What to soak hammer in?

[JOEPRO]

New unused leather/ copper mallet. Sat on shelf a couple of years and now the leather part is loose and spinning freely.

Was going to soak it for a few days in water but then figure that will evaporate quickly again.

What is best to soak this in to soften the leather and tighen it up?

 

[Guineafowl]

I’ve heard, for handles at least, that antifreeze is a good option. Never tried it though.

 

[tigdlo]

What is best to soak this in to soften the leather and tighen it up?

Probably tighten up when you start using it, I would think it would spread out into the socket.

 

[Agroshield]

There is some advice from a while ago here:

Swelling a leather mallet head?

Reading the thread on claw hammers made me wonder: I have an elderly leather/copper mallet, Thor brand, and similar to the ones that used to be supplied with MG wire wheel cars to undo the central wheel nut. Over the years the leather has shrunk, so much so that it is only a loose fit in the...

www.ukworkshop.co.uk

Seems that soaking is not a long term fix.

In finding that, I also found this, which tells you how to replace the leather part, as well as a drawing for the tool to do it:

https://www.thorhammer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/combined-replacing-faces-and-opening-and-closing-tool.pdf

 

[xmetal]

I wonder if neatsfoot oil would work. I used to use it on my motorcycle boots in the past.

 

[brightspark]

as above neatsfoot oil would soften it but id glue it in with araldite to tighten it up 1st

 

[colnerov]

I'm not sure about glueing or bonding in because when it's in use it spreads out behind the lip. I would say any leather oils, saddle soap or feeding will be a better bet to soften it so it can spread. Any impacts now could cause a bit to break off if it's hardened and shrunk.

Colin

 

[Screwdriver]

I would just hit it hard against something heavy...

 

[Mick Annick]

There is some advice from a while ago here:

Swelling a leather mallet head?

Reading the thread on claw hammers made me wonder: I have an elderly leather/copper mallet, Thor brand, and similar to the ones that used to be supplied with MG wire wheel cars to undo the central wheel nut. Over the years the leather has shrunk, so much so that it is only a loose fit in the...

www.ukworkshop.co.uk

Seems that soaking is not a long term fix.

In finding that, I also found this, which tells you how to replace the leather part, as well as a drawing for the tool to do it:

https://www.thorhammer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/combined-replacing-faces-and-opening-and-closing-tool.pdf

Does anyone do a replacement service? I’ve got two copper / hide mallets which need replacement hide but don’t have the means to make the tool nor a press.

 

[Ubique]

Looking at the manufacturers re-facing instructions, I'd be finding a taper bearing race and pressing that down around the malleable core to take up the gap, if you can't do that, then some hard wire pressed into the gap, the rawhide only needs to be held in place, the force is applied on the end grain.

 

[MattF]

I'm not sure about glueing or bonding in because when it's in use it spreads out behind the lip. I would say any leather oils, saddle soap or feeding will be a better bet to soften it so it can spread. Any impacts now could cause a bit to break off if it's hardened and shrunk.

Colin

That's the way I'd go. Soften it with oil dripped into the socket, give it a day or two to soak in, then use it.

I have one here the same, which I could do with sorting out.

 

[Hitch]

Just use it. It'll swell In the head and go tight.

 

[JOEPRO]

Thanks for the replies that helps.

I recall some note when I bought it about sanding off the varnish on the leather and soaking it.

I have ordered some neatsfoot oil I'll sand off the end of the leather and dawb some of that on over a few days and I belive it will be fine I should start using it also.

 

[Pond frog]

Plenty of use an it should sort itself out , I had one that started out loose, after a few years when the end needed replacing the hardest bit was getting the old end out

 

[skotl]

Betcha @mrsbruce would have some good advice!

 

[Brad93]

boiled linseed oil

 

[chris pruteanu]

I would take it out and just fit a standard copper head instead ! They not well balanced with the leather hide insert anyway !
Also for some reason my old (10 years) Thor nr3 hammer is heavier and sturdier built than the “new” nr3 hammer I bought last year from my usual snap on dealer…

 

[GRW]

Also for some reason my old (10 years) Thor nr3 hammer is heavier and sturdier built than the “new” nr3 hammer I bought last year from my usual snap on dealer…

Lower quality, hike the profit ?

It's pretty much what every global premium Brands have been doing for a very long time now - i.e. Trade on past reputation for quality while maintaining premium price with lower quality products (often outsourced & re-branded cheap imported goods).

 

[tigdlo]

I would take it out and just fit a standard copper head instead !

The sockets in the head are different or hide and copper, they sell plastic faces but I don't know if they suit the copper or hide socket.

 

[keithski122]

Anyone who's ever tried changing the heads will know how tight they fit after belting a few things with it.