Maybe it’s only around here that a small sledgehammer is known as a “beater” – searching on Google doesn’t turn up much, other than the T-shirt and dilapidated car references. In any case, it’s an apt nickname.
I’ve had this one for years. I’m not quite certain where or when I got it – I do know that I didn’t buy it new and it was already in pretty rough shape. It has spent much of its life outdoors, in all types of weather, and that has taken a toll on it.
I mainly use it to drive wooden stakes in the ground, when I need to, and various other tasks that require a heavy hammer. It doesn’t get a lot of use, overall, but it is handy to have for those rare times when it’s needed.
These hammers are not expensive and buying a new one would certainly be easier than rehabbing this one. Still, every once in a while it’s nice to dial things back a bit and do something that is done just for the heck of it. Kind of a stress-relieving exercise. Besides, why buy new when you can fix what you already have?
With the head coming dangerously close to slipping off,
the fix was to make a new handle for it. From the looks of things, the previous owner did some repairs when the head started to loosen:

The old nail trick. Six in total (one I couldn’t get out) are pulled and this makes taking the handle out a bit easier. Another common way is to throw it in a fire and let the handle burn.

Some hard maple from a skid is cut to size for the new handle. I want it a bit longer, for more leverage on the swing:

Bringing it down to the rough shape with a block plane:

And fine tuning with the belt sander. A spoke shave would be a good tool to have for this, but I don’t have one.

With the handle done, I used a round file to clean out the inside of the head, to remove some of the rust and dirt. I then coated the hole with polyurethane construction adhesive, slid the handle in and wedged it:

The next day, it’s better than new. The handle is left unfinished, since this makes for the best grip. I could take the time to clean up and paint the head, but I won’t bother. It has character and history, and there’s nothing wrong with showing that.

When I did my roof last year, I bought a roll of aluminum flashing, and I have quit a bit left over:

I though a good use for it would be to make reflective shades for my shop lights.

Made in a cone shape, and just resting on the bulb itself. They work well:

Two more to make for the other side of the shop. There used to be a 4′ fluorescent fixture there, but the ballast conked out, and I’ve found that two of these 26 watt CFL bulbs have a very similar light output.