The hammer handle replacement I would buy, and how I hang it
A hammer handle replacement guide from the forge floor: which hickory handles and wedges to buy, how to size the eye, and how to hang a head that stays put.
August 19, 2026 · 18 min read
Topic
Hammers and tongs
The tools your hands live on. Hammer weight and face, and tongs that actually hold your stock, sorted out without the mystique.
The cross peen blacksmith hammer I would buy first, and the ones to skip
A blacksmith's honest picks for a cross peen blacksmith hammer: what weight to start with, which one to buy off Amazon, and which to skip.
August 17, 2026 · 16 min read
The wolf jaw tongs I would buy first, and the ones to skip
A blacksmith's honest take on wolf jaw tongs: which budget pairs are worth the gamble, which forged ones are worth the money, and why fit beats brand.
August 17, 2026 · 14 min read
The homemade forge hammer I would make, and the gear to start with
How I would build a homemade forge hammer, whether you reface a cheap drilling hammer or forge a head from scratch, plus the steel, handle, and drift to buy.
August 13, 2026 · 14 min read
The smith hammer I would hand a beginner, and the ones to skip
A working smith's picks for your first smith hammer: the right weight and pattern, published specs, honest owner reports, and the ones to skip.
August 13, 2026 · 13 min read
The treadle hammer for sale I would buy, and the one I would build
An experienced hobby smith on the treadle hammer for sale market: the finished hammers worth buying, the bolt together kit, plans to build, and used ones to skip.
August 13, 2026 · 13 min read
The vintage blacksmith hammer worth buying, and the ones to walk away from
How I buy a vintage blacksmith hammer without bringing home a paperweight: what to check on the face and eye, when to buy new, and how to rehandle an old head.
August 13, 2026 · 12 min read
The vintage blacksmith tongs worth buying, and the ones I would skip
How I judge vintage blacksmith tongs at flea markets and estate sales, what to check on the boss and jaws, when to restore them, and the new pairs to buy instead.
August 13, 2026 · 14 min read
The old blacksmith hammer worth buying, and the ones to walk away from
How I judge an old blacksmith hammer at a flea market or estate sale, what to check before you pay, and the new cross pein hammers I would buy instead.
August 5, 2026 · 14 min read
The old blacksmith tongs worth buying, and the ones to walk past
How I judge old blacksmith tongs before I buy, what a sound used pair really costs, and the new tongs I would order when the old ones do not turn up.
August 5, 2026 · 13 min read
The hammer eye drift I would buy first, and the ones to skip
A blacksmith's honest guide to buying a hammer eye drift: which steel matters, teardrop shape, and whether an import kit or a real 4140 drift is worth it.
August 4, 2026 · 13 min read
The adjustable blacksmith tongs I would buy first, and the ones to skip
A hobby smith on adjustable blacksmith tongs: why a wolf jaw or V-bit pair is the best first tong, what to fit before you forge, and when a set beats one pair.
August 3, 2026 · 12 min read
The antique blacksmith hammer worth buying, and the ones to walk away from
How I judge an antique blacksmith hammer at a sale, what to check on an old head, and the new cross pein hammers I would buy instead if you are new.
August 3, 2026 · 12 min read
The antique blacksmith tongs worth buying, and the ones to walk away from
How I judge antique blacksmith tongs before buying, when to reforge an old pair, and the new working tongs to buy when the antique bin comes up empty.
August 3, 2026 · 13 min read
The railroad spike tongs I would buy, and the ones I would skip
A plain owner-to-owner guide to railroad spike tongs: forked head-grip versus V-bit bolt tongs, what fits a spike, and how to buy safely without wasting money.
July 30, 2026 · 13 min read
The blacksmith power forging hammer for sale worth buying, and where to find it
Where to find a blacksmith power forging hammer for sale, which Anyang size fits a one-person shop, and the hand hammer to buy if a power hammer is out of budget.
July 29, 2026 · 13 min read
What a blacksmith power hammer for sale really is before you buy
A blacksmith power hammer for sale is rarely what the marketplace shows you. How to size a forging hammer and tell it from a planisher.
July 29, 2026 · 12 min read
The blacksmith rounding hammer I would buy, and how to size it
The blacksmith rounding hammer I would put in a home shop, how to size the weight, and honest picks from Nordic Forge, Mustad, and Flatland Forge.
July 29, 2026 · 13 min read
The forging tongs I would buy first, and the ones to skip
An honest guide to buying your first forging tongs: why a wolf jaw pattern wins, what length to get, and how to fit budget tongs so they actually grip.
July 29, 2026 · 13 min read
The Anyang power hammer I would buy, and the sizes to skip
A blacksmith's honest guide to the Anyang power hammer: which ram size fits a one-person shop, what the specs mean, foundation and power needs, and what owners report.
July 28, 2026 · 14 min read
The diy forge hammer I would make instead of buy
How I turn a cheap hardware store hammer into a diy forge hammer, which heads to start from, and the heat treat and safety mistakes to avoid.
July 28, 2026 · 13 min read
The blacksmith cross pein hammer I would buy first, and the ones I would skip
Which blacksmith cross pein hammer to buy first, from a hobby smith: published specs, weights that work, owner reports, and how to dress a new face.
July 25, 2026 · 15 min read
The blacksmith power forging hammer I would buy, and the one I would build
An honest look at the blacksmith power forging hammer options for a home shop: self contained pneumatic, utility air, tire hammer, and what each really costs.
July 23, 2026 · 17 min read
The blacksmith power hammer I would buy, and the ones I would skip
An honest blacksmith power hammer guide: published specs on Anyang, Big BLU, tire hammers and used Little Giants, plus what your shop floor and power need.
July 23, 2026 · 15 min read
The blacksmith tongs I would buy first, and the ones I would skip
A working smith's take on blacksmith tongs: which jaw pattern to buy first, how to fit the jaws to your stock, and honest picks from budget to premium.
July 23, 2026 · 15 min read
The forge hammer I would buy first, and the ones I would skip
Picking a forge hammer for a home shop: which weight and pattern actually work, what the makers publish, and what smiths on the forums report.
July 23, 2026 · 15 min read
Picking a forging power hammer for a one person shop
How to pick a forging power hammer for a home shop: real published specs on the Anyang air hammers, a used Little Giant, and the tire hammer you can build.
July 23, 2026 · 14 min read
The smithing power hammer I would buy, and the ones I would skip
A smithing power hammer buying guide from a hobby smith: self contained air hammers, Big BLU, old Little Giants, tire hammer builds, and what installation really costs.
July 23, 2026 · 16 min read
Smithing tongs that actually grip, and how to pick your first pair
Which smithing tongs to buy first, how tong sizing really works, what budget imported pairs get wrong, and how to fit jaws so they hold hot steel.
July 23, 2026 · 15 min read
The blacksmith hammer I would hand a beginner, and the ones I would skip
An owner to owner blacksmith hammer guide: weight, face, and handle that actually matter, five hammers compared on published specs, plus dressing and safety.
July 22, 2026 · 15 min read