Tool Tip #11: Sharpening a Hammer

Deadblow hammers are useful woodworking tools for both disassembly and assembly, though one hardly wants the imprint of a hammer face on either an antique slated for repair or a new piece of furniture.  The indentations, roughness and dirt on the face of the hammer shown in the picture are easily removed by a few seconds in contact with a disc sander.  The bed of the disc sander is especially useful in keeping the face of the hammer exactly parallel to the disc.  I usually bring the hammer face to the disc with the sander just turned off and winding down, since the disc at full speed tends to melt the hammer face rather than "sharpen" it.  By the way, sharpened hammers have much less tendency to slip or skid, like a student pilot.  If you've created too sharp a hammer head, relieve the corners slightly. You may even find that the disc is ever so slightly cleaner than when you started, i.e. like the work boot used to clean a belt sander in Old Sole Eraser.