A new (to Me) hammer

I've wanted one of these for a while, in a heavier size than the ones most commonly available. They are also often quite expensive.

This was on Ebay, in a sad state, but no chips or dents in spite of being quite old. The handle had thirteen nails driven into the eye in a failing attempt to keep the head on!

Traditionally handles are fitted tightly and mounted without wedges, but I ended up using them. White oak, tung oil. Rough shaping on bandsaw, then drawknife and spokeshaves.

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Does that particular style have a name? A specific "used-for" task? Ain't never seen one before.

Sometimes called 'sakikiri', but names vary in different regions. Basic carpentry hammer although also made in small sizes.

I used it on the job this afternoon, & was pleased, but not used to the perfectly flat face.

Nice! Is it laminated? And how I’d you restore the finish? Looks to be about 400g?

Nice job on the restoration.

It is one strange looking hammer. It looks like the weight forward on the head might take a little getting used to the balance.

jtk

I seem to remember that the pointy end was used to set nails with...nails, not brads..

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Originally Posted by Christopher Charles

Nice! Is it laminated? And how I’d you restore the finish? Looks to be about 400g?

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Thanks. I can't see any laminations. I just used a wire wheel and a little fine sandpaper, and cleaned up the face on a stationary belt sander. I didn't weigh the head alone, but it is now ~560g, so that's a good guess.



I haven't been to Japan, but this style is commonly seen in carpentry videos from there.

For instance, here at 2:27 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS1PmJcQbuA

I just watched a YouTube video of a Japanese carpenter using the same type of hammer on a house build. Looks good for driving nails and pins on the pointy end.

Got another one. This is a recent machine made hammer- even has a bar code sticker, but a decent oak handle, & 24 oz total weight.
I'll let is settle for a while, and reset the handle. Japanese make skinny handles, so this will be built up- I use hockey tape and cord, similar to what Rob Cosman does.

The previous one has been working great- using it on the job.


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Japanese make skinny handles, so this will be built up- I use hockey tape and cord, similar to what Rob Cosman does.

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For a good grip, my favorite is the rubber strips the 'vampires' at the hospital use when drawing blood. They tend to throw them out after a single use. They are usually happy to let me keep mine. They are also helpful for my old hands when taking a lid off of a jar.

jtk

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Originally Posted by Jim Koepke

For a good grip, my favorite is the rubber strips the 'vampires' at the hospital use when drawing blood. They tend to throw them out after a single use. They are usually happy to let me keep mine. They are also helpful for my old hands when taking a lid off of a jar.

jtk

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Yes, I snagged a couple of those the last time I had blood drawn.

Here's the whole current spread of Japanese hammers, plus a few others.
The carpenter hammer on the left I used many years ago- I liked the long neck, but the claw was useless, and the bullseye pattern on the face could be incriminating. The handle broke, but I had a handle & just put it on. The hatchet doesn't get used much. One of the ball peen ones has polished faces for metalwork. I only got the rubber/plastic one a few years ago- very handy. The middle one with the shaped handle is the primary chisel hammer.

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