I enjoy your work I leather crafted in the 1970's 3 strokes and brain surgery have taken a toll on me. I have picked up my tools again to help me rehab and supplement my income. Please pray for stroke survivors and all covid families. Most of my leather tools are pre 1900's my grandfather passed me a bunch. Old School stuff have done me right. God bless you and your family. And your craft as well.Your pal Gary Justice
I have been meaning to leave a comment on this video since I first watched it last year. Being a past owner/operator of an auto body repair shop in the Midwest for 14 years and a vocational teacher for a one year auto body repair curriculum in a Southern IL Community College setting for an additional 13 years, I have been around some of the older and, more importantly, better grade of body repair hammers, and I wanted to chime in on finding and using some of the older [20's to 50's] vintage hammers. I inherited a few of the old style hammers from that man who mentored me in the late 50's to learn the trade as it was back when there was an art to moving metal back into it's rightful place on a body panel. Some of those old hammers are still found, as Don mentioned, in antique shops, barns, old mechanical auto shops, and other places if you know what you are looking for. They can be cleaned up and the faces carefully smoothed by grinding, filing, and sanding them until all of the "ding" marks and the small nicks and scratches are gone. Truth be known, many of the body men of my era and older would modify a factory made hammer to suit their style and methods of straightening sheet metal. Today, you will find few body men who even know what "moving metal" means let alone the actual "science" of how metal reacts to hammer blows, dolly reaction to the hammered metal, and how careful heat will help with removing some of the stress in metal to further displace it back to its original contour with little or no additional filling with lead [in the old days] or plastic body filler. There simply is not enough real steel sheet metal left in most of today's vehicles, just a series of plastic panels, aluminum panels, and other man made materials, which can only be removed and replaced easily. My first boss told me one day that a real body man will only use lead or plastic filler to remove the marks left by the finishing hammer or body file when the sheet metal is properly restored to its original position on the panel. But, enough of the history of auto body work and Art of Moving Metal. If you are lucky enough to find one or two of these old hammers, take the time to be precise in your cleaning and polishing of the hammer faces and you will be rewarded with a tool for which there is little to replace it if disaster ever occurs and it is stolen or damaged beyond salvation. In my estimation, tearing up a good old school body hammer would be akin to tearing up an anvil, it CAN be done but will ruin your afternoon trying to get that job done! Good luck and, Don, I really enjoyed your video, I had a carbon copy of your little body hammer which I made from an old body shop pick hammer which had been shortened by cutting off the long pick end of the hammer and carefully rounding the short tip to suit my needs in the shop. That was in 1958 and I still had that hammer up until all of my tool boxes were stolen from a storage building here on the Florida Panhandle in 2006. I felt no worse than when I lost my best friend 2 years later. He was a chocolate lab named Robbie, and old age and a few old age problems finally took him during his morning nap on my back deck one sunny morning. I pray that I leave this planet the same way when it is my turn to go .......
I saw this video two weeks ago. It inspired me, the worst leather-tooler who ever lived, to try the 16 .oz Barry King tapered maul. When it arrived a few days ago, I used it immediately and the difference is like night and day from my other hammers. My tooling went from zero to ninety three in 0.0 seconds. I will never be without this hammer! Thanks, Don!
I have a split tailed tack hammer in my shop and if you will check, the split is slightly magnetic and is used to hold flat head tacks. You can then put the tack on the magnetic split tail and hammer it to start rather than try to hold a short tack with your fingers. I may not be explaining it very well but I use mine a lot with 3/4" long flat head tacks.
BEST hammer instruction ive found. Convinced me the hammer/maul is important enough to spend the bucks on. I visited your web sight and bought two e books. Looking forward to watching more of your videos and continue checking out your web sight. THANKS!!
Don thanks for the great videos you pass along some great knowledge that's sometimes almost impossible to get again thank you and keep up the good work
Mr Gonzales, that split tail hammer is a tac hammer. My father used one for almost 50 years as a furniture upholsterer. His was a little smaller. It has a magnetic tip on the split end, he would toss a few tacks I his mouth and place them on the hammer one at a time. He would set the tack with the magnetic end then flip it around and drive it home. Thank you for all you've taught me. Fredo, Star Leather USA
Wow! I always wondered myself, each side of the split is a magnet with different poles on them, only reason I know is reading your post and I researched it myself, thanx for your post
Greetings from the Great White North. Very informative lesson about hammers. I just picked up the exact same French cobblers hammer at a garage sale. I just fixed the handle and I am waiting to use it. The really small french hammer is for engraving, used primarily by Gold and Silversmiths. Thanks for posting this excellent video. Take care.
I took my cs Osborne saddlers hammer and ground off the split part on the head. I then rounded and polished both faces and it is indispensable for shoe making and the split end is great for laying stitches down flat.
If I may add, a hard wood mallet is good to work with too, like one that I made yesterday where it had a birch wood handle, and then a purple heart wood head to it. Purple heart wood not only is naturally purple and looks nice, but it also is a very hard dense wood, and it can take a decent pounding. If you have a piece of purple heart wood, or walnut wood, or something of that sort that is very hard and dense, and a birch dowel that is 7/8's inch, you can make a decent mallet for very little money.
Super helpful vid, Don. Helps me justify my Horse Brand tools purchase;) There are just too many awesome hammers on that website but their uses are sometimes mystifying! You've helped clear a bit of othat up for me. Thanks!
My first one was wood from Tandy at 17 I made a pair of knee high moccisans. At 45 I still have those and wear them lol. I also use that hammer for my silver smithing. I love my hammers💜✌yes I still have that wooden hammer and I use it
I collect hammers and hatches and replace handles. I use hickory all hand made. I have a 200 plus year old stitching saddle that came to me that really helps my work old school as we say.
as always RESPECT! to you and the knowledge you'r sharing ..i hope some day you gonna make a video about painting with Angelus metallic acrylic color with the antic process stain..etc...etc.. what do you suggest:: when i dye a project i put some times tan kote like you suggested in the *painting on leather video* and other times i use leather balm with Atom WaX..and for the sealing i been using lately snow proof aerosol or something similar ..my question is now: if i wanna put some grease/conditioner like Aussie should I apply the Aussie & buffing before or after the aerosol sealing? ps man sorry for my long explanation..i just have difficulties writing with a few words in English. Thank you in advance DoN ( :
Tack hammer. Usually magnetized. Used for upholstery. You can pull the fabric tight with one hand and anchor it with the other hand with a tack on the magnetized tip.
I'd love 2 work in a leather shop like yours, after I retired from the oilfield I got into leather work and I got addicted of course, I work in my living room and get by but I'm limited of things I can do, there's nobody I know of here in Frisco Texas that has a shop and love to open one up
The split end of the tack hammer is for starting a tack. You put the tack in the slot and swing hard enough to set the tack then turn the hammer around and finish driving it
I’ve just started watching your videos and I’m so damn glad I found them!! I have just started tooling and you’ve made it much easier to start learning. I’m not sure if you’ve said in one of your videos but where’s your shop located??
I believe the very small hammer is for very small brads or escutcheon pins You use the flat end to start the pin If you miss the pin the end wedges between your fingers instead of mashing them
Those two hammers that you have not identified are used for installing carpet and both should have a magnetized end the one with the split end....the magnetized end is the split end....now since this video was posted 7 yrs ago you may have already told but in case you haven't there you have it :)
Yes Sir & if you ever swing that small maul hard & miss your stamp & hit you hand or wrist you will have a few choice words to say. I have done that a few times so I bought a heavier 1 for that very reason.
Those tiny hammers are also used for box making, jewelry boxes, spice drawers etc... and some upholstery work. Think of the applied fancy scroll work trims... must have small hammer!
I the smallest hammer is for engraving i think but the tapered back dose not make sense. the light wight handle makes it easy to grip lower on the handle "adding more momentum to the head". you could hammer what ever your hammering very fast. weld a larger head on and wedge the handle to the head and it mite replace the small maul for tooling.
Could be. I just had a look at Fretz Website and their Riveting Hammer HMR-406 looks quite similar on the business Ends. But if or if not, it´s a nice conversation Piece.
I noticed you mentioned college a few times while talking about the hammers. If you don't mind telling, what did you do in college? Did you study leatherwork?
No sir, I studied animal science with an emphasis on biological science. I was working towards becoming a veterinarian... now I do surgery on dead cows with a focus on dermatology! Lol! Thanks brotha!
The second tack hammer you showed with the split tail. you mention you didnt know what the split end was for. It to hold the tack and set it with one swing, then spin the hammer and continue driving the tack in. We used them in upholstery usually in restoring older furniture. Edit: the new ones use a magnet instead of a split tail. ruclips.net/video/JXVe1ks5RLY/видео.html
I enjoy your work I leather crafted in the 1970's 3 strokes and brain surgery have taken a toll on me. I have picked up my tools again to help me rehab and supplement my income. Please pray for stroke survivors and all covid families. Most of my leather tools are pre 1900's my grandfather passed me a bunch. Old School stuff have done me right. God bless you and your family. And your craft as well.Your pal Gary Justice
I Love your sign in the back "Good Work ain't Cheap and Cheap Work Ain't Good!! Amen Brother!!
Very helpful. You just saved me a lot of money!
I have been meaning to leave a comment on this video since I first watched it last year. Being a past owner/operator of an auto body repair shop in the Midwest for 14 years and a vocational teacher for a one year auto body repair curriculum in a Southern IL Community College setting for an additional 13 years, I have been around some of the older and, more importantly, better grade of body repair hammers, and I wanted to chime in on finding and using some of the older [20's to 50's] vintage hammers. I inherited a few of the old style hammers from that man who mentored me in the late 50's to learn the trade as it was back when there was an art to moving metal back into it's rightful place on a body panel.
Some of those old hammers are still found, as Don mentioned, in antique shops, barns, old mechanical auto shops, and other places if you know what you are looking for. They can be cleaned up and the faces carefully smoothed by grinding, filing, and sanding them until all of the "ding" marks and the small nicks and scratches are gone. Truth be known, many of the body men of my era and older would modify a factory made hammer to suit their style and methods of straightening sheet metal. Today, you will find few body men who even know what "moving metal" means let alone the actual "science" of how metal reacts to hammer blows, dolly reaction to the hammered metal, and how careful heat will help with removing some of the stress in metal to further displace it back to its original contour with little or no additional filling with lead [in the old days] or plastic body filler. There simply is not enough real steel sheet metal left in most of today's vehicles, just a series of plastic panels, aluminum panels, and other man made materials, which can only be removed and replaced easily. My first boss told me one day that a real body man will only use lead or plastic filler to remove the marks left by the finishing hammer or body file when the sheet metal is properly restored to its original position on the panel. But, enough of the history of auto body work and Art of Moving Metal.
If you are lucky enough to find one or two of these old hammers, take the time to be precise in your cleaning and polishing of the hammer faces and you will be rewarded with a tool for which there is little to replace it if disaster ever occurs and it is stolen or damaged beyond salvation. In my estimation, tearing up a good old school body hammer would be akin to tearing up an anvil, it CAN be done but will ruin your afternoon trying to get that job done!
Good luck and, Don, I really enjoyed your video, I had a carbon copy of your little body hammer which I made from an old body shop pick hammer which had been shortened by cutting off the long pick end of the hammer and carefully rounding the short tip to suit my needs in the shop. That was in 1958 and I still had that hammer up until all of my tool boxes were stolen from a storage building here on the Florida Panhandle in 2006. I felt no worse than when I lost my best friend 2 years later. He was a chocolate lab named Robbie, and old age and a few old age problems finally took him during his morning nap on my back deck one sunny morning. I pray that I leave this planet the same way when it is my turn to go .......
Thank you...
I saw this video two weeks ago. It inspired me, the worst leather-tooler who ever lived, to try the 16 .oz Barry King tapered maul. When it arrived a few days ago, I used it immediately and the difference is like night and day from my other hammers. My tooling went from zero to ninety three in 0.0 seconds. I will never be without this hammer! Thanks, Don!
I have a split tailed tack hammer in my shop and if you will check, the split is slightly magnetic and is used to hold flat head tacks. You can then put the tack on the magnetic split tail and hammer it to start rather than try to hold a short tack with your fingers. I may not be explaining it very well but I use mine a lot with 3/4" long flat head tacks.
That little French one is indeed a French goldsmiths hammer...Thank you for a great video.
Yes, I have a small one for metal forming silver - it's a cross pein hammer. I'm new at leather, so your videos are extremely helpful and appreciated.
Thanks dude,right to the point,no water, truly professional.
BEST hammer instruction ive found. Convinced me the hammer/maul is important enough to spend the bucks on. I visited your web sight and bought two e books. Looking forward to watching more of your videos and continue checking out your web sight. THANKS!!
Ok. I’ve watched a BUNCH of leather videos. You’re my favorite, for all the good it does you. :-)
Don thanks for the great videos you pass along some great knowledge that's sometimes almost impossible to get again thank you and keep up the good work
Mr Gonzales, that split tail hammer is a tac hammer. My father used one for almost 50 years as a furniture upholsterer. His was a little smaller. It has a magnetic tip on the split end, he would toss a few tacks I his mouth and place them on the hammer one at a time. He would set the tack with the magnetic end then flip it around and drive it home.
Thank you for all you've taught me.
Fredo, Star Leather USA
Awesome! Thanks!
Wow! I always wondered myself, each side of the split is a magnet with different poles on them, only reason I know is reading your post and I researched it myself, thanx for your post
Greetings from the Great White North. Very informative lesson about hammers. I just picked up the exact same French cobblers hammer at a garage sale. I just fixed the handle and I am waiting to use it. The really small french hammer is for engraving, used primarily by Gold and Silversmiths. Thanks for posting this excellent video. Take care.
+Jean-Marc Labonte thank you so much!!! I’m sure y’all are cooler up there than we are down here right now! Lol!
I took my cs Osborne saddlers hammer and ground off the split part on the head. I then rounded and polished both faces and it is indispensable for shoe making and the split end is great for laying stitches down flat.
Very cool topic. I wish more people would give little tid bit information like this. Sometimes it is worth more.
If I may add, a hard wood mallet is good to work with too, like one that I made yesterday where it had a birch wood handle, and then a purple heart wood head to it. Purple heart wood not only is naturally purple and looks nice, but it also is a very hard dense wood, and it can take a decent pounding. If you have a piece of purple heart wood, or walnut wood, or something of that sort that is very hard and dense, and a birch dowel that is 7/8's inch, you can make a decent mallet for very little money.
Super helpful vid, Don. Helps me justify my Horse Brand tools purchase;) There are just too many awesome hammers on that website but their uses are sometimes mystifying! You've helped clear a bit of othat up for me. Thanks!
My first one was wood from Tandy at 17 I made a pair of knee high moccisans. At 45 I still have those and wear them lol. I also use that hammer for my silver smithing. I love my hammers💜✌yes I still have that wooden hammer and I use it
LOVE your hammers! I am a hammer fanatic! I have some that I have made myself that "I JUST NEEDED!"! Keep on hammerin'!
+TheJamestat2 thanks a bunch!
I collect hammers and hatches and replace handles. I use hickory all hand made. I have a 200 plus year old stitching saddle that came to me that really helps my work old school as we say.
Super informative video. Thank you for sharing. What’s the weight of that favorite hammer of yours?
Thanks Don another fab video 👍😊 I always enjoy your vids, you mentioned a saddle bow? Info on that tool would be appreciated in a future video
as always RESPECT! to you and the knowledge you'r sharing ..i hope some day you gonna make a video about painting with Angelus metallic acrylic color with the antic process stain..etc...etc..
what do you suggest:: when i dye a project i put some times tan kote like you suggested in the *painting on leather video* and other times i use leather balm with Atom WaX..and for the sealing i been using lately snow proof aerosol or something similar ..my question is now: if i wanna put some grease/conditioner like Aussie should I apply the Aussie & buffing before or after the aerosol sealing?
ps man sorry for my long explanation..i just have difficulties writing with a few words in English.
Thank you in advance DoN ( :
Great video, I would love to see more like this.
Tack hammer. Usually magnetized. Used for upholstery. You can pull the fabric tight with one hand and anchor it with the other hand with a tack on the magnetized tip.
I'd love 2 work in a leather shop like yours, after I retired from the oilfield I got into leather work and I got addicted of course, I work in my living room and get by but I'm limited of things I can do, there's nobody I know of here in Frisco Texas that has a shop and love to open one up
gene Pohlemann I do mine in an apartment in Richardson. We just make do with what we have. Cool part of working with leather.
I love a good tool review! Thanks for sharing!
The split end of the tack hammer is for starting a tack. You put the tack in the slot and swing hard enough to set the tack then turn the hammer around and finish driving it
I really enjoyed this video. Watched it from start to finish. You are humorous. 27:15 “shake head” got me laughing out. Haha
I’ve just started watching your videos and I’m so damn glad I found them!! I have just started tooling and you’ve made it much easier to start learning. I’m not sure if you’ve said in one of your videos but where’s your shop located??
I'm just starting and had no idea what tools I would need and when and how to use them . Thanks
I believe the very small hammer is for very small brads or escutcheon pins
You use the flat end to start the pin
If you miss the pin the end wedges between your fingers instead of mashing them
Those two hammers that you have not identified are used for installing carpet and both should have a magnetized end the one with the split end....the magnetized end is the split end....now since this video was posted 7 yrs ago you may have already told but in case you haven't there you have it :)
Yes Sir & if you ever swing that small maul hard & miss your stamp & hit you hand or wrist you will have a few choice words to say. I have done that a few times so I bought a heavier 1 for that very reason.
Those tiny hammers are also used for box making, jewelry boxes, spice drawers etc... and some upholstery work. Think of the applied fancy scroll work trims... must have small hammer!
What about hammer style mauls? What would be their application?
I the smallest hammer is for engraving i think but the tapered back dose not make sense. the light wight handle makes it easy to grip lower on the handle "adding more momentum to the head". you could hammer what ever your hammering very fast. weld a larger head on and wedge the handle to the head and it mite replace the small maul for tooling.
The shape and size of the last one reminds me of a Riveting Hammer for Goldsmiths/Jewelry.
+Markus_B that makes sense! Maybe it is...
Could be. I just had a look at Fretz Website and their Riveting Hammer HMR-406 looks quite similar on the business Ends.
But if or if not, it´s a nice conversation Piece.
+Markus_B sweet man thanks! I will have to check it out! And yes it is a funny little hammer to show folks when they come by!
looks the same as a watch makes hammer just bigger try a clock maker ?
Definitely a jeweler's hammer. Riveting, resizing small rings...just chasing metal.
I noticed you mentioned college a few times while talking about the hammers. If you don't mind telling, what did you do in college? Did you study leatherwork?
No sir, I studied animal science with an emphasis on biological science. I was working towards becoming a veterinarian... now I do surgery on dead cows with a focus on dermatology! Lol! Thanks brotha!
@@DonGonzalesMaker Nice. I've been enjoying your videos. Thanks for all the tips and useful info.
The tac hammer the one with a split head the split should be magnetic pick up tac and drive it in no holding it
My Old Man had a shop full of different hammers, He knew where to look for them too.
That magnetic split tailed @ 32:00 is an upholstery hammer.
I got hammered watching this video!
🤪👍
It is a watch makers hammer.
That tiny hammer is a swiss jeweler's hammer. I use mine for really small nails in tight spaces.
Only time I use the poly or rawhide mallet is if I am tooling light weight leather.
Possibly a watch makers hammer on that small hammer
The little hammer is just a riveting cross pein, It's use is a simple one.
Oh yeah! Got to make me an ugly bouncer! I could really use one of those! Got some old glass door handles I could use! Genius!
+TheJamestat2 heck ya man! Get after it!
The second tack hammer you showed with the split tail. you mention you didnt know what the split end was for. It to hold the tack and set it with one swing, then spin the hammer and continue driving the tack in. We used them in upholstery usually in restoring older furniture. Edit: the new ones use a magnet instead of a split tail. ruclips.net/video/JXVe1ks5RLY/видео.html
Yes & punches, snaps & rivets.
Makes sense,i need another hammer.
That hammer is a French jewelers hammer.
that french hammer sure looks like a railroad spike turned in to a hammer
*stop* hammer-time!
Thanks for the info but you repeat every point ten times.