^^^^this. Saturate it many inches deep and then the temps plummet. It chips just like concrete. It’s really great when you set in the liquid mud just before the deep freeze and hope there’s enough antifreeze/waxed barrier to avoid steel encasing into that concrete.

I haven't had any of my hammers break yet but I also don't do much land trapping like some of these guys. I did recently pick up a 5lb Mattock/axe and its awesome for frozen ground.

Found a length of busted off truck leaf spring and welded piece of that to a drilling hammer. works great!

Reach out to Tom Stalker with Stalker Fabrications. Best and toughest hammers (and tools) that money can buy...

I have a couple Hammer. User name here made for me they are great virtually indestructible pm hammer

sometimes when any steel is welded to medium or chrome moly steel, imbrittlement occurs. You can get air hardening to an extent(because of the chromium and molybdenum) and it actually makes the welded base metal brittle.. I usually forged a blade out of 5160, pre heat the welded area, lay down a couple hot passes with 7018 and then stress relieve it. Then Ill re-heat treat the blade..
Now mostly all this is totally not nesassary but Im weird about it because of my profession. and Iike to tinker

Well done, but will need to remount handle and I'm trying to get around that step. I need to test before I go to field or might regret taking short cuts.

Been using my High rolling hammer for 40 + years, yard work and trapping. The thing is pretty much indestructible.

Thinking must not be available anymore. Did a search and nothing comes up.

it was an Ogorman product. you can tell by the name but I happen to remember guys talking about them. Not being made, thats why you could not find it

Still use mine from long ago. I have had to re-glass the handle a couple times to reenforce it, but it still does the job. I have several other digging hammers, so I may retire old Bertha. It has been around the U.S. with me for most of my career.

I am currently working on a new idea for a hammer. I will post a pic next week when it is finished.

I welded I section of a flat bar made to pull nails to a 3# hammer. I preheated and ran 2 passes on it. I’ve literally used it to bed traps in a solid bed limestone road many times.

Sharkhunter can we get a pic?

Ok so here is what I am trying next. It’s a 4lb splitting maul. We shall see if I can break this one!!! lol

lol, I made one from a wood splitting wedge several years ago. It does a good job of digging. But does not feel right when pounding stakes!!
It wants to twist too much in your hand when hammering!

I like this idea but could see getting twist in hand from round handle. Had 3lb sledge from China at work. The face was not perfectly square to handle and every blow put twist in hand. Reground face and twist gone.

Update on the hammer. Things a beast. Balance is good and I am not having a twisting issue when driving stakes. Need to ground to freeze a little harder to give a real test. It got warmer so waiting on the next big freeze to really put it to the test. But so far I am very pleased with it. If I have any complaints it would be that it could weigh a pound less.

That thing looks indestructible and a work out. If you could find wedges a pound less im thinking you would be able to sell some hammers.