Dressing Hammers Down!

[Ominicci]

Completely different but related....

I saw my silver tutor last week and she said she was currently 'working on' her rawhide hammer (that she has had for several years) to make it softer. She had seen a rawhide hammer somewhere that was very well used and was almost frayed and like chamois leather on the faces. Apparently what you are supposed to do is sand the 'varnish/sealant' off the faces and soak it in water to expand the ends (dry it somehow I assume?) and then as it gets used the faces soften up and are gentler on the metal.

Has any one heard of this?

Is this a good description of how you are supposed to do it or is there some other way?

Those of you who have used this tool at colleges etc have you seen/used one like described?

Does anyone think it would make any difference?

[bustagasket]

must admit, in my tiny brain it makes a lot of sence to have a soft "buffer" if you like on the end that touches the metal

[Solunar Silver Studio]

Sounds interesting! I inherited my rawhide mallet and so it is already a bit 'tired' - but I have seen new ones that look and feel like a block of wood!

I've found these answers to the same question as yours and it looks like you are on the right lines...

[Jewelry making - Article 00609] - Re: [Orchid] Rawhide mallets
[Jewelry making - Article 00046] - Re: [Orchid] Breaking in Rawhide Mallet

There is also a picture of a pretty soft looking rawhide mallet here http://www.armourdesign.dial.pipex.com/bpol2.jpg a fascinating article - although I didn't understand a word of it!
A totally different language...see what you can make of it!!! poleyn

[Jayne]

This forum is such a mine of useful information!
Thanks guys
J x

[MuranoSilver]

Mines quite well used already

nic x

[agent_44]

Sounds sensible but I have to say my Rawhide mallet is reasonably new (survived with a nylon hammer for a good while) and I find it's not too harsh as-is, and I don't think I would want to make it any softer!

[Trudy]

I was taught to sand a rawhide mallet to get it smooth on the faces but not the bit about soaking it, sounds interesting...

[Gemma]

What more work to be done on tools?!? Ok mines now soaking away...lets see how it goes

[lorraineflee]

I read somewhere that you could take it outside and bash the concrete with it to soften it - sounded way too drastic to me!
Lorraine
PS Am I a wimp?

[mizgeorge]

I read somewhere that you could take it outside and bash the concrete with it to soften it - sounded way too drastic to me!
Lorraine
PS Am I a wimp?

That's pretty much what happened to mine (though it was a brick rather than concrete!

Seemed to work just fine.