Snapped my favorite cross peen hammer handle yesterday

I was forging a 1-inch square stock into a leaf shape and the handle just gave out on the third hit. Turns out there was a hairline crack near the head that I'd missed from an old repair job. Anyone else ever have a handle fail mid-swing and how did you fix the balance on the new one?

2 comments

2 Comments

alice_harris359d ago

I always seat new handles in linseed oil for a week before fitting to prevent hairline cracks.

henryf539d ago

Drawn linseed or raw though... makes a big difference on how deep it soaks in before you wipe it off.