hammers and mallets

["George Graham" <georgergraham@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've enjoyed reading the conversation about different kinds of tools that we
use to carve stone , and was inspired to do an inventory of my hammers, or
as the wife says ,,, my obsesive desire to collect things that make lots of
noise.

60 hammers , all different sizes and styles. Lead, brass, bronze, aluminum
copper and iron, make up the soft metal. Steel is the most common I have.
Wooden mallets and hammers also take up a shelf, and get use often. The
different woods each have their own chacteristics. Some wood bounces better
than others. Oak smells great as it wears down. I really like to make my own
out of local wood. The best I've made was out of Dogwood.
All these hammers and mallets have their time and place when they are
perfect for the job at hand. I have never found a hammer I did't like.

To the beginner, I'd say start with a 1.5 to 2 pound hammer, regular or
round is fine. Just go with something you can use for a long time without
getting sore. You will know when its time to get a bigger tool. Keeping you
chisels sharp will do more to remove stone then a heaver hammer.

To those who are thinking of using pitching tools , they are extreamly
satisfying to use . There is something elemental about lopping off big flaks
of granite. The problem is that although they look simple to use, they take
a lot of practice to get the feel of it.

The fundamental truth about all these different tools is that they should be
very easy to use. Swinging a hammer should be effortless. I've pitched
granite for 15 years ( I don't anymore) and it is a totaly relaxed process.
You let the hammer do the work , catch it on the bounce up and when you
reach the top you let it fall. After you have skinned you index finger a few
times you will start to hit the set with authority.

In general I prefer to use light hammers or wooden mallets on the soft stone
because they will bounce back . A heavy hammer will just drive forward and
you have to pick it up to much. The harder the stone the heavier the hammer,
and the sharper the chisel!! These are very general rules of thumb. There
are no absoluts in stone carving. Try different tools.

My last thought of the day is , can someone PLEASE tell me what is a
fisherman style hammer. I've never heard of it , and have got to get one!
I'll put it next to my japanease stonecutters handset, which has a handle in
it. I could write another page on how I got that, but I'll save it for
another day.

Good carving to all
George Graham