How to fix a dented hammer

Despite our best efforts, hammers get dented from time to time. Goldsmith, planishing, and forging hammers all require smooth, polished faces to work as intended. These types of hammers can be very expensive to replace, so taking good care of them is a must. A mark on your hammer face is a mark on your piece with every strike. So if you desecrate your hammer face, follow these steps to fix it!

Dents:

Getting dents out of a hammer face requires some determination. The harder the steel, the longer it takes to fix the dent. Start with a 220 grit sanding stick and sand out the dents. To avoid flat spots, sand the whole face of the hammer evenly. Move up to 320 grit once the surface is even. You can go to 400, but if you have a good buffer there is no need.

OnceI have sanded the surface smooth and dent-free, I move to the buffer. Follow the same steps for removing scratches to restore your hammer to its former condition.

Scratches:

A fairly easy fix on a buffer with a muslin buff, polishing compound, and some patience. I use Grey Star polishing compound for steel.

After conditioning your buff, charge with Grey Star and press the hammer into the wheel. Pressure needs to be applied, or the hammer face will just have shiny scratches. However, take care not to push so hard that the buffer grabs the hammer-this can pull your hand into the buffing wheel.