Short Handle Hammer Build and Foster Bros. Knife Restoration

[@not2fast4u2c]

Short Handle Hammers with a Heavy Head are just right for hitting a Center Punch You can almost drop the hammer on the punch to make a mark

[@ScoutCrafter]

You are 100% spot on... I couldn’t have described that motion better! 😃👍

[@wayneo7307]

Exactly Jim .

[@RobertSiwik1968]

I really love old tools, especially when they are brought back into service! It's so cool to restore an old tool instead of buying a new one!

[@billmccabe9601]

Those long handles are useful for gently rounding over rivet pins. The idea you mentioned about gaskets...a nice peen end tap to make a transfer gasket, like foe a head ot valve cover.

[@RightOnJonCrane]

Those Abus locks are top notch! Perhaps I need to jump in on the hammer challenge! 💪💥🤩 Thanks for a great episode John!

[@cooksoncreekfarms465]

As farmers, here's the rundown on our uses for hammers. smaller ball-peens like 4-8oz are used for small adjustment or for driving tiny pins in. larger med size are used for pretty much everything like centering bolts driving nails and pins, seating bearings and seals, etc. the bigger ones are used for nails, aligning 3-pt arms and checking tires, etc. and then there's paul bunyan's ball peen, it weighs about 30 pounds with a 4-ft handle and was made for things like tightening cutting harrow bearings and giving a tippy tap tap to items you want to adjust with an attitude and give em' a lesson they'll never forget. and if you're wondering, yes we do use stubby hammers, mostly med size for those tight spots or for added accuracy on your hillbilly impact wrench (that's when you take the wrench and start beating the fool out of the opposite end of it in the hopes that the nut breaks loose). Signed~ A. Broke Farmer - from Tennessee

[@ScoutCrafter]

You sound like you definitely know your way around a hammer! 😃👍

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Nice restores again. Love the short handled hammer.

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

Well hot damn. I've been cutting my Hammer handles short for decades, and enduring wrath from family and co-workers alike. I have been redeemed! My little 3lb maul is so worn it should be an artifact long after I'm gone. I just cut down a large brass hammer just the other day😁

[@ScoutCrafter]

Mike- That’s because you are “in the know”. Outstanding! 😃👍

[@donscottvansandt4139]

Most of my cohorts I worked with liked the short handles but I prefer the long ...the 6lb is about the biggest I can swing comfortably and accurately lol

[@dr.greggeddins1723]

As a former Science / Social Studies teacher, I really enjoy your channel. You are a great craftsman and educate greatly on your tool restorations ! I learn something new every video.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Dr. Gregg Thanks so much! I’m so glad you enjoy the content! 😃👍

[@mikek.3965]

As always, beautiful work.

[@bigmikeh5827]

That my friend is a great job!! I have revived three Old Hickory knives. A butcher, boning and a paring. Dang they stay sharp! High carbon steel but ya have to wash and dry them ASAP or they stain. Your hammer is a work of art. Now I used to say “some guys are as useless as a bag of hammers.” I’ll have to change that. Lol. Stay safe and get ready for da winter. Your furnace ready?

[@choppermike3329]

I have a few Snap On dead blow ball peen hammers. My favorite was a stubby handle huge ball peen. The plastic started coming off {it's 30 + years old} so I warranteed it and they stopped making it. So the replacement was a standard handle. That thing was so useful working under my car. Don't know why they aren't making them anymore. Great hammer resto! 😁🔨

[@jessematlock2833]

I have a very large ball pein and I love using it for working on cars with bushings where sledgehammer doesn't fit and smaller hammer doesn't have enough mass love your videos

[@DCPorter71]

Great job as usual !

[@jacksshed2450]

I like that tyre spoon! Nice lettering. Great video :)

[@donscottvansandt4139]

Yes I do use the whole handle... you get a much harder swing with the same energy. But you have to be in practice ..otherwise you will walk around with your thumb taped up for a couple weeks 😉

[@markrandall1456]

Never heard the Klein called a cable puller. Always called it a grip. Used in pulling stranded wires. Wow, you whacked that handle! But it did turn out nice. Thanks for the fun. :-)

[@glengrossnickle4985]

You turned some cheap buys into masterpieces. The hammer was my favorite. I would help the locksmith at the hospital stamping keys with numbers. He had a little light ball peen to use. The handle was to long and to small of head. I would hit the stamp and quite often hit the edge of the stamp and send it flying. That hammer would have been perfect. Stay safe and healthy my friend. Thanks

[@mr.bandyshanks6492]

LOVE THE RED PAINT. GREAT JOB!

[@Mashaandthecat]

Great video my friend ! Have a great weekend !🤗👍🔔🌹🌹🌹

[@tfknauss]

Used them all the time in the fields on farm equipment. Long handles are a must in some applications.

[@lordvengerx]

Man those 2 restorations turned out great. That red paint really set that hammer off amazing.

[@johnkelley9877]

Beautifully restored! The red on the ball peen really sets it off and I cannot believe how nice the knife turned out. Thanks for sharing this.

[@christophereddy4517]

i can definitely see the long handle coming in use in some demolition jobs.

[@essentialhandyman]

Nice work John. You're a man after my own heart with the red paint. I put red accents on most of my tools when I refurbish them too. I've just finished a hammer head and am about to re-fit the handle. I think I'll take the opportunity to shorten the handle and join in the challenge!

[@ScoutCrafter]

Outstanding! Send a pic! [e-mail]

[@tonylenge424]

Excellent knife to cut bait and fish!😀

[@adude7050]

Great video. That knife is a nice find.

[@zacharybradley7260]

Killer restorations!

[@mrbenmall]

Nicely done.

[@davidsstfarrelltighe]

I actually love long handle ball pein hammers for hitting aquard to reach ball joints on cars but on the flip side I've a short handle 10lb sledge I also love keep up the vids love to see you make old sad tools look so nice again

[@donaldallison]

It reminds me of the day I bought a sack full of Bowling Balls.

[@ironhead65]

Wow, I never saw a bag of hammers like what you described. I blacksmith and would love to have excess hammers to re-forge, cut and grind into specialized shapes. Usually find most smithing hammets are too heavy for my specific needs, as I usually work with really small stuff. If you have excess you do not need, let me know. I would love to put a few back into service, and share with my boys (teaching them smithing as well).

[@357magdad]

Both items came out great! Looks like you have enough handle left over for another hammer!

[@carldelawter8900]

Righto! Use it on little brother. That way the handle won't be wasted.

[@wayneo7307]

Hi Scout , One of my Favorite Hammers is My 4lb Drilling Hammer . Short Handle Sledge. Handy for Brakes And Chisels .

[@patjohnson3100]

Very nice save of those tools. Scoutcrafter red on the hammer looks great. I would like to find a Wizard No. 9. I see lots of old automotive wrenches, but will have to look closer to make sure I'm not passing up a Wizard. Enjoy your autumn. Thanks

[@mraamohamed]

Nice looking ball hammer I was looking around I don't think I have ever seen a manufacturer that use RED in their paint scheme, you should make a branding iron with your name or logo to add to your wood projects to make them stand out as yours just a suggestion then you could make a video on branding stuff hmmm idea. Thanks again for good videos and tips always find them useful.

[@johnfix1]

The hammer and knifer....both beautiful. Never heard of that knife before but it looks like a great one. That Masterench is the same one I recently cleaned up and the finish was a pretty copper color. I am anxious to see what yours reveals.

[@joeheilm]

Those turned out great! Cheers

[@patrickmeyer1967]

I use a long handled ball peen to drive bolts and studs into flanges on utility water pipes. A short handle would insure that I hit, cut, or broke my fingers on the bolts already in place. Also it is handy when you want to reach out and knock some sense into an apprentice.

[@ScoutCrafter]

By no means is this meant to replace a normal size hammer, this is a whole different animal. 😃👍

[@dane.4346]

Love the ScoutCrafter red on that hammer. I would sure like to see you make an ice pick with the left over hammer handle with the same finish as the hammer and knife.

[@jackthompson2132]

Nice job on both knife and hammer John. Really enjoyed your video. Thanks

[@ScoutCrafter]

Thanks Jack!

[@TomGunnTools]

That’s awesome that knife is worth so much. I love when I get a surprise like that! Hammer came out beautiful probably a good quality hammer.

[@Everythings_Adjustable]

Fun project 🔨👍👍

[@hunterwhite4954]

Would love more info about the cable pullers. And maybe a restoration of your large one? I recently found one identical to yours in my grandfathers collection. After playing with it I thought maybe it had been made for some kind of rope use but wasn’t 100%!

[@ScoutCrafter]

Hello Hunter! Absolutely! They are fantastic!!! 😃👍

[@Resto-Rob]

Awesome looking Hammer! I really like the Scoutcrafter red. Great knife. 👍

[@louoldschool7047]

I cut mine 3 times and it still too short

[@ScoutCrafter]

😂😂😂😃👍

[@paintnamer6403]

Did you try a new blade?

[@scottjones5013]

Paintnamer That's funny

[@scottjones5013]

lou oldschool I think you and paintnamer are two of the funniest comment I've ever read on KZbin thanks

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

@@paintnamer6403 lol!

[@larryborkstrom3580]

Got a old one that can be short end sounds like fun

[@LoStivale]

For $5 spent, those are some really nice tools. Great job.

[@douglasbaker3344]

another beautiful restoration Akela

[@leebrewer1190]

Knife looks better than new and so does the hammer! I guess I am no one :) All I use are three different sizes of wrenches made like the Master Wrench. I don't waste time sorting through end wrenches and box wrenches anymore. Along with my Eifel plierenches (thanks to you John), these are my go to tools.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Lee- Every tool collector needs to have a plierench in their collection. No other tool feels so substantial! 😃👍

[@tfknauss]

Like the way they look,, really nice knife for the $$

[@MadStiles]

Nice projects John! That handle could be used for another hammer lol

[@unwired1281]

If he gets em much shorter he just as well forget the handle and stick his finger in the hole! LOL

[@tombob671]

Or as a knife handle

[@MorrowSind]

They both tuned out great! Love the hammer.

[@saigaking]

What a great combo hammer and a knife wow they both look great the Hammer at that length is fantastic I did one a few weeks ago best thing I ever did great video scout god bless take care 🗽👏👍🙏🇳🇿🇺🇸

[@ScoutCrafter]

Matt- it totally changes the dynamic of that hammer! 😃👍

[@pineapplej7310]

i would reccomend adding a sharpening choil to help deal with the recurve on that blade, i recently restored a super rusted opinel paring knife and made a new handle for it. hitting it with the bench grinder and then the dremel got rid of the recurve on it in no time!

[@ArmandoLoni]

Beautiful red highlighting, J 👍🏻🔨 The piece of handle remaining - candidate for a wooden stake to kill vampires (Halloween challenge)? 😄👍🏻

[@toolrestoration]

Hey no more challenges, not enough time in my evenings any more you pair!

[@kadmaster]

I have no idea of these scissors...but I love masterrench very very much...sir...

[@stevef8993]

Great job on both the knife and the hammer! I wish I knew about about your mystery tool but I don't have a clue. I guess we won't be having our tool swap meet anytime soon by the sounds of it. No worries, I have plenty to do, I just miss shooting the breeze with everyone. 👍😀

[@ScoutCrafter]

Me too Steve! I really miss our meets!!!!

[@kevinbrassil9836]

Thanks ScoutCrafter. Nice “everyday beater” looks more like a museum piece. Great job.

[@billmccabe9601]

Customize the blade and handle? You got yourself a pro level 'Shank' from the Big House. I made a few years ago with some super wide metal banding and some scrap wood handles. Everyone at work was impressed...Maybe a challenge?

[@13thworker45]

Beautiful, I’ve never used one. Jess

[@x99j]

I use a long handle ball pein to disconnect ball joint tapered shafts. Mostly vehicle suspension work!

[@TheDomanominus]

like always... u r the boss... love your channel my friend... keep going... peace

[@Andrew-Comi]

Awesome video as always SC! Question: would you consider making a video of the tools and equipment you'd recommend for getting into tool restoration?

[@upsidedowndog1256]

Nice job on both. I prefer at least a 10" handle on ball pein hammers myself.

[@garyjones2582]

S.C. Very nice looking hammer.. I love the finish that u put on them.. Linseed oil or whatever you 🤔 use.. I was half asleep while watching it.. Knife handle came out great also.. Have a wonderful day...

[@ScoutCrafter]

Hi Gary- One coat Gunstock stain, two coats shellac and finally butchers wax... 😃👍

[@garyjones2582]

@@ScoutCrafter I'm going to try to remember that.. it looks 👌 great...

[@lewiemcneely9143]

Good deal I better leave my handles long. I might hammer myself! Thanks , Pal and GBWYou!

[@spencereagle1118]

Perhaps a small leather holster for that snubby hammer, John? For those evening walks.

[@terrybarrett6785]

GREAT IDEA.

[@alexstools]

Nice stuff, when a good candidate comes a long I'm surely going to make a short handle (you just made my to do list a bit longer LOL). Weather looks great there, we have a storm over here, just on my girlfriends birthday and are leaves are going... Normally I look forward to Fridays, but not this week.. I have the week of and man does it go by fast.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Vacations always fly bye! 😃👍

[@planejet42]

Nice finds! That hammer came out great! Can you use the other half of the handle to make another, even shorter hammer? I’m going to have to cut down one of mine.

[@vincentwesolowski459]

Ok you asked. At SEPTA, they had an “Emergency Tool Box” in the Towers along the Broad Street Subway (Now the Orange Line) and the Market Frankford Subway / Elevated (Now the Blue Line). These ball peen hammers were used for breaking off the third rail shoes from the train in an emergency. The 3rd rail power was de-energized and you needed a long handle on the hammer to be able to reach into the area where there was a notch in the casting of the 3rd rail shoe where the shoe would break.

[@lotsatrains]

Super nice jobs on both tools but now you probably could put up that knife on eBay for $75 bucks it’s just too nice to use for a beater lol!

[@miketownsend6108]

awesome job

[@Rusty_ok]

I made a 10 oz ball lien into a short handle because the head was loose and I had to cut it off. Reused the old handle and once I got it mounted properly it felt wrong in the hand so I cut it off at about 7” and rounded the end. This shorty handled guy is by far my best most used hammer.

[@ScoutCrafter]

RG- The same exact thing happened to me!!! I never would have known about a short hammer if It wasn’t by mistake! Now, like you it is a God send in the shop!!! 😃👍

[@kaledalfarhan1041]

The tool for sampling grains from the bags may be

[@ScoutCrafter]

Now THAT makes sense!!! 😃👍

[@carldelawter8900]

Thats what i thought! Remember seeing something similar used that way.

[@jim4596]

I've always wanted to ask, do you have any funny marine corps stories. Thank you for your service John.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Jim- A ton of them! 😃👍

[@jim4596]

@@ScoutCrafter Could you tell a few of them in next weeks mish mosh Monday? Cheers from Indiana😀 🇺🇸

[@rousefire]

I just bought that knife at a second hand store. Its old, real old. Reads Foster Bros on the handle.

[@prasadvn524]

I think it would have been better to have the thicker end of the handle and reshpe the handle to suit the head.That way it may be better balanced

[@zartan7779]

Love the auto wrenchs

[@tooladdict7463]

Setting the bar John that’s gonna be a hard act to follow :-)

[@toolrestoration]

John I think your mystery tool is a seed sampler or similar, did hopefully send you the link on Instagram, if not Google seed sample tool.

[@richardross7219]

I find the full handle is useful when peening rivets.

[@richardgreen3068]

We shortened the handles on hammers we used scuba diving. you can't swing a long handle under water. good video, keep up the good work.

[@ScoutCrafter]

I never thought about that! Excellent!!! Thanks!

[@mariehov1]

Everyone with several hammers knows that you need different lengths of shafts for various tasks. As an old watchmaker, you know that light hammers require longer shafts. And heavy hammers shorter.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Hi Bo! It’s funny how like you mentioned every task has a specific length, how any sane person can own only one hammer always amazed me! 😂😂😂👍

[@donscottvansandt4139]

I bought a very small pair similar to yours and have tried to use them..but they haven't been able to cut anything I've tried them on... the pitch of the blade on mine is over 80°

[@davidspinney2664]

Hi Scout crafter I have a hammer like that to loosen brake rotors when they are stuck on a small sledge works just as good

[@mikemccollum4521]

Glad the short handle works for you. I prefer a handle longer than yours for a head that heavy.😀😀

[@highdownmartin]

I’m sure John has ten hammers for every occasion!

[@bobjoncas2814]

good one

[@zartan7779]

I'll have to see if I have a ball pen hammer to use

[@RodRogers]

What you call a cable puller, we call a "Pork Chop"! One look at one & the reason is obvious! I was around them mostly in tower work. We used them to pull up the guy wires before going into the turnbuckles.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Rod! That is the perfect name for them! I put up a few amateur radio towers in my day and turnbuckles are awesome. I have a collection! Thanks!! 😃👍

[@marshville01]

You sometimes mention coatings you use on tools. Have you used Renaissance Wax Polish?

[@ScoutCrafter]

Not yet but everyone raves about it! 😃👍

[@joegreen4547]

I was going to ask if you would do a knife restoration if you didn’t do it this video

[@JohnSmith-yl6dn]

Hey ScoutCrafter. I have a multifunction M60 machine gun service tool I got in a tool haul. Nice condition. Needs a good cleaning and a demonstration speech on maybe a Monday mosh. You want it?

[@ScoutCrafter]

John- I never even seen one of those! Can you drop a pic? [e-mail]

[@Aubreykun]

Was that knife nickel plated? It had that slight yellow hue to it. Maybe just an old walnut/flax oil coating? Now you have a hammer for throwing in your motorcycle toolbox. I saw some hand tool woodworkers talk about using a "lump hammer" for chisels - big sledge head, short handle, and sort of dropping the thing on the chisel more than swinging it. A longer handle may act as a bit of a counterweight when holding it higher - japanese hammers are designed to be held where you'd choke up on them, but the handles are way long.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Excellent points and observations!!! 😃👍

[@larrykostopulos1332]

Everyone knows that hand tools call to you. Buy me, buy me. No chance to leave it behind.

[@unwired1281]

Scout I’m confused. You chop off the handle then grab past the end of the handle. 🤔

[@ScoutCrafter]

With a short handle hammer you want the end right about where your pinky and 3rd finger meet. It’s different then holding a regular hammer because you are not banging as much as tapping...

[@unwired1281]

Scout what’s in the red stack on box in the lower left can we see? Every time it shows up it pegs the curiosity meter.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Absolutely!

[@toolrestoration]

😂😂😂😂

Short hammers, more vibration goes up your arm, not enough length to absorb the shock. With a long handle you have a choice where to hold it, a short handle no choice.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Tony- Short handle hammers aren’t made for whaling on something like a stuck ball joint- they really shine for work like peening, stamping, punching, gasket making... Anyone who has one will admit it’s a highly used tool in the shop. 😃👍

[@toolrestoration]

Short hammer is great been using for years, tapity tap tap, for bang a dee bang bang I use a bigger one

[@JohnDaker_singer]

I use pliers like that to remove fishhooks from the mouths of my catches of the day.

[@Ricopolico]

Tetanus Special, maybe so, Scout, but I like my carbon steel knives. Before you hacked that ball peen handle in half, that hammer looked like the 20 oz. Plumb I keep hanging on my bench. Never thought of shortening it. I have a beater which looks like a dwarf sledge. it has a short handle and a 2# head. It's great for tight spots because you trade mass for stroke. I found out the proper name for such a hammer is a "crack" or "boiler" hammer because boiler inspectors would use them to ping a boiler listening for cracks. I picked up the "beater" handle (hah-hah) from the ironworkers I knew. To them anything with some heft to it was a beater, even a cutting torch.

[@ScoutCrafter]

I too like carbon steel knives because sharpening stainless is a whole different task.. As you know I must have 40+ Ball Peen hammers in every weight and size. This is my only BP Shorty. 😃👍