Fretz Michael Good Hammer Set of 3

Anticlastic raising compresses the center of a sheet while its edges stretch, producing two opposing curves, and it asks for hammers shaped to that stroke. Michael Good designed this set of three with Bill and Jordan Fretz, and Fretz builds them to his specifications at its hammer and stake factory in Vietnam, each with a polished stainless steel head for a crisp, mark-free strike on properly prepared metal.

Features

• Polished stainless steel heads tuned for anticlastic raising and planishing.
• Includes Good's sight-line P-1 planisher plus two long-reach cross pein planishers, CP-1 and CP-2.
• Cut-away ends on the P-1 improve sightline through the hammer, and its large face diameters make it easy to work around bracelets and sculptural forms.
• CP-1 carries a long, slightly curved 148 mm head for a smooth arcing stroke, with a narrow face for thin concave curves and a thicker end that adds useful heft.
• CP-2 mirrors the CP-1 at 145 mm with thinner, narrower faces for finer concave work while retaining mass for heavier stock.
• Optimized for thin sheet, delivering predictable, repeatable strikes.

Notes

Anticlastic work is typically performed on thin non-ferrous sheet using a sinusoidal stake. For thin stock, pairing these steel hammers with a nylon or plastic sinusoidal stake offers greater control and a cleaner surface; steel stakes allow faster forming but generally require additional planishing. Select a hammer whose arc is slightly tighter than the stake's corresponding curve, strike at right angles to the stake, and overlap blows evenly, rotating the work as needed to maintain smooth furrows and uniform curvature. Anneal between courses as required by the alloy, and continue raising systematically toward the center until the desired axial and generator curves are achieved.