fine grit to make everything look nice. While I could have polished it at this point, I decided against it. I'm a fan of the brushed metal look, and, with the forest green paint, I think it has a really nice look.
Don't ever let anyone tell you that making a handle by hand is easy, because it is not. And, I had to do it twice. After several hours of work, I cracked the first handle while trying to wedge the head on. The second handle turned out much nicer and I took the lessons learned from the first one and applied them here. Overall, I like it and will be putting it to work.
🎵 Track Info:
Title: Spaceship by jlsmrl
Genre and Mood: Pop + Funky
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[@barrycartwright6152]

Hammer heads are were drop stamped forged not cast, and the shaft were made from Hickory. The factory i worked at age 15 (1958) produced Hammers, Picks, Shovels and Forks. I started work with my dad in welding and fabrication maintainance so got to see the manufacture of the above products. One day Dad gave me a hammer head and said take that to Doris in Wood Shop and ask her to shaft it for you. She foud the correct size shaft sanded it to fit, cut slot in top of shaft fitted head to shaft and then the wooden wedge,, sanded smooth then 2 small cast wedges transverse to the head, job done. That was Doris's job 66 years ago.

[@Richard-mz7qu]

Very cool story! Thank you for sharing it. I am still a youngster at 68, but I enjoy the old time stories from fellas like you. Thanks again.

[@reecenewton3097]

Pay no attention to the naysayers who don't understand the satisfaction of bringing back an object to its new state. Sure, you can just put a handle on an old hammer and continue to use it, or you can chuck the hammer and buy a new one. But restoring an old one to "like new" is satisfying, and you learn things along the way. Bravo!

[@beerdrinker6452]

I agree.

[@Richard-mz7qu]

Well said. This is one of my hobbies. I particularly like old hand tools with wooden handles. I am working on a small ball peen that looks very much like the one in this video.

[@neraklrllessur8844]

Good dealing filing casting marks! I hate when some guys skip it.

[@peterkolovos3079]

My heart sunk when the handle cracked.

[@Altamahacat]

Phenomenal job! That green looks great! Keep up the good work.

[@WeekendShedHead]

Fantastic videography and transformation🙌, look forward to seeing more 👍😉cheers Rob

[@TheBeatenPaths]

Great restoration!!! Tip for you....cut some wood off the handle top before inserting the wedge. That makes it easier to get the wedge into the head hole.

[@cannoncolossus2449]

Thank you! You're absolutely right about cutting off the excess first. It makes things easier and is probably more secure, too.

[@CoolRestorations]

A channel like this needs at least 100k subs!!!!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@cannoncolossus2449]

Thanks! I appreciate it. Congratulations on the new kid by the way.

[@CoolRestorations]

@@cannoncolossus2449 Thank you! Please dont stop your channel is way better then mine, you are up there with mymechanics and others! Will you post soon?

[@cannoncolossus2449]

@@CoolRestorations yes, I will be posting again soon. I just had a kid as well and am in the middle of a renovation. Just so many projects.

[@user-ow8ru9dg8j]

Отличная работа

[@rtisom]

Magnificent

[@TDIMAXDIESEL]

Superb restoration ! Love the color 👌👍🇨🇦

[@RESTORATIONOFSCRAPMETAL]

Excellent restoration! It turned out amazing! 👍

[@TSimo113]

Very nice. One of the best I've seen.

[@thomasthompson6799]

Great restoration of a neglected old hammer. Nice recovery from the cracked handle too.

[@cannoncolossus2449]

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[@alanpecherer5705]

Very nice work! That must have been agonizing when the first handle split after all that rasping. Handles can be tricky. And they don't cost $2-$3 any more.

[@shedmanx3640]

Love the way that came up. Bloody handles, always crack or break when you least expect it. Great work mate. Absolutely looks fantastic in the green. You need a turntable for painting. Stops sticky fingers.

[@cannoncolossus2449]

Shed Man X Thanks, man. I really appreciate it!

[@57Koba]

Beautiful work!

[@ruppertale3319]

Beautiful. Is there a formula for determining the correct length of a hammer's handle, or do you go by feel?

[@cannoncolossus2449]

Good question. Personally, I go by feel. You can also look at a hammer of similar weight and go off that.

[@jongirolami4978]

Those are forging marks, not from casting. Great job.

[@CrustyRestorations]

Nice work👍👍

[@MrJruta]

Nice work of art and love the color! Thanks for sharing

[@briansworkshop01]

Fantastic job looks great thanks for sharing and remember#stay safe and make 👍👍

[@beerdrinker6452]

Fantastic.

[@azizebrahim6377]

Restore like new❤

[@diyresttube]

nice restoration.

[@roybailey1134]

Nice job well done 👏

[@mm9773]

I’m curious about the parts warsher (that’s the correct spelling, don’t @ me): I can see the advantages, but in terms of cost/ benefit or also setup/benefit: a bowl with some warm water, a cleaning agent of your choice and a good brush would do the trick, wouldn’t it?

[@cannoncolossus2449]

That works fine. The benefit for me is that there’s no cleanup and a constant stream of powerful cleaner. When I’m done, I just close the lid, unplug it, and store it under my workbench.

[@user-dx6pt9oo6h]

Hi bro 👋 very good restoration hammer 🔨 👍👌🏽

[@cannoncolossus2449]

Кошмар Кошмар Thank you!

[@davidsparrow4165]

I can`t understand why these restores have power tools such as bench grinders and not clamped down to the bench no safety and dangerous you are not the only one that i have seen doing this practice other wise good.

[@cannoncolossus2449]

Dawi Jones You’re right, I need to be better about that. I have provisions for it but sometimes don’t if it’s just something quick. Also, my workshop is on the small side so I’m constantly moving things around. Unfortunately, safety takes a backseat to convenience sometimes.

[@snap-off5383]

for small jobs a bench grinder on a bench is fine, but for big jobs you either need to sacrifice a section of your shop or you have a major cleanup in that area. I just take it outside for stuff like that, hopefully on a rather windy day. So my bench grinder is on a portable pedestal.

[@brentstephens4081]

@@cannoncolossus2449 I've got the same space problem mate, and to solve the problem of stability and safety, while also having a portable machine I bolted my bench grinder to a solid board that I can now clamp to whatever bench I am working at. Much more convieniant, much more safe too :)

[@lightningstrikelures2393]

Nice work. Disregard the idiot in the comments.

[@brandynpetersen8017]

I'm working on one right now, try to get some ideas. Looks like when you painted it, the cheeks were taped off. But in the end they were painted. Did something go wrong, or did you just change your mind?

[@MyroCraft]

Great restoration video! Well done!👍

[@cannoncolossus2449]

Thank you! You do good work, too

[@andrewgray9663]

Really nice result and good idea to add the paint finish. Isn't the striking face meant to be convex?

[@podocrypto6072]

Don't quit your day job!

[@cannoncolossus2449]

Put your money where your mouth is.

[@podocrypto6072]

@@cannoncolossus2449 LOL.... Hey softy, go back to watching "My Mechanic" to learn more, noob restore copy cat! LOL

[@cannoncolossus2449]

@@podocrypto6072 I'm still waiting.

[@GT_Racer347]

Nice color choice!

[@cannoncolossus2449]

Nixy J Morales thank you, I appreciate it!

[@bluemantom77]

Wow that ball peen Hammer looks amazing green is my favorite color I own my grandfather's 32 oz vintage Fremont thing is built like a tank and don't make them like that no more I want to restore it but I like the charm the character it has if you restore it it loses it it's different if it's a old school you find a swap meet or something but if it is hand it down by family members sometimes you don't want to restore it you just want that nostalgic feeling you don't want to be afraid just want to use it but I do want to collectors want to hang in the wall play me some vintage plumb or something

[@Richard-mz7qu]

I am working on a small ball peen that looks very much like the one in this video. There were specks of green paint still visible before I started, so I think it could be a Stanley tool.

[@bluemantom77]

@@Richard-mz7qu that's sweet I watch scout Crafter the restoration he does on tools is amazing no joke things look better than new and they are vintage tools

[@sftvierendeels]

Hello, what types of wood did you use for the handle of your hammer? (especially the first?)

[@cannoncolossus2449]

The first handle was pine and the second one was hickory.

[@sftvierendeels]

@@cannoncolossus2449 thanks

[@802Garage]

Another tool saved from returning to the Earth by Colossus! Bummer about the handle! Use a harder wood the second time? Also what was the bit at the end? Just showing a metal wedge?

[@cannoncolossus2449]

802 Garage Appreciate it. The second one was white oak vs pine for the first one. I probably could have gotten away with the pine if I sanded down the part that goes into the eye a bit more. Lesson learned, though.

[@douraidziyani5207]

It was not the right way to attach the handle

[@teawithq3351]

Really nice job! just the sort of stuff I do on my channel.

[@cannoncolossus2449]

TeaWithQ Thank you!

[@donaldfranklin5391]

Asome video

[@mateoboschify]

Great Success

[@gnolls]

Where did you get your oval metal wedge? I'm looking for a good source for them.

[@cannoncolossus2449]

I actually used a circular one and squished it in a vice. I don’t remember where I got it originally, however. It’s been so long.

[@emailapple645]

100/100

[@Anmobgoccult20]

WONDERFUL, I have no words, always super perfect and unique precise product, wonderful work and video, well done and good luck, respect from old BG. p.. It is a great pleasure for me to see that there are such precise people in the world, and that of the White race!!!

[@DonCarter4570]

😁👍🏼

[@xygarkemper6392]

It must have taken you a lot of time for that handle nice restoration well done! I subscribe!!!

[@cannoncolossus2449]

Thank you very much!

[@javertnator9881]

Bon taf bravo

[@cannoncolossus2449]

Kurt Meyer Thank you!

[@carlnikolov]

Is that a framing nail you knocked in the top?

[@cannoncolossus2449]

Are you talking about the oval thing? They make circular hammer wedges, and I just put it in a vise and crimped it to make it more oval shaped.

[@carlnikolov]

@@cannoncolossus2449 oh! Thats what that is! Thank you for explaining. Im still not sure what the rounded bit does? I have a ball pein hammer and its apparently harder for use with chisels... but the rounded bit is.. A bit of a mystery to me

[@kenwise4596]

I finally got around to restoring my fathers old hammer that had a broken handle. Im glad im not the only one who would put 500 dollars of labor into a 20 dollar hammer.

[@LaggyKikee]

When a tool like this has belonged to your family for such a long time, that tool is worth much more than 500 dollars to you. Definitely worth (and fun) restoring them.

[@DouglasAnway-ld5ei]

Nay sayers are never beneficial and should always be ignored!

[@juanchipesoa5596]

Disculpa, pero se nota mucho qué no tienes el conocimiento mínimo para utilizar las herramientas que posees. Tendrías que aprender a usarlas, para obtener un mayor provecho del trabajo, para no desgastar prematuramente tus herramientas, y por tu seguridad personal. Saludos! 🙋🏻‍♂️

[@patrickperry6945]

You have an odd way of handling shaping and grinding tools. Is that natural or an affectation for the camera? Doesn’t matter. Just odd. I don’t understand the purpose of these peening hammer “restorations”. Seems pointless to me. But, I watched your show anyway. Good luck with your videos. Replacing the handle is sometimes necessary. But other than that. What’s the point?

[@mm9773]

And there you have it: you watched it. That’s the point. I agree with you in principle: I would never take it to this so-called “better than new” point, I only ever restore things to usable condition, or maybe I change things I don’t like - but that just doesn’t make for an interesting video. Or it would be interesting to me, but not to most people.

[@russellkoon7208]

Remove to much.

[@garyh4458]

I'd just buy a new hammer and restore something more interesting.

[@robertmeade7642]

Change the water in that scrub tub. Disgusting.

[@cannoncolossus2449]

That’s not water. It’s a solvent made specifically for parts washers like this. The solvent is continuously filtered and that’s the color it is supposed to be.