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Thread: Plane adjusting hammer?

  1. #1

    Plane adjusting hammer?

    What should I look for in a hammer for adjusting plane blades? Do you have a favorite?

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    I don't have any wood planes, so I don't use one all that much. The hammer I have has brass on one end and wood on the other. It is quite small. Not sure where I got it. It looks a lot like the wile plane hammer on the lee valley website.

  3. #3
    James - take a look at Harry J Epstein. They've had a small brass hammer on closeout that should work.

  4. #4
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    Go to Lowes and Home Depot. They both can help you.

  5. #5
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    It depends on the plane or spokeshave on which it is to be used.

    For my wooden molding planes an upholsterer's hammer or a tack hammer is often used to set the blades. A wooden mallet is used to hit a plane on the heel to remove blades.

    Tack Hammer.png

    A tack hammer at most hardware stores is likely less than $10.

    Sometimes my small shop made plane hammer is used:

    Plane Tapper hammer mallet.jpg

    The head on this is made from a scrap of lignum vitae.

    This is also used on my pre-lateral Stanley/Bailey planes and block planes.

    This is the only percussion adjuster used on my metallic spokeshaves.

    jtk
    Last edited by Jim Koepke; 01-15-2021 at 11:30 AM. Reason: Added tack hammer image
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
    - Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

  6. #6
    I made a hammer out of about 2" of 3/4" brass square stock. Drill a 3/8" hole in the bar, chamfer the edges with a file, and make a handle that fits in the hole. Then I glued about 3 layers of suede to one face for hitting the wooden parts of the plane.

    At center-right below:
    IMG_20190818_211251.jpg
    Last edited by Joshua Lucas; 01-15-2021 at 11:50 AM. Reason: added photo

  7. #7
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    I’ve used what Jim uses for years, a very small tack hammer and wooden carvers mallet. Light taps with a tack hammer will not damage any blade, even on the smallest spokeshave.

  8. #8
    Here's a link to HJ Epstein - $11 brass hammer 8 oz - https://www.harryepstein.com/tool-ty...lose_out=9&p=2

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stephen Rosenthal View Post
    I’ve used what Jim uses for years, a very small tack hammer and wooden carvers mallet. Light taps with a tack hammer will not damage any blade, even on the smallest spokeshave.
    Light tapping on the handle will withdraw the blade. This is why my preference is to use a small wooden tapper. The tack hammer might chip the japanning or sully any plating.

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Rathhaus View Post
    Here's a link to HJ Epstein - $11 brass hammer 8 oz - https://www.harryepstein.com/tool-ty...lose_out=9&p=2
    That was funny. Fortunately there is one further down the page > https://www.harryepstein.com/grace-8...ss-hammer.html

    My rust hunts these days include looking for small pieces of brass that may be usable as hammer heads.

    jtk
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
    - Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

  10. #10
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    No self-respecting hobbyist would ever use such a thing, but not being a hobbyist, I keep one of these in each molding plane toolbox, and a few others laying about. That, and a cheap brass head 4oz. hammer off ebay.

    https://www.estwing.com/products/red...-mallet-hammer

    It's never marred a plane body, or wedge.

  11. #11
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    I like that Tom. Thanks for sharing.
    I have a vintage hammer with two plastic faces, but the plastic is extremely hard clear ( like on the old clear type screw drivers).

  12. #12
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    You can find them hanging with the other hammers in Home Depot. I don't think Lowes carries Estwing now, at least, ours doesn't.

    https://www.homedepot.com/p/Estwing-...FH12/202183882

    You can probably get them from Amazon, but the cost will probably be higher, to cover the free shipping.

  13. #13
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    [QUOTE=Jim Koepke;3088918]Light tapping on the handle will withdraw the blade. This is why my preference is to use a small wooden tapper. The tack hammer might chip the japanning or sully any plating.

    I use the tack hammer only to adjust the blade, never on the body. It has a 3 oz. head and I’ve never had a mishap. And frankly I wouldn’t care if I ever chipped the japanning on one of my old Stanley spokeshaves - they’re not exactly NIB. 😊 Even though it’s brass, an 11 oz. head seems heavy for this particular task. The only wooden plane I have is a coffin smoother; that’s when I use a wooden mallet on the body.

  14. #14
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    I use this Wile Plane Hammer from LV

    75A153F8-85CF-4B89-BD3E-461387EBA0FD.jpg

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Rathhaus View Post
    James - take a look at Harry J Epstein. They've had a small brass hammer on closeout that should work.
    +1 on the Grace second sold by HJE.

    Mine has a Black Delrin face on one side, raw brass on the other.

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