Drilling Hammers

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Using hammers with cracked handles, loose heads, or chipped faces is a safety hazard as well as a reflection of poor maintenance. Examine handles to insure that they are tight on heads and free of cracks. If handles have been poorly maintained or neglected, take time to repair or replace them before beginning a drilling job.

Striking faces should be smooth and evenly worn. Drilling hammers have hard tempered faces designed to strike softer drilling steel heads. The head of the steel mushrooms and the hammer face remains smooth. If a hammer face becomes pitted or chipped, however, carefully grind it smooth. Work slowly to avoid damaging the shallow temper of the face. Discard badly worn hammers. Some hammers have faces tempered soft to mushroom with use. These allow workers to safely hammer hard metals without the hammer face chipping. Mushroomed hammer heads can also be reconditioned by a blacksmith.

Wedges and Feathers

Wedge and feather sets should generally be treated like drilling steel. Avoid using wedges alone to break rock. Wedge tips are not tempered hard enough to start holes. Hammer wedges primarily on the heads, and avoid striking feathers as much as possible. Remember also that wedge and feathers break rock with friction and stress, so overheating can occur.

Picks

When sharpening picks grind the tips to a point 1/8-inch square. This will make a sharp, effective point that is strong enough to resist breaking. Before sharpening secure the head in a vise or special jig. Sharpen with an electric grinder or a 10-inch mill bastard file. Badly damaged picks can also be reforged by a blacksmith.

An oval-tapered eye and handle allow pick heads to tighten when swung, while remaining removable for sharpening, transporting, and handle replacement. A small screw in the handle just below the head will further fasten heads to handles.

Pick secured for sharpening without a vise.