Polish Cobbler's Hammer?

[MtlBiker]

I just received my first real leather cobbler's hammer... it's made by Osborne.

The head isn't as smooth or blemish free as I'd expected... should I worry about it?  Or should I try to polish it up (if so, how)?  I've read that these hammers need to be absolutely perfect so as not to mark up the leather and that you should always be careful with them and not use them for anything other than pounding down your stitch line.

What would you do?

 

[chuck123wapati]

22 minutes ago, MtlBiker said:

I just received my first real leather cobbler's hammer... it's made by Osborne.

The head isn't as smooth or blemish free as I'd expected... should I worry about it?  Or should I try to polish it up (if so, how)?  I've read that these hammers need to be absolutely perfect so as not to mark up the leather and that you should always be careful with them and not use them for anything other than pounding down your stitch line.

What would you do?

 

i would hit a piece of leather with it and find out!

[fredk]

If thats as rough as it looks in the photo - send it back. That ain't fit for use

Go on ebay and buy an old second had one which will be in better condition

I know, in UK, but just to show you that you can get a good second-hand one cheap

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/374065234354?hash=item57180681b2:g:CHQAAOSwQMhieAwk

[MtlBiker]

1 minute ago, fredk said:

If thats as rough as it looks in the photo - send it back. That ain't fit for use

Go on ebay and buy an old second had one which will be in better condition

I know, in UK, but just to show you that you can get a good second-hand one cheap

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/374065234354?hash=item57180681b2:g:CHQAAOSwQMhieAwk

Thanks Fred.  It is indeed rough, but I'm going to first try what @chuck123wapati suggested.  Hit some leather and see what it looks like.  Have to wait until the end of the day and I go home though.

I'm very reluctant to send the hammer back.... do you remember a month or two ago when I posted about an Osborne edge creaser I'd received?  That was so sharp it was cutting the leather instead of just creasing it.  I eventually received a replacement from my dealer for it (Osborne replaced it for them) and the replacement was virtually just as bad.  I've since moved to the knockoffs that are available for dirt cheap through Amazon and they are much MUCH better that the two from Osborne.  I don't want to send the hammer back because I'd surely be labelled as a chronic complainer by the dealer.  (That might not be wrong, as I think if you're paying for something it should be usable for the task it's designed for.)

Anyway, if this marks up my leather, I'm going to find out how to buff out that roughness and polish it.  I just didn't have to expect to do have to do that.

 

[chuck123wapati]

8 minutes ago, fredk said:

If thats as rough as it looks in the photo - send it back. That ain't fit for use

Go on ebay and buy an old second had one which will be in better condition

I know, in UK, but just to show you that you can get a good second-hand one cheap

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/374065234354?hash=item57180681b2:g:CHQAAOSwQMhieAwk

lol i use an old #2 crispen cobblers hammer, it is made with marks on the face.

Just now, MtlBiker said:

Thanks Fred.  It is indeed rough, but I'm going to first try what @chuck123wapati suggested.  Hit some leather and see what it looks like.  Have to wait until the end of the day and I go home though.

I'm very reluctant to send the hammer back.... do you remember a month or two ago when I posted about an Osborne edge creaser I'd received?  That was so sharp it was cutting the leather instead of just creasing it.  I eventually received a replacement from my dealer for it (Osborne replaced it for them) and the replacement was virtually just as bad.  I've since moved to the knockoffs that are available for dirt cheap through Amazon and they are much MUCH better that the two from Osborne.  I don't want to send the hammer back because I'd surely be labelled as a chronic complainer by the dealer.  (That might not be wrong, as I think if you're paying for something it should be usable for the task it's designed for.)

Anyway, if this marks up my leather, I'm going to find out how to buff out that roughness and polish it.  I just didn't have to expect to do have to do that.

 

just touch it up with some sandpaper and get back to work. lol

[Samalan]

My hammer is like a mirror you could see your face in it I did and now it has a crack in it shit just kidding but it is like a mirror.

[MtlBiker]

32 minutes ago, Samalan said:

My hammer is like a mirror you could see your face in it I did and now it has a crack in it shit just kidding but it is like a mirror.

Was it like that when you got it?  If not, what did you do?  Sandpaper?  Like 2-4000 grit?

 

Edited May 10, 2022 by MtlBiker
typo

[battlemunky]

I have a Wuta hammer with a round face on one side and square face on the other. It wasn't as rough as yours but it still wasn't what I thought it should be so I sanded and then stropped it to a mirror polish. Mainly just because I could though... :-)

[Leescustomleather]

If you take your time and polish it, then it will mean more to you and you will treasure it for as long as you own it. But you are right it should have come that way especially the circumference of the face with that hard transition, shoddy workmanship indeed.

 

[dikman]

Looks like it's been "finished" with a fairly coarse grit belt. You can make it better (with a bit of work) by working through several grades of abrasive paper, finishing with a fine grit used wet and then polishing it. If you know someone with a belt grinder and buffer then even better, won't take long.