Visiting the old forge museum in Pittsburgh, I saw they used a wooden mallet for final shaping.

Always used steel for everything, but watching the demo, the wood gave way more control without marring the surface. Anyone else switch up their finishing hammers after seeing something like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_susan1mo ago

Ever try a dead blow hammer for sheet metal? Switched to one after a bodywork class and it stopped all those little dings from bouncing back. Total game changer for smooth finishes.

robinson.hannah1mo ago

Yeah that bounce back thing @the_susan mentioned is key, it's way less tiring on your arm too when you're not fighting the hammer.

mason.brian1mo ago

Used to think it was all about swing power. That bounce back trick totally changed how I work on panels now.