Which wheel hammer to buy

[Snake2998]

Hi - lead hammers are impossible to get in South Africa to knock on the spinners and would cost about $120 imported from the USA which makes them too expensive to consider given our pathetic exchange rate.

I have a choice between Copper hammers, Copper one side/ Compressed Leather the other or all copper or all leather hammers and/or nylon dead blow hammers all at about 4.4 lbs - which would you guys choose given that choice.

Local manufacturers recommend the nylon dead blow but I'm not sure.

Help please make up my mind for me. My first choice is copper but I'm not sure if they will damage the Aluminium spinners.

[LMH]

Is it copper or brass?
Larry

[fordracing65]

Eastwood's nylon hammers are what the Kirkhams use for their spinners, they get the biggest one they have, I believe it is 4lbs...

[Snake2998]

It's copper but the supplier says quiet hard.

[mickmate]

The original cars used a copper rawhide hammer for their spinners. I think rawhide to do up and copper to get it started off??

[kobrabytes]

Buy a mold and make your own. That's what I'm gearing up for.

Lead hammers have a limited life and are only good for a few removals.

[redmt]

Originally Posted by kobrabytes

Buy a mold and make your own. That's what I'm gearing up for.

Lead hammers have a limited life and are only good for a few removals.

I looked into the molds and there's only 1 company I could find that sold them and you had to buy their handles to go with it. It's not worth it unless your going to pour lots of hammers. If you do it, make sure your lead has a high tin content or they won't last through 2 tightenings.

[bret a ewing]

Thor.

[601HP]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

Eastwood's nylon hammers are what the Kirkhams use for their spinners, they get the biggest one they have, I believe it is 4lbs...

10 years ago, a friend noticed the gouges in my wheels from using a lead hammer (sometimes I hit the wheel rim, dang it). Several days later he handed me an orange nylon hammer that weighs 4 pounds. No more wheel damage!!

Haven't and won't use anything else since that day!

David

[bret a ewing]

Originally Posted by 601HP

10 years ago, a friend noticed the gouges in my wheels from using a lead hammer (sometimes I hit the wheel rim, dang it). Several days later he handed me an orange nylon hammer that weighs 4 pounds. No more wheel damage!!

Haven't and won't use anything else since that day!

David

Have you had any trouble getting them off?

[lippy]

I'm still building so I haven't used it much. But I hit my spinners with the lead hammer from Finishline and there was no damage. Is it better to use a nylon dead-blow?

[twobjshelbys]

Did you check on shipping from American Hammer??? Or is it the lead itself that is prohibited in SA?

[Learjockey1]

Google American Hammer 6.0 lb

I have had the wheels off and on about 8 times and good for another 60 at least. When you accidentally hit the polished wheel rims by accident, no damage to wheels not even a scuff mark. They will remold the hammer when required with a “recast program”. When I was stationed over in Germany, Ted took care of me and was very gracious. Hammer is heavy enough to do the job without much of a swing arc minimizing hitting the wheels. Use liberal anti-seize. JMHO

[601HP]

Originally Posted by bret a ewing

Have you had any trouble getting them off?

Bret,
Nope, I don't have any problem with wheel removal. I apply anti-seize liberally whenever I remove a wheel.

David

[Snake2998]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Did you check on shipping from American Hammer??? Or is it the lead itself that is prohibited in SA?

No - on both accounts - will follow up with American Hammer thanks.

Further research has shown that Leather Hammers are even more expensive than lead so that's out - looks like , given Kirkham's preference for Nylon Hammers that I will go that way.

Another option is importing say ten lead hammers and selling 9 to fund mine as there must be a pent up demand for them here as there are many Superformance, Backdraft and CAV cars around as South Africa is the home of them - all of whom seem to use Nylon hammers. Will talk to American hammer about that option.

Thanks to all contributors so far.

[Danr55]

I use a five pound deadfall hammer from Harbor Freight. It won't hurt the wheels or spinners and scuffs wipe off with a rag.