Why the special hammers?

[Samalan]

At my wife's daycare i do a tool class for the 4 year old's . One day i did a class on hammers one of the mothers said to me how many hammers dose a man need, then told me how mad she would be if her husband had more than one hammer.So i showed her the hammers i used for the class  around 20 of them  with explanations for all of them,  she said i never knew that,  while looking each one of them over again and again .  this was just one story i like to tell if someone brings up hammers . Northmounts explanation is all you should need it's right on .

[JazzBass]

For large stamps, the dead-blow hammer is marvelous - if you "commit" to a good solid strike, it comes right off the tool with no bounce.
I use a 2lb one for punching holes as well. Works just fine.
They are also quite inexpensive. Try one - you'll like it.

[NVLeatherWorx]

Just an FYI to all those who have had a starter kit in their past that had that little rinky-dink wooden headed hammer, it was intended to be used for tapping down your lace and not much more.  My first tool set (and this goes way back) had that little wooden hammer and a rawhide mallet (which I still have today, over 40 years later; still have the tools as well and that little wooden hammer).  

As far as "useless" I would not go that far because everything in your leathercrafter toolbox has a purpose, the trick is to find out just what purpose it will serve for you.  My mallet of choice though is, and always has been, rawhide and I haven't found anything to beat it yet.

[Aven]

I picked up a rawhide maul from Wrising.com  I really like everything about it, including the price.  It you aren't interested in a rawhide maul, they have a large selection of other styles and materials.

  http://wrising.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2

[JohnSmith48]

I am the new guy here, haven't made my introduction yet.  but I saw this topic and felt the urge to chime in.  I am an avid woodworker and woodcarver.  due to a pretty bad table saw accident a couple of years ago, I am no longer allowed to use it.  I have a wood lathe and started turning mallets of all kinds.  I saw a "metal head" mallet on a boating forum and fell in love with it.  I got the metal lathe chuck so I turn the brass heads and it just took off.

I did some leather work in high school shop class and I like it. . . . but never did it again.  now, at 72, I have rekindled the interest and started "dabbling" in the hobby again.  I use the brass metal head hammer and the rawhide mallet.  I love the small brass hammer as it takes less energy to set the stamp.  I finished a leather ammo cuff for a .410 pump shotgun today and I see myself doing more and more projects.

(I will get my intro done soon).  but here are some of the metal head hammers and mallets that I have made.  [you can find similar ones on E-Bay, etc. for decent prices].

 

Edited December 27, 2019 by JohnSmith48

[eglideride]

Beautiful! I want one! and I am sure others here will too! 

[Sheilajeanne]

The reason leather working mallets don't have metal heads is that  a metal hammer will eventually damage the top of the stamp, and possibly bend the shaft, especially if the stamp is made from cheap metal. Also, metal against metal is likely to bounce, and possibly cause a blurred or double impression of the stamp.

Your tools are GORGEOUS!!  I am sure if you ever want to make a bit of money on the side, you would find a ready market for these tools! I think I can hear the woodworkers on this board drooling over them already... 

Edited December 28, 2019 by Sheilajeanne

[Bert51]

And a Hammer for every Job.

You have made some Beautiful looking Hammers.

Bert.

[JohnSmith48]

thanks for the reviews !!

yes, there is a hammer (or mallet) for every job.  for the "lesser robust" stamping tools, I use the rawhide hammer.  and for the "more robust" stamping tools made of stainless steel, I use the brass hammers.  the silver mallets shown in the photos have either aluminum or stainless steel heads.  a mallet or hammer responds directly to the skill of the craftsman doing the work.  these are made mainly for the folks that do wood carving.  so you have a metal head impacting a wood handle.  I like the brass head hammer just because - I like it.

I guess I am a tool junkie - always experimenting.  thanks again for the kind words and Happy New Year to everyone !!

as for the original poster, and the original question;  the tools are inexpensive.  I suggest you purchase a rawhide mallet, a wood mallet, a plastic mallet and see which works the best for you and the type of work you normally do.

this is my 40 year old rawhide mallet - not the prettiest girl at the dance - but gets the job done.  this mallet lived most of its life on my paint table back when I had a sign shop.  looks aren't as important as long as it is the proper weight and size for the work you are using it for.

Edited December 30, 2019 by JohnSmith48
added photo