Persuader Block Tip

basswood

I keep handrail cut offs and use them to tap things into place with a hammer without marring the work. They are comfortable to grip because... well, duh... handrail.

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m1911

I have some hard maple handrail cutoffs I use for sanding blocks.

WarnerConstInc.

I wish I could afford a titanium hammer

basswood

Only $8/ounce.

If I use a heavier hammer, my toolbelt pulls my pants down... I really had no choice.

neolitic

This from the Green Genie?


I do the same, and I have a chunk
of beech newel for the big jobs...

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TempestV

maybe if so much of your money didn't go to Germany, you could.

As for beater blocks, I prefer something more flat, because it fits in my bags better.
If I am doing a lot of 3/4" reveals, I'll use a piece 3/4" thick, because I can also use it as a quick guide. A piece of hardwood flooring with the grove left on it works good for T&G. Sometimes, depending on what I need to drive down, I'll use a piece about 4x4x1, put a piece of stick on sand paper on the two 4x4 sides, and use the narrow sides as a beater block.

Jeremy E

Aren't handrails often made of pretty hard woods? If the beater is a harder species that the work piece, you would still run a chance of denting the work. Of course, if one must whack it that hard to get it in, I suppose one should just take the piece back to the saw and cut it right...

I usually just grab whatever scrap is at hand. Dedicated handrail beaters just seem to be ergonomic overkill, but I guess that's why I'm fighting battles with cheap-a$$ plywood while Bass is writing articles for FHB.

TempestV

Now what I want to know is if one hand is holding the block, and one hand is holding the hammer, how is Bass holding the camera?

Railman

He's not holding the hammer! The hammer face is not seated flat on the rail, & besides, that would be near impossible to swing in that configuration. Try it!

I've done a few picts in similar situations.
Joe

WarnerConstInc.

Yup, it's staged! That is probably a fake titanium hammer anyways. All props, that Bass is a sneaky one!!

basswood

The hardness of the beater block is a factor, but so is surface area. If the block is wide enough, then the force of hammer blows is spread over a large enough area to avoid damage. Yet another balancing act.

In the picture, a shelf is in a tight dado and just needs to be flushed up with the bookcase side. That rail piece is oak, the ply is just oak veneer.

The rails I've done most recently were maple, cherry, pine , and oak.

I don't know that it make sense for everyone to be carrying around handrail chunks... I mostly use them in the shop.

Cheers,

Bass

basswood

I balanced the hammer on the block and bookcase side... so it sorta looked right. Can't get much past this crowd.

basswood

We have a winner!

Well, your only stilettos are probably your shoes.

WarnerConstInc.

I perfer to call those my going out shoes, thank-you!!!

john5mt

Bass isnt a titanium hammer one of those diminishing returns tools you were talking about?

How can you own a stiletto and not think festool is worth it?

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Tom Struble

bet you look very classy all dolled up

m1911

I don't think that's a fair comparison. Besides, a titanium hammer lessens the impact to your joints, where as a Festool has a huge impact to your wallet!

greg24k

Titanium hammer and a piece of Oak Railing? I don't know Bass, from you I expect something a little more "Damn Bro" stuff.... You better dig around in that shop and find something more Wicked.... but other then that Bro, I don't care what these guys say about you, you OK in my book

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basswood

Well the Stiletto finish hammer was something I had wanted for years, but had not been able to justify. My wife knew I really wanted one and bought it for me for Christmas a couple of years ago... best Christmas present in a long time (I felt like a kid again when I unwrapped it).

I do like to go as light as possible with tools that I wear around, though. The 10 oz. hammer is much nicer than a 16 oz.

Regards,

Bass

basswood

I guess the best way to have a good idea is to have a whole bunch of ideas and throw them all at the wall... and see what sticks.

Cheers,

Bass