Dammerrs (hammers)

[daniel banquo merrick]

I don't think I have a hammer thread going here so I'm starting one. Bob and I are planning to go to Miller Rock this weekend and try some hammer variations.



Left to right:

1) 14" Dammerr 1 Four flat faces on the pick (Mucci has the original Dammerr but will be sending it back to me)

2) 13" Dammerr 2 stubbie. Glass handle is heavier than wood so I made a smaller head so the gross weight came out right. Small head should be nice if you don't need a pick as it won't get tangled up in your rack so much. Four curved faces on the pick.

3) 13.5" Dammerr 2 with three curved faces on the pick.

4) 13" Dammerr 2 The same as #3 but the handle is shorter and I removed the bump on the handle. I have put a rubber cricket bat grip on this one which is really grippy but makes the handle feel a bit fat.

5) 12" Dammerr 2

The two drill holders are my final solution. Made on the lathe from 7/8" high strength bolts with two 1/4" set screws. I don't like having to carry an Allen wrench but the reduction in parts and complexity seems worth it. The set screws have nylon patches that should keep them from working loose like the Pike holder. I also figured out how to wrap the bolt in two-sided sticky tape and then get the foam tube over it. I'm hoping the foam grip will stay put. The aluminum tube was used to get the grip over the sticky tape.

I have 6 more heads, 5 more glass handles and 5 more wood handles if anybody wants a custom hammer. Tell me what you want and we can work out a deal. Maybe hook up this weekend and try one out.

[John]

Holy hammers, you've been busy! Favorite so far?

[susan]

That right there is a lot of dedication, all those Dammerrs. What are the benefits of the wood handle vs the fiberglass? I like the idea of the lightest and shortest Dammerr.  As mentioned before I really liked that hammer you loaned Josh. What to you is the best improvement on that one? Where is Miller Rock?

[daniel banquo merrick]

Fiber glass will probably last longer than wood. It doesn't shrink or swell so the head should never come loose. They are a little heavier than wood.

The Dammerr Josh has (13.75" 24.1 Oz.) is pretty much the same as #1 in the photo. The wood handles I have now are just a little skinnier which I like and fit tighter in the head.

I have two smaller heads on hand; a Dammerr 1 like #1 in the picture but the face end is shorter (14.7 Oz.), and a stubbie just like #2 in the photo (15 Oz.). If I put one of these heads on a 12" handle it should come out to be about 22 Oz. The hammers in the photo are all around 24 Oz. For comparison, my BD hammer weighs 25.2 Oz.

I'll make a Susan hammer, when's your birthday? Which head do you prefer?

[John]

I'll make a Susan hammer, when's your birthday? Which head do you prefer?

A "Sudammer"?

[susan]

Why thank you! Really?! Birthday is just past and not again til next summer.

I'll need to find out the sort of beer you like best. And camp meal? 

Whatever you think, Dan. I really like the Dammerr 1 with light weight wood handle, what's overall lightest that still concentrates enough force where needed. Coated head is cool. One entry and exit drilled hole through the bottom sides. How would it be to have a grip that doesn't cover the whole handle but just where it should be held most? Better to cover more of the handle? Beer bottles can be opened with a biner anyway... so no need for that.   So cool! 

[daniel banquo merrick]

Well, if you want a custom hammer you need to tell me what you want. Particularly length and type of head. The hammer you tried was 24.1 Oz and 13.75".

You can have the leftmost hammer in the photo above which has the same head as you tried but it has a chunkier handle and is 25.7 Oz  14". I can to swap the handle out which would be lighter, better and allow you to choose the length. This is the only head of this type and weight I have on hand.

You can also have either of the two smaller heads in the picture below. Getting a smaller head may not matter because if a hammer is too heavy, it can be lightened by cutting a slice off the striking surface. the 1.25" square weighs 7.0 ounces per inch and the steel is soft enough to cut in a horizontal band saw with a bimetal blade.

I suggest a Dammerr 2 like the three hammer heads on the right in the photo above or the left head below. A BD hammer is less than 12" long but I would suggest a longer one perhaps 13 or 13.5 inches. A cord anchored on a screw like the BD or the hammer in the photo with the rubber grip. I can put a rubber grip on it if you like but would make the grip shorter than the one in the photo. If you don't like the rubber grip, it can simply be cut off. Or I can put tape on the handle, I use hockey stick tape which is much better than the tape most people use. I'm anchoring the heads with rolled spring pins now instead of the nail/rivet.

Miller Rock is near Cassidy. John should know what I am talking about.

[susan]

Ok. The leftmost hammer head in the photo with the 5 hammers would be great, simply because I know I liked it. But since this is the only head of this type and weight you currently have, maybe you would rather keep it. If so, the next choice would be the one on the left you recommend in the photo that you just posted. Length of wood handle 13" since you recommend not going too short. I would prefer the black hockey tape grip. Also would have thought it best to have a cord through holes at the bottom of the handle and wonder why a screw anchor would be better.

[daniel banquo merrick]

wonder why a screw anchor would be better.

I think it looks more orderly, the cord is more out of the way of your hand and is less likely to get snagged on anything. The screw anchor may be stronger than the cord through the hole because I can put the screw farther from the end of the handle. Anyway, whichever you like the most. I'll pop the head off that handle and put it on a better 13" one.

[daniel banquo merrick]

Here it is with a new handle. This is a DAMMERR type 1, serial #4, 13" 23.7 Oz.



When I took the other handle off I saw that this head had changed handles before and one of the rivet holes was buggered up so I couldn't drill it out to fit the spring pin - so I put it back together with a rivet. The head is starting to look pretty banged up even though it hasn't drilled a single hole yet. As soon as Susan verifies which cord attachment she wants, I will attach the cord and wrap the handle in black hockey tape.

Once you guys try it out, John will have to let me know what he wants. I'm sure he has birthdays too and I want to be fair.

[susan]

This looks great! The screw attachment sounds best then.Thank you!

[daniel banquo merrick]

All done.

[susan]

Wow thanks so much! Can't wait! Will email shortly.

[susan]

Love it! Email sent.

[YETI]

Awesome!

I know I don't have to say this to this crowd....but Dan you are the man!

Best beat sticks around!