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View Full Version : Dressing hammers - show us your shinies



Petal
14-10-2009, 08:47 AM
:~:Morning Guys,

I've taken delivery of my new hammer and now want to have a go at 'dressing' it, 'cos I assume that's what you have to do before using for the first time? ATM, I have some wet and dry papers to iron out any ridges/sharp edges.

So, come on then, don't be shy, post some piccies of yours, so I have some idea of what to aim for.


422

423

424

I did ask Ps-Bond for pics of his, but he seems to be a bit quiet lately, or else he's polishing his to oblivion and a girl can only wait so long....


xx

bustagasket
14-10-2009, 11:29 AM
oo posh hammerssssssssss...........i dont really have any to rave about atm *stifles sob*

Charlotte
14-10-2009, 11:57 AM
Hmmmmmmmm interesting... can you 'dress' anything metal... wet and dry item until smooth and then give it a good oil? I have a small anvil which is a bit ridgy... I should know these things;)

Nice hammers, I desperately need to buy a good selection!

Petal
14-10-2009, 12:20 PM
I've only got one hammer and I assume that before I use it I have to dress it! or have I got that wrong then?

lesley
14-10-2009, 12:43 PM
Oh dear, I know I'm bad but up until a couple of months ago I was using a manky old claw hammer. :">
I then bought a new ball pein but am scared I'll mess it up so haven't touched it with paper or files. I rub it with a bit of oil if I'm not using it for a while. Does that count?

Petal
14-10-2009, 01:21 PM
yes, that counts! Show us a piccie then!!

lesley
14-10-2009, 01:38 PM
OK just for you.
First old faithful then new(ish) ball pein. Certainly no "dressing " here: :)

Petal
14-10-2009, 02:23 PM
Thanks very much Lesley for showing us your pic. Your hammer looks just like mine. You've got nothing to be embarrassed about Lesley, I've seen your site and you produce absolutely stunning jewellery, your hammers can't be that bad, otherwise your jewellery would be full of dings and things ;)

xx

MuranoSilver
14-10-2009, 04:28 PM
Here's a picture of some of my hammers, as you can see I keep them shiny, (especially my beloved Fretz) lol
The Scuffed up Draper one is the one I use when I'm hand stamping so that doesn't directly hit the metal.
nic xx

AlexandraBuckle
14-10-2009, 05:06 PM
Gosh they are shiny!
I didn't realise you were sposed to make them shiny until I joined this forum - I think it was PSBond who taught me that....

not that I have got round to applying wet and dry to mine yet... but I will! And then I'll post a pic :)

geti-titanium
14-10-2009, 05:33 PM
Crikey - you lot do have shiney hammers! Most of our hammers are just kept under the bench for throwing at robbers - we do have one beefy one for hammer finishing Titanium rings which we polish on the polishing motors to keep it smooth though.

434

MuranoSilver
14-10-2009, 06:08 PM
We do have one beefy one for hammer finishing Titanium rings which we polish on the polishing motors to keep it smooth though.

434

Weirdest looking hammer I've ever seen Geti ;)
Nic x

bustagasket
14-10-2009, 07:35 PM
Here's a picture of some of my hammers, as you can see I keep them shiny, (especially my beloved Fretz) lol
The Scuffed up Draper one is the one I use when I'm hand stamping so that doesn't directly hit the metal.
nic xx

ooo oooo oooo i used those posh ones at Nics!!!!!!!!! (looks lovingly at her little ring) they are to DIE for!!!:Y:

Oh god we are so sad getting ecited about bloody hammers lol#-o

MuranoSilver
14-10-2009, 07:39 PM
Lol - yes you did Su and a bloomin good job you did with it too :)

bustagasket
14-10-2009, 07:51 PM
aww shucks, now you got me blushing :P

Jayne
14-10-2009, 08:15 PM
Oh Nic, your hammers do look lush! I've only got one (two if you include the rawhide. I've been buffing & polishing that one all day but just can't seem to get that 'mirror' finish.......)
D'u think we need a new catagory on the forum........'show off your tools'? ;)
J x

MuranoSilver
14-10-2009, 08:36 PM
"show us your tools" nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo :-D
Nicx

mizgeorge
14-10-2009, 08:42 PM
I can't even begin to imagine what GETi could come up with for that one .....

bustagasket
14-10-2009, 08:43 PM
i dont think it bears thinking about on an empty stomach lol

geti-titanium
14-10-2009, 08:52 PM
I can't even begin to imagine what GETi could come up with for that one .....

Sometimes you just don't need to say anything do you? I think I've trained you all well enough now :-"

Jayne
14-10-2009, 08:53 PM
Sometimes you just don't need to say anything do you? I think I've trained you all well enough now :-"

Thank you Master Jedi.......

geti-titanium
14-10-2009, 09:05 PM
Ah young Jayne, powerful you have become, the dark side I sense in you. :X

Emerald
14-10-2009, 09:20 PM
Jayne will be ok the Force is with her!

Jayne
14-10-2009, 09:32 PM
It is true Master. On occasion I have given in to hate and slipped to the dark side. Hate of pandora beads, elizabeth duke, big gold plated dude chains.......the list goes on......
That is why, to truly embrace the force and reach Jedi Nirvana we must adorn ourselves with the tattiest plated crap we can find. Abandon the 18K gold, the platinum, the titanium for they are clearly precious and their merits will save them. It is the crap that needs to be saved. Oh yes, Master, I have seen the light......now pass me the avon catalogue......
J x

Emerald
14-10-2009, 09:40 PM
Twisted by the Shiney side young (?) Jayne has become.


enough i must go to bed lol xx

geti-titanium
14-10-2009, 09:53 PM
On occasion I have given in to hate and slipped to the dark side

A Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger, fear, hate, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path of Titanium abandonment, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, and for Christmas, nothing you will get!

Hate not the Pandora beads, for our salvation they are and Chlamydia they are not.

Clear your mind must be, if you are to discover the real villains behind this plot to swamp the universe with crap.

Jayne
14-10-2009, 09:54 PM
enough i must go to bed lol xx

How can you rest when there is the darkness of True Blood to wallow in? Get that tele on girl!! ;)
J x

Jayne
14-10-2009, 09:58 PM
A Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger, fear, hate, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path of Titanium abandonment, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, and for Christmas, nothing you will get!

Hate not the Pandora beads, for our salvation they are and Chlamydia they are not.

Clear your mind must be, if you are to discover the real villains behind this plot to swamp the universe with crap.

sorry. true blood's on. gotta wait 4 t adverts ;)

Jayne
14-10-2009, 10:07 PM
A Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger, fear, hate, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path of Titanium abandonment, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, and for Christmas, nothing you will get!

Hate not the Pandora beads, for our salvation they are and Chlamydia they are not.

Clear your mind must be, if you are to discover the real villains behind this plot to swamp the universe with crap.

But what is the crap, if not the universal symbol of all that is love and joy for all? The crap makes no distinction between duchess and whore, between the blind and the sighted for they will all be together in the waiting area of argos. The precious pieces are pure and innocent, but far from the reach of the madding crowd of shameless. The crap is universal shiny joy. Suffer the crap come unto us.
amen.
J x

geti-titanium
14-10-2009, 10:44 PM
If my answers frighten you, then you should cease asking scary questions.

GETi 25:17. "The Path of the Righteous Man Is Beset on All Sides by The inequities of the Selfish and the Tyranny of Evil Men

(I'm losing the will to think now!)

MuranoSilver
14-10-2009, 10:50 PM
Ahem ------:threadjacked:
Back to Hammers perhaps :~:
nic xx

Bigwol
15-10-2009, 12:51 AM
Ahem ------:threadjacked:
Back to Hammers perhaps :~:
nic xx

Oh go on then . . .

The surface finish of the hammer transfers to whatever you wallop with it, so if you want shiny hammered surfaces, you gotta start with a shiny hammer!

Hence the mirror finish on this one, which took a while . . . .

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/DaveWallisPics/Bench/Hammers.jpg

MuranoSilver
15-10-2009, 07:22 AM
Niiiiice The hammers not bad either ;)

Petal
15-10-2009, 08:57 AM
OMG, Bigwol - THAT IS ONE SHINEY HAMMER!!! =:-O

Crikey, how long did it take you to produce a shine like that then? or what on earth did you use to get it looking like that!!!!!

Well, since I started this thread, and for the sake of other "hammerers to be", I'm posting my pics here, so we can see how I got on with my first 'dressing' attempt. Now obviously, I'll be having a few more goes to get something resembling a shine ....

435

436

ahem, perhaps I'll get my coat....

BTW, nice rocks Bigwol!!

MuranoSilver
15-10-2009, 10:32 AM
Definately getting there :)
I use a set of those rubber burrs from cooksons to get my shine
#Start with the blue coarse burr
Then onto the Grey, Then Brown, Then Green

I change direction each time and make sure I get rid of the lines from the previous polishing
That works really well for me and is a darn site quicker than hand polishing ;)
Nic xx

mizgeorge
15-10-2009, 10:33 AM
Ooh! A hammer beauty pageant!

Here's a couple:

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s76/mizgeorge/hammers.jpg

The bigger one is my everyday jobbing hammer (hasn't been polished for a week or so). The little one I did this morning specially for you to see Jules - took about half an hour and just using micromesh. It's a real cheapy (about a pound on ebay) and had very hard edges.

Petal
15-10-2009, 10:42 AM
Thanks George and Nic for the piccies. Very useful for me and the other newbies.

Wow, they're lovely shiney hammers (can't believe I just said that!). When you are polishing them, do you polish in one direction only? I've been using a circular motion ...

having just re-read Nic's post, I need to polish in one direction only#-o

Boo
15-10-2009, 11:03 AM
I feel a bit inadequate now, I've never polished a hammer. Mine came shiny and I just buff it periodically. I do shape pliers to how I want them with rounded edges etc. but not my hammer.

lesley
15-10-2009, 11:09 AM
Me too , Boo. I'm scared I'll mess it up and make the surface worse but I think I'm going to have to grit my teeth and give it a go. :)
Will try this weekend.

Petal
15-10-2009, 11:42 AM
OMG George, having just re-read & studied your shineys in your post, thanks SO much for spending time on polishing your hammer :X and also for recommending Micromesh to all of us :Y:

I'm assuming the MX range is the one to go for & if so, which grades?

Sylmasta Ltd Micro-Mesh Finishing Cloths (http://www.sylmasta.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Micro_Mesh_Finishing_Cloths_35.ht ml)

Do you use your Micromesh for anything else, or would you use it strictly for tool polishing ?

xx

ps_bond
15-10-2009, 11:47 AM
I'll try and find time this evening... Been busy.

Jayne
15-10-2009, 11:59 AM
I do shape pliers to how I want them with rounded edges etc.

Now that sounds very ambitious!! Do tell! :)
J x

Boo
15-10-2009, 12:21 PM
Me too , Boo. I'm scared I'll mess it up
Now't to do with being scared, it just doesn't need it - at least the one I have doesn't. But I am thinking of getting a cheap one and shaping it how I want it to round the edges away a little more.

@ Jayne - nothing to it really, I got some already inexpensive chain nose pliers free from a supplier that had an offer - a pair of these pliers for every £25 spent or something - and I thought they were pretty decent and liked the feel and size of them in use and wanted some with blunter noses for maille work, so shaped them to how I wanted - didn't mind potentially messing them up as they were free - but I then bought some more anyway and did them different shapes as it worked so well. I also softened the square edges so that they don't mark wire as much. They've ended up being my most used pairs. I later ordered some round nosed ones too and improved the surface of the points on those - as they're a bit bigger than my good ones and sometimes you just need that.

So for about £4 in total and an hour of work, I now have 4 pairs of pliers I use regularly.

mizgeorge
15-10-2009, 12:50 PM
OMG George, having just re-read & studied your shineys in your post, thanks SO much for spending time on polishing your hammer :X and also for recommending Micromesh to all of us :Y:

I'm assuming the MX range is the one to go for & if so, which grades?

Sylmasta Ltd Micro-Mesh Finishing Cloths (http://www.sylmasta.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Micro_Mesh_Finishing_Cloths_35.ht ml)

Do you use your Micromesh for anything else, or would you use it strictly for tool polishing ?

xx

You'll see from other posts about polishing that I use micromesh, either in cloth or pad form for pretty much everything! That includes silver,household appliances, fingernails and tools amongst other stuff ;)

I'll quote my own post again for ease!



I get it in both cloth and pads, and it's made by a co called micro finishing products:

here are some pads: WOODTURNING- MICRO MESH 9 PAD VARIETY PACK (LARGE) on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WOODTURNING-MICRO-MESH-9-PAD-VARIETY-PACK-LARGE_W0QQitemZ350253626691QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_C rafts_Other_Crafts_EH?hash=item518cbe3543&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ht_1010wt_1165)

and here are some sheets: MICROMESH / MICRO MESH POLISHING CLOTHS 6" x 4" on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MICROMESH-MICRO-MESH-POLISHING-CLOTHS-6-x-4_W0QQitemZ130332306954QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Defau ltDomain_3?hash=item1e58692e0a&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14#ht_544wt_1165)

The first seller also has the buffing sticks, which are dead handy ;)

geti-titanium
15-10-2009, 04:08 PM
I can't believe you lot have made me take a photo of a hammer.

Anyway - this one has been in the family for about 20 yrs and is due to be put out to stud very soon as the head is about to drop off!

437

MuranoSilver
15-10-2009, 04:43 PM
Oooh nice! Can't you just replace the handle and bash a new wedge in?
Nic x

bustagasket
15-10-2009, 04:43 PM
I can't believe you lot have made me take a photo of a hammer.

Anyway - this one has been in the family for about 20 yrs and is due to be put out to stud very soon as the head is about to drop off!

437

I am just glad that that is all they have asked you to photograph! :P

Emerald
15-10-2009, 04:45 PM
I am just glad that that is all they have asked you to photograph! :P

oh so dont go there Su pmsl x

amazingbabe
15-10-2009, 05:53 PM
Took him a while to polish his hammer !! eh Su ;):mwahaha:

Rustic Charm
15-10-2009, 05:57 PM
all you guys have made me feel really bad about my hammers now, so have spent most of the afternoon polishing them back up and they still don't look as good as yours!!:'(

Petal
15-10-2009, 07:04 PM
Don't feel bad Bridget, I'm the one that started this thread and I have tried polishing my new hammer and it now looks worse than when I bought it :'(

Its been interesting learning what others do, because some people don't bother with polishing their hammers at all, while others do - so its all up to personal choice! I'd still rather to learn how to do it and am now eagerly awaiting my micromesh, to help me achieve that shine with less effort and time. As the postal strike is still happening and I probably won't get my micromesh for a week, :(| I'm keeping myself busy by making my first 'S' connected wire necklace with wrapped beads.... photos later ...(if its any good that is!)

Keep your pecker up .... the only way to improve is keep on trying - and don't give up!

xx

lesley
15-10-2009, 07:20 PM
The last time I said keep your pecker up people had a fit. :D

That's what I'm worried about, Jules - making it worse. I will try though.

ps_bond
15-10-2009, 08:53 PM
Right... *Finally* a couple of gratuitous tool photos.

A bundle of hammers, with a bit more of a closeup on a few of the shinier ones.
There's a before and after in the bundle too...

Lisa Quinn
15-10-2009, 09:02 PM
Oh crikey, you have such lovely shiny hammers, I am a bad bad hammer owner and would be ashamed to post a photograph of mine. Do you think that there is the tool equivalent of social services and if so, will my hammers be put into care !!

lesley
15-10-2009, 09:07 PM
I think that's what you call tool porn, Peter.
I'm drooling anyway. :)

Petal
15-10-2009, 10:40 PM
Crikey Peter, you certainly made the wait well worth it ! You must have been polishing those shinies for days ;) You seem to have a bit of a thing about tools in general, but especially hammers, that we ladies have with shoes and hangbags :Y: Trouble is, I think I prefer shoes and handbags!

Now then, exactly which hammer is the before and after piccie then? Come on then, don't keep us in suspense, 'cos I've got to go to bed very soon and..... well I just want to know! [-X Geti, don't even think of getting involved here, this is between PSB & Me!

:-D

mizgeorge
15-10-2009, 11:13 PM
Have to say it Jules, give me a hammer over a handbag any day ;)

Boo
16-10-2009, 05:21 AM
Ditto.

I thought I was the only woman on the planet who doesn't care two hoots about such things - I don't even own any girl shoes. Give me camera gear or tools any day.

geti-titanium
16-10-2009, 06:58 AM
Geti, don't even think of getting involved here, this is between PSB & Me!

You know me Petal, I wouldn't dream of interfering with the course of true love :X

geti-titanium
16-10-2009, 07:00 AM
The last time I said keep your pecker up people had a fit.

Why's that Lesley? :confused:

lorraineflee
16-10-2009, 07:02 AM
My lovely OH gives me tools for Christmas and birthdays, a lot of my friends think that's mean but I think it's fantastic! I'd rather have new tools than perfume and clothes any day of the week!!

I got a drill stand and a full set of saw blades in a revolving holder amongst my pressies last Chrimbo! :ta:

Lorraine

ps_bond
16-10-2009, 07:07 AM
Crikey Peter, you certainly made the wait well worth it ! You must have been polishing those shinies for days ;) You seem to have a bit of a thing about tools in general, but especially hammers, that we ladies have with shoes and hangbags :Y: Trouble is, I think I prefer shoes and handbags!

Days? Power tools... Most of those were done on a linisher first, then buffed with a sisal wheel & Abramax abrasive. I could go finer than that, but I think it's into diminishing returns - the dings are removed and there's no surface texture to imprint. Polishing the chasing hammer is just silly, really; that is for tapping tools so there's no advantage.


Now then, exactly which hammer is the before and after piccie then?

If you look at the big bundle, top centre, you can see a rusty one (although I may have ground the worst out of that one and allowed it to rust). Go right & down and you can see an identical hammer that got the full treatment. They're about 1lb, so quite dinky, but really handy for upsetting edges on thicker pieces. There's a 3lb Japanese forging hammer in there too - and a couple of the phenolic raising hammers I recently finished (which don't polish!). Another one in the shot was a chipping hammer - ground the rust off, rounded the sharp peins and polished; now it's a narrow raising hammer.

MuranoSilver
16-10-2009, 07:40 AM
Oooh now that is a great collection of hammers! :)

ps_bond
16-10-2009, 08:42 AM
It accounts for about a third of the hitting things tools I have.

bustagasket
16-10-2009, 09:40 AM
as usual any thread in which geti is involved, very soon goes the same way as the others lol. we all used to be so innocent til he came along lol

Petal
16-10-2009, 10:08 AM
While I was pedalling away in the garage this morning, I had a *-:) moment!

I remembered we have a Clarks CBG 6RZ benchgrinder in the garage (hidden under a load of my OH's stuff), and thought ...

I wonder if I could use the fine grinding wheel to sand my hammer, or would that be too industrial for my lovely new hammer? What do you reckon guys?

xx

ps_bond
16-10-2009, 10:17 AM
I wonder if I could use the fine grinding wheel to sand my hammer, or would that be too industrial for my lovely new hammer? What do you reckon guys?


If you're very, very gentle you can take the corners off; it's not an ideal tool for the purpose as it is very unforgiving. With my belt grinder/linisher I can run the belt "slack" so that it conforms more readily to whatever I'm grinding; I don't get particularly pronounced grind marks in that way.

Best way to find out would be to get a very cheap (pound shop?) hammer and try it. A light touch, smooth passes over the wheel and don't bounce it on the stone.

Then get a spindle for the thing and use buffs & linishing compound instead :D

Wear safety glasses!!!

geti-titanium
16-10-2009, 10:23 AM
Wear safety glasses!!!

You beat me to it!

Petal
16-10-2009, 10:30 AM
Thanks for that PSB & Geti :Y: I might have a careful go with one of my OH's hammers that sit gathering dust ! Yes, I'd already thought about safety glasses .. trouble is they always steam up when you already wear glasses, don't they :N:

I had you worried there for a minute, didn't I :-D

xx

lesley
16-10-2009, 10:51 AM
Quote:
The last time I said keep your pecker up people had a fit.


Why's that Lesley? :confused:

I think you know. :-D

Petal
06-11-2009, 03:16 PM
Well, having been taught by G how to polish my hammer, here's a pic of mine

556

557

I'm embarrassed to say that I put my hammer in my holdall for the journey home after my workshop and it arrived with a bloody great gouge out of the top :'( I've now re-polished and it looks a whole lot better than my first attempt!

All thanks to George for not only polishing my hammer and showing me how, but for her recommendations for micromesh :Y:

xx

Gemma
06-11-2009, 03:29 PM
Some lovely shiney hammers here folks...and an education too! I had no idea that I was supposed to polish my hammers :)

Di Sandland
06-11-2009, 03:33 PM
very artistic pics, Jules.

Petal
06-11-2009, 03:35 PM
very artistic pics, Jules.

Oh, you mean the leaves! I use them for scale in my jewellery photos... I got that tip from ..... who was it, oh can't remember, someone on this wonderful forum though. So many useful tips, eh!

xx

Gemma
06-11-2009, 05:38 PM
Ok...so I read this post from beginning to end earlier. I knew I shouldn't use a hammer if its dented but I didn't realise it had to be shiney. I've just spent about 5 mins polishing my hammer and had a go hitting some silver- I really didn't think it would make much difference but boy am I shocked! :-O My hammer isn't even mirror like but the difference is amazing! Shiney silver without having to polish it afterwards. I wonder how amazing it will look after I get my hammers to mirror shiney?
I think I need to round the edges of my flat headed hammer though as I'm getting lines. Will this help get rind of the lines? :confused:

Petal
06-11-2009, 06:17 PM
Ok...so I read this post from beginning to end earlier. I knew I shouldn't use a hammer if its dented but I didn't realise it had to be shiney. I've just spent about 5 mins polishing my hammer and had a go hitting some silver- I really didn't think it would make much difference but boy am I shocked! :-O My hammer isn't even mirror like but the difference is amazing! Shiney silver without having to polish it afterwards. I wonder how amazing it will look after I get my hammers to mirror shiney?
I think I need to round the edges of my flat headed hammer though as I'm getting lines. Will this help get rind of the lines? :confused:

I would definitely try getting some micromesh, its absolutely brilliant and my hammer looks amazing in comparison to the wet and dry papers I tried on it beforehand. I got a pack of 1500-12000 and its fantastic - I think I got it from Ebay, have been looking for the info since I saw this thread and can't. #-o If I find out where I got it I'll post again with a link.

Hope that helps.

xx

Gemma
06-11-2009, 06:27 PM
Thanks Jules....I've just ordered a pack from ebay!

shelliem
06-11-2009, 06:27 PM
Hi

A really interesting and useful thread - I don't own a hammer yet!! but when I do I have made note of the tips and shall have a shiney hammer. Can't believe I liked looking at the pictures of hammers, although I wouldn't go as far to say that I'd prefer them over shoes yet. But I do love shiney things so I could become a convert!!

mizgeorge
06-11-2009, 06:31 PM
at the risk of repeating myself for about the tenth time, here are a couple of my favourite micromesh suppliers!

pads here: WOODTURNING- MICRO MESH 9 PAD VARIETY PACK (LARGE) on eBay (end time 15-Nov-09 20:35:20 GMT) (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350266054984#ht_1010wt_1165)

cloths here: MICRO MESH / MICROMESH POLISHING KIT 9 SHEETS 6" X 4" on eBay (end time 10-Nov-09 11:02:05 GMT) (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MICRO-MESH-MICROMESH-POLISHING-KIT-9-SHEETS-6-X-4_W0QQitemZ170403143072QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Defau ltDomain_3?hash=item27acd19da0#ht_500wt_1182)

There are lots of other sellers as well, but these are the products I particularly like.

Gemma
06-11-2009, 06:38 PM
Thanks George...but I'd already ordered from the second one after reading your 9th repeat ;)

MuranoSilver
06-11-2009, 08:01 PM
Wow Jules that second picture is well shiny!!

lesley
06-11-2009, 08:55 PM
I did my hammer but I made it worse! It's not flat any more so it leaves dents.

Am I total numpty. #-o

Petal
06-11-2009, 11:03 PM
Did you try it with micromesh then Lesley?

lesley
07-11-2009, 03:38 PM
Yes I did, Jules.

I'm now getting thoroughly peed off with this. :( I've spent several hours today on two hammers, again with micromesh. I put the micromesh sheets on a flat surface (kitchen floor) and worked the heads on them like that rather than holding them in my hand. The hammers look quite nice but still leave dents when I use them. I'm going to get another hammer and just use it as it comes. It's easier to polish out dullness than it is to get rid of dents.

Bumbumbumbumbumbumbumbumbumbumbumbumbumbum!!!

Di Sandland
07-11-2009, 03:44 PM
Big bums indeed, Lesley :(

mizgeorge
07-11-2009, 04:15 PM
What sort of dents Lesley? All you're aiming to do with polishing is to round off the edges, not dome the whole face of the hammer. Do you want me to have a look at it for you?

Hart-Star
18-11-2009, 10:13 AM
From sad experience, if you have a hammer with marks on it (or an anvil) it will transfer those marks onto your jewellery. (And take ages to remove later when polishing)

Files (not the ones you use for your jewellery work) will take off the worst damage) Then (oiled) Carborundum blocks of the type used for sharpening chisels, then Wet & Dry paper in various grades.

My most nifty hammer came from a shop selling tools for model railway enthusiasts - a lightweight ball and pein design which I use for a nice hammered finish.