[TheForge] Just watched the Mythbusters try to shatter hammers

[Bruce Freeman]

They might have thought to consult persons like us who've seen it
happen!

Just wait till all the kids on the block start whacking hammers
together in imitation, and one loses an eye!

How many of us DON'T have some tool that has shattered off a piece?  I
have at least one cracked hammer in my shop.

Who is it - an ABANA demonstrator I think - who tells an anecdote of an
old blacksmith who gets a piece of a ball pein in his leg, staunches the
blood, and goes right on working?

And if a hammer won't shatter even when it's hardened first, then it's
either mild steel or at least not medium-carbon steel (but probably some
alloy).

I think it fine that hammers don't shatter, but I don't think you
should bet on it.

Bruce
NJ

>>> justinf at pixelations.com 11/30/2006 12:10 AM >>>
Mostly they were using claw hammers, set up in a rig to smack two 
hammers face-to-face.  They even tried hardening the hammers, and at
the 
end they aimed a hammer at Chinese Anvil-Shaped Object.  No shattering,

not even any chipping.

They concluded that hammers don't shatter, even if abused.

Comments?


--Justin Fisher,
generally avoiding hitting my hammers with other hammers.
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