My Hammer

[Allan Froehlich]

This is a picture of a hammer I built. Mabey it classifies as a small mallet.

This one does it all! It is made from scraps of Brazillian Cherry and maple with two layers of scrap leather on one face. The maple has no real reason to be in there other than esthetic purposes. The whole thing is actually held together with contact cement. IIRC, this was my first time using contact cement on anything. I had also recently installed a bench clamp which I used to hold the assembly for the ever-breif contact cement clamping time. I finished it with a coat of arm-r-seal.

This has become the most-used "hitting tool" in my arsenal. Most of the people that I show my shop to are surprised that I use this hammer made from scrap wood rather than some $50 composite specialty tool. It does all but hammer nails. I'd say it is absolutely perfect for lightly tapping on chisels of all sizes, espically with its leather face.

The hammer is sitting on my workbench, which i built to mimic the deck of a ChrisCraft with maple and lyptus.

If there are five tools that I always know the location of in my shop, this is number 1.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=78997&stc=1&d=1199993084
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=78999&stc=1&d=1199993793

[Bill Houghton]

Nice benchtop too.

[Sam Yerardi]

Nice job!! And I also like the bench top!

[Dale Osowski]

Nice looking tool. Where abouts in Milwaukee are you?

Dale

[Steve Clardy]

Looks nice and handy!

[Greg Funk]

The hammer is very nice but I'd like to see pictures of your bench!

Greg

[Allan Froehlich]

Nice looking tool. Where abouts in Milwaukee are you?

Dale

I live in the Third Ward, but I go up to my Dad's in Cedarburg where all of my tools are.

BTW- I used to deliver pizzas for Leonardos.

[Dale Osowski]

Cedarburg is a nice place. I had a studio in the Cedar Creek Settlement a few years ago. Have you ever visited Charley Radtke's shop in Cedarburg?

Dale

[Allan Froehlich]

Didn't know about him till now. The name does sound familiar.

Lately I have been thinking about getting a studio to work out of. I want to upgrade my tools, but some of the ones I want to buy are too big to get down into the basement.

While working in Mequon, I mentioned that I did woodworking to just about every house I delivered to. Most people wanted to see things that I built, so I kept a small table in the back of my car and would pull it out to show people. Many wanted me to build something for them, but I am already backed up with work till next summer. The limiting factor on speed is that I have to move all of my tools around whenever I want to switch from one to another.

[Dale Osowski]

Here is some info on Charley Radtke, http://charlesradtke.com/insider/MagazineArticleNew.htm

Dale

[Jim Becker]

Whatever you want to call it...it's VERY nice!

[Allan Froehlich]

I need to meet Charley. His building style and mine are rather similar. I also hope to write a book some day.

[Allan Froehlich]

Thread bumb...

My dad came across Charley Radtke's wife at the grocery store yesterday and she said she'd try to find a time for me to meet him. It turns out that he seems to be top-dog when it comes to woodworking in Cedarburg. Everyone knows who he is.

[Dale Osowski]

Another thing to do, if you haven't done so already is attend this years http://www.finefurnishingsshow.com/

See you there,
Dale