Fretz Chasing Hammers Set of 5

A chasing hammer strikes a chasing or repousse tool rather than the metal itself, so its weight and balance decide how cleanly a line moves. The Fretz Chasing Hammers Set of 5 gathers five hammers chosen to cover the full range of chasing and repousse work, giving metalsmiths and jewelry artists the core of the Fretz chasing line in one purchase.

Every head in the set is cast 420 stainless steel hardened to 50Rc on the Rockwell scale and finished to a high polish. Each handle is hand finished African Padauk, a type of rosewood, shaped as a pistol grip for a smooth, balanced feel. Handle color runs from dark brown to lighter tones depending on the Padauk sourced.

Unlike other Fretz hammers, chasing hammers contact a tool instead of the work, so the polished face may become marred in normal use. That is expected and does not affect performance. Bill Fretz notes that a properly hardened chasing tool will show mushrooming on its striking end during normal use. Because every Fretz hammer is hand finished, slight variations in head diameter can occur between individual hammers.

Eye protection is required when using any hammer.

Features

• 420 stainless steel heads cast and hardened to 50Rc on the Rockwell scale, highly polished, in profiles suited to a wide range of metalsmithing techniques
• African Padauk (rosewood) handles in a pistol grip design with a smooth, balanced feel
• Built to strike a tool, the only hammers in the Fretz collection intended for use against a chasing tool rather than directly on metal
• Hand finished construction, with each hammer individually finished
• Five hammer set covering the HMR-417 Precisionsmith, HMR-17 Original, HMR-20M Classic Medium, HMR-20 Classic Heavy and HMR-19 Janus

Notes

• Marring on the hammer face during normal chasing use is expected and does not impair function
• Mushrooming on the striking end of a chasing tool is a sign of proper tool hardening and normal use
• Handle color may vary from dark brown to lighter tones depending on Padauk sourcing
• Hand finishing means no two hammers are exactly alike and slight head diameter variations may occur
• Eye protection must be worn when using any hammer