I use a 3lb sledge with a digger welded on the back side. I have purchased ones like the sod buster. Then the last two years I have been welding my own. This year I welded a chiseling tool from a jack hammer onto my hammer. Same result. The digger blade always breaks off even though I’m only welding the digger portion a couple of inches past the hammer. Anyone know of an indestructible hammer/trapline digger? Had a friend suggest welding a leaf-spring which I thought was a pretty good idea.

I use the FB hammer for most of my trapping and a masonry hammer. Former for making sets, the latter for when I know im in soft ground or rebuilding remakes.

I weld a piece of disk blade to my hammer, you can dig a hole in a gravel road then go cut roots with it. the only time I had a problem with them is when I welded it to much ,as in welding all the way across all at once .

Call Tom Stalker, Stalker Fabrications

How are your welding skills?

If you don't make a propper weld nothing will stay together

I welded a 1/4" piece of flat stock and sharpen it it can cut roots.

Just have someone who is an expert weld it(not saying you aren't but the weld shouldn't break that easy). Had a sodbuster and the handle broke. My dad welded it up with a metal bar. Whole thing took prolly 30 min.

Many variables when comes to welding. Is base metal breaking or weld? The head might not be weldable without pre and post heating. Also weld rod should be for dissimilar metals like 300 or 400 series stainless. Not even going to go into weld welding ability's but you can have most beautiful welds break with just a few hits if not done wright. I just made one out of a HF sledge and had to keep head cool to keep from melting epoxy holding handle on. We will see if holds up.

Is the hammer your trying to weld the cutter to cast of forged ? if its a cheap hammer it may be cast.

Broke/bent too many of those sod buster and similar type hammers. Went to a masonry hammer and have never looked back. Let me tell you I deal with a lot of frozen ground!

Good. I use to weld for a living. BC buck is probably right about the pre heating. The welds never break. It’s always the digging metal that breaks. I use to think I was leaving the digger portion too long giving me too much leverage. So this last time I just left two inches hanging over the hammer. I think it might be unavoidable frozen ground is ruff on everything.

I used AR500 plate welded to a couple Eastwing hammers. The have held up great so far.

Y’all must deal in ground that’s like concrete. I’ve had the same Sodbuster hammer for 7 years now and still going strong.

The handle of my original sodbuster is shot, , its kept around as a backup to the backup to the backup

You are on the right track with this grade of steel.
I like to weld them on with 7018 rod and weld it in the right spots.
Spring steel should be avoided unless you know how to take some of the temper out of it.
The vibration from pounding in stakes is probably harder on the points then digging with them.
lol. I think, I have 6 digging hammers on hand.

Thick walled steel pipe is the way to go for your blade. The slight curve really strengthens it up. It;s easy to weld and you need to use a sledge shaped hammer, not one of them with the v shaped back. Your blade should be 90 degrees off the handle, not 45.

The constant pounding of steel on steel can make the steel really brittle next to the weld. It will develope a crack Right along beside the weld and eventually just fall off. You won’t even be using the blade maybe just driving a stake and the blade will just fall off. I’ve had handle welded on the sides of stake drivers before that just fell off while driving a stake in the ground. Never hit the handle or anything. The weld doesn’t break but the metal cracks beside the weld and just falls off.

When there is moisture in the ground and you have a long stretch of below zero degree temperatures the ground is like concrete. 2 or more feet of frost is not uncommon. Still better than working in mud!

Thanks for the insight everyone.

hammer (a member on this site) makes a durable Estwing trapping hammer. I like the straight blade.
pm hammer (username)-

^^^^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.

Well I have seen you swing a hammer and I’m not sure that new hammer is going to hold up.

Too conclude this thread….this hammer is really good. After using it quite a bit I don’t even mind the weight. It drives anchors fast. I use the handle of the hammer to pack dirt down the hole after the anchor is driven so it will set good. Over all I am satisfied with the idea.

It’s looks very nice. IF you really want it put to the test. PM me and I can send you an address in West Texas to send it too!! LOL!

lol. You want a 4lb hammer to bury all your drags ST?

I have about a 4 lb hammer OR grub hoe as it’s called. BUT I Like the way your hammer is welded! Plus it’s strait. I don’t want ANY angled blades. Never understood an angled hammer ? I use my grub hoe bout every day. For last 6 months. It now has a = small crack in the weld. That holds the blade on. Josh = Redneck trapper = built me a 6 lb one but as I get older. I use it less