Let’s be honest; buying brand new metal stocks is expensive as hell. Typically, a blacksmith would pick something up from a scrapyard and flatten it out before working with it. But they can only achieve this without much hassle with the best flatter hammer.
Flattening that odd-shaped metal piece is not as easy as it seems. To make your work easier, someone, several years ago, came up with the idea of this tool.
As obvious from the name itself, they are used to flatten metal stocks. Majority of them come with a flat square-shaped face on one side and a narrower flat peen on the other end.
You just have to place the flat side of the metal stock and strike the other end with a sledgehammer. A flatter hammer is also used to give your workpiece a nice and even finish.
Buying a good tool is a bit hectic task. Why? Most of these so-called flatter hammer doesn’t even offer a flat working surface themselves.
Here are the top flatter hammers that guarantee durability and precision.
- The Fairmount Shrinking Hammer Has A Cross-Hatched Face For Shrinking Metal Work On Large Flatter Surfaces.
- Pro-Quality Metal-Forming Hammer
- Precision Engineered For Comfort And Control
- Manufactured With High Quality Raw Materials
- Heat Treated, Hand Ground And Polished Surfaces
Why do we like it?
To start with, this option is a perfect balance of quality and price. The Fairmount Professional Shrinking hammer is designed for optimum balance with a perfectly shaped head, and a durable fiberglass handle.
The head features a flat cross-hatched face for flattening metal quickly. This polished head is attached to a superior quality fiberglass handle to reduce harmful vibrations, resultantly improving the accuracy of work.
Fairmount Tool does not shy away when it comes to comfort and high-grade build quality of their products. Likewise, this shrinking hammer has also been precision engineered for exceptional grip and control.
The fiberglass handle also comes with a textured rubber grip. You don’t want your hammer to fly away, right?
Pros
Polished head.
Fiberglass handle.
Cons
Not suitable for heavy-duty work.
Perfect for heavy-duty work.
This square hammer flatter by Picard is great in terms of build-quality and durability. The price? It’s is very costly and doesn’t even come with a handle.
Why do we like it?
If you’ve been in the blacksmithing business for quite some time, Picard shouldn’t be unknown to you. It is well-known for its premium metal working tools that last for hell of a long time.
Yes, it does not come with a handle, but you can use it with your anvil, swage, or bottom flat hammer anvil hardy. If not, you can just buy a hickory or fiberglass handle and attach it with the flatter head.
The flat face is 2 7/16″ x 2 ¼”. The distance from the striking face to the flat work surface is approximately 5.5″. The head has also been polished for a nice glossy look.
Be it a heavy metal stock, or something you picked up from the scrapyard; this tool can flatten it all.
Furthermore, this flatter hammer comes all the way from Germany.
Pros
A wide working area.
Great for heavy-duty work.
Cons
Does not come with a handle.
Very expensive compared to other options.
- Heavy Body Hammer With Perfectly Flat Square Face
- High Carbon Steel Head
- Hickory Handle
- Square Face With No Crown
- The Face Dimensions Are 1.93 Inches High By 1.24 Inches Wide.
Why do we like it?
The previous option by Fairmount had a cross-hatched face, but this one comes with a plain flat hammer face. The perfectly flat square face is 1.93″ high and 1.24″ wide.
The head might not be the biggest out there, but it surely does its work. The 11.4 ounces weight makes it suitable for only light-duty to medium-duty work or giving your workpiece a flat finish.
Nonetheless, this is a great value for money product that can take hell of a beating.
Pros
A sturdy wood handle.
Competitive pricing.
Cons
Smaller working surface.
Some users have reported the square surface of having surface irregularities.
The research
Can we use a cross peen hammer instead of a flatter hammer?
Is flatter hammer one of the essential tools of blacksmithing?
Can you use a flatter hammer like a regular hammer?
Who should get this?
Spreading metal is the first step of almost every blacksmithing project. Most of the times, the metal pieces obtained for scrapyards are oddly shaped. Anyone who wants to work with them needs a flatter hammer.
How we picked?
We considered the following factors for filtering the best flatter hammers:
- Strength: The flatter hammers is supposed to be struck by a heavy sledgehammer. If the flatter is not strong enough, it will break under such heavy loads. We have filtered out only those products that feature a robust hammerhead.
- Handle: Except for the Picard flatter hammers, the other two options come with a durable handle to absorb vibrations. The Picard hammerhead does have space for a handle, but you will have to buy it separately.
- Cost: Our team put in lots of efforts to find hammers that offer the right balance of price and performance. The Picard square hammer flatter is more of a premium option and is highly-priced, but it will last for a long time.
The other two a fairly priced and affordable for every new blacksmith.
Care and maintenance tips
We recommend that flatter hammers should be stored in a dry environment. Otherwise, it can catch rust, causing its life to decrease drastically. Furthermore, when hitting the tool, make sure you’re doing it in a proper rhythmic manner.
Can we use a cross peen hammer instead of a flatter hammer?
Using a cross peen hammer for flattening purposes is not preferable. A flatter provides a larger working area and while saving your precious time.
Is flatter hammer one of the essential tools of blacksmithing?
Yes, this tool is necessary for blacksmithing. It helps you spread metal quickly and gives your workpieces a subtle flat finish.
Can you use a flatter hammer like a regular hammer?
Yes, you can either use it like any other hammer or place it on top of the stock and strike the other end with a sledgehammer.
Conclusion
See, now you know everything about flatter hammers. Having one around can save a lot of time and energy. Moreover, a high-quality flatter hammer can last for years to come.
Have a dip in a metal sheet? Or maybe a surface irregularity on your precious metal craft? Use a flatter hammer!
All of these products have been tested for durability and strength. Considering your budget and requirements, you can choose any of these three without worrying.
