[TheForge] How did the cross pein hammer come to be the standard?

[Robert Morris]

The double pein hammers, both cross and straight heads and the left and 
right angled heads, were used in straightening large sheets of warped steel 
that were used on safes and vault doors. Some of the safeman were still 
using them when I started working as a safeman in the 1950's. When working 
on a large heavy piece it was easier to just flip the head over to change 
directions rather thane putting a hammer down and picking up another.
Bob M.

>From: xlch58 at swbell.net
>Reply-To: Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>To: Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>Subject: Re: [TheForge] How did the cross pein hammer come to be the 
>standard?
>Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2004 12:16:19 -0600
>
>I have several straight peens as well as cross peens.  Personally, I 
>haven't found many tasks that the straight peen isn't more comfortable and 
>easier to control for.  The only exceptions are peening a rivet heads I 
>always reach  for the cross peen, probably only because I learned the 
>technique that way.   I use a cross peen a lot in sheet metal work, just 
>not smithing.   The straight peen is so much easier for me in drawing 
>things out since it forms a ninety degree angle with the piece held in 
>tongs.  I have seen some smiths use that vigilant crotch grip on the work, 
>but I tend to resort to that only when chiseling.   I seldom have to widen 
>a piece that I am not also drawing out, so I usually reach for a ball pein 
>in those cases.   If I do need to just widen something the cross peen is a 
>natural.   I will admit that my favorite hammer is an old cross pein, but 
>that is only because the weight and feel is perfect and I can swing it all 
>day.  I have told my son that I want to be buried with that hammer, but 
>since it is his favorite as well he grumbles every time I say that.  I know 
>I will end up end up spending etermnity with that ^&*% peice of &(& chinese 
>ball pein.  Even being my favorite, I use the ordinary side mostly, though 
>I will sometimes use the cross peen and the edge of the anvil as an 
>impromptu cuttoff.      I also have a couple of the double enders someone 
>else mentioned.  They are handy.   I think they were originally used for 
>cleaning scale from boilers.
>
>Charles
>
>Ralph Sproul wrote:
>
>>Hi Bob, I use the straight peen for four things.
>>1) Drawing out or rough setting a heavy shoulder
>>2) setting veins in leaf in a treadle hammer between two round stock 
>>welded
>>parrallel like Steve Howell explained to us. You have to use a set of 90
>>degree holding tongs on the stem - but it keeps the leaf furls from 
>>hitting
>>the handles of the cross peins by using a straight pein.  (if I was real
>>smart I'd make another leaf tool with the rods going left / right instead 
>>of
>>front/rear).
>>3)Opening a folded leaf on the treadle hammer......stem to one side,
>>straight peen to other direction.
>>4) also used COLD on flat bar placed on legs up of channel iron to make
>>gradual flat ring/band radius.  I keep four sizes of channel inside each
>>other near a heavy bench for this radius tweaking (along with the straight
>>peen I have with the greatest radius to the pein).
>>
>>Ralph
>>
>>
>
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