Plane Hammer

[Nicholas Lingg]

I know these hammers are not traditional but does anyone use one of these to adjust there hand plane? And if so which one.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#nonmarring-hammers/=f6wujs

[Jim Barrett]

I use a small tack hammer that I had when I worked for the Telephone Co many years ago...I use it on my metal planes when I want to move the blade just a hair...works great for that far better then hit an miss with the lateral adjuster.

[Jessica Pierce-LaRose]

I use one of these (http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Hammering/Fretting_Hammer.html). I bought it years and years ago for fretting. Now it's pretty much just used for adjusting planes. I use the plastic end on wooden wedges, and the brass end on plane irons, mostly for fine-tuning the lateral adjustment on my stanley-style bench planes, but also for setting the depth on wooden planes. There are plenty of similar style hammers, but that's the one I have.

I have a nice tiny little dead blow with one brass face for fretting now.

[Jim Koepke]

I made my own out of a piece of dense hardwood for the head and a broken maple chisel handle.

214515

This one is used mostly for lateral adjustments and some depth adjusting on metal planes.

Most blade adjustments are more of a tap, not a hard whack.

With wood body planes, often a heavier hammer is needed to loosen a frozen blade.

jtk

[Jim Matthews]

Why not? The idea is to use inertia in your favor.
It think the non-marring plastic would be ideal.

Just remember, for every blade setting change - tap the wedge after.

[Derek Cohen]

Just wander over to Dave Anderson's site ... Chester Tool Works. He makes seriously good plane hammers ...

214617

Link: http://www.chestertoolworks.com/planehammers.htm

Yes, I know the Rule but, hey, it's Christmas ... :)

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Sydney Smith]

I use one of these, from the store-that-shall-not-be-named

http://tinyurl.com/79rfaft

Soft side for wedges, metal side for plane irons...works really well.

[Rob Fisher]

Just wander over to Dave Anderson's site ... Chester Tool Works. He makes seriously good plane hammers ...He does make an awful good looking plane hammer.

[David Turner]

I'm with Derek and Rob....I have had my Chester Tool Works plane hammer for about 5 years and any time I take it to a woodworker's meeting, I get at least 5 people that want to know where I got it. Looks good and works well.

David Turner
Plymouth, Mi.

[John Coloccia]

I know these hammers are not traditional but does anyone use one of these to adjust there hand plane? And if so which one.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#nonmarring-hammers/=f6wujs

It looks like many of those hammers are $20 or more. For that money, I'd much prefer either a Japanese hammer (which is what I use) or any one of the great suggestions already listed. Dave's hammer does look very nice.

[Rob Fisher]

It looks like many of those hammers are $20 or more. For that money, I'd much prefer either a Japanese hammer (which is what I use) or any one of the great suggestions already listed. Dave's hammer does look very nice.Got any suggestions for a Japanese hammer?

[Jim Neeley]

Just wander over to Dave Anderson's site ... Chester Tool Works. He makes seriously good plane hammers ...

214617

Link: http://www.chestertoolworks.com/planehammers.htm



Boy Derek, you're right there about those being some mighty beautiful hammers... and bow saws.. and awls.. and marking knives. Thank you for the Christmas cheer, and for bending the rules for one of our own! <g>

Beautiful stuff, Dave!!

[Jessica Pierce-LaRose]

I have one of Dave Anderson's marking knives, and it's just perfect. I don't "need" it, but his hammer is on my someday soon list.

[John Coloccia]

Got any suggestions for a Japanese hammer?

I have this one. It's not great, but for adjusting planes it seems to work well. I use it for other odds and ends too sometimes.

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2001993/3563/4-Oz-Hammer.aspx

They make a heavier one but I think it's too heavy for my tastes.

I know, I know....I'm denting my planes, and mushrooming my irons, and everything will fall apart in 10 years because of it. It's what I use, though. :)

[Salem Ganzhorn]

If you don't want to buy one they are pretty easy to make. Here is mine:http://photos.ganzhorn.org/album860/69CG9242I

I mostly followed David Finck's directions from his book: http://www.amazon.com/Making-Mastering-Wood-Planes-Revised/dp/140272022XThe

The hardest part is finding the brass. I ended up using a brass punch from Harbor Freight.
Salem

[Kevin Foley]

for Lee Valley fans, there's this offering. Weight and length are good. I previously used an old small brass-headed hammer that was used in gas fitting. Too heavy and the handle was too short. Nice combination in the Lee Valley product.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=46540&cat=1,41182

Brass end for irons, wood end for tapping the body, instructions for properly replacing the wooden head

[Derek Cohen]

Got any suggestions for a Japanese hammer?

Hi Rob

I use a gennou for my Japanese hooped chisels, but would not do so on chisels (or planes) that lack the protection of a steel hoop. For the latter I would recommend Dave's plane hammer, which has a wooden end (I hope your checks in the mail, Dave!).


A basic gennou is quite inexpensive, as little as $20 for a 225gm version, which is a light hammer. For my dovetail chisels I prefer a 375gm model, and I have a 450gm gennou for heavy work. My mortice chisels are oval bolstered types (wooden handles without supports), and I use a Blue Spruce mallet there.


I did write a short article on a gennou I handled, but warn you in advance that this was not an inexpensive chunk of steel!

http://inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/AHandleforaGennou.html

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Mike Holbrook]

Tools from Japan carries traditional wooden mallets for adjusting plane blades in many weights, starting at about $8, nice little hammers great for tapping wooden plane bodies or plane blades. I have the Lee Valley hammer and a small dead blow as well, all get used.

[john brenton]

I use a homemade one from a brass tee with a brass plug in one side, and a hardwood scrap wedged into the other side.

HOWEVER, I also have this little HF hammer. The plastic does mar the wood on the planes I have that don't have a button and if I replaced that this would be a perfect little plane hammer.


I use one of these, from the store-that-shall-not-be-named

http://tinyurl.com/79rfaft

Soft side for wedges, metal side for plane irons...works really well.

[Rob Fisher]

...I did write a short article on a gennou I handled, but warn you in advance that this was not an inexpensive chunk of steel!http://inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/AHandleforaGennou.htmlRegards from PerthDerek Derek, first thanks for the break down on sizes and types you use. Alway helpful to learn how others work. Second, of course you have an article on your website. :) Actually I remember reading that article before but it was just as good the second time around. I assume you like the nice hunk of steel you handled?