Fretz HMR-1 Planishing Hammer

The Fretz HMR-1 Planishing Hammer is part of the original Fretz Jewelers Hammer line — the most popular series in the growing Fretz family. Sized between the smaller Fretz Precisionsmith hammers and the larger Fretz Silversmithing hammers, the Jewelers series strikes the ideal balance for everyday metalsmithing work. The HMR-1 features a flat face and a domed face, each serving a distinct purpose in the planishing process.

Planishing is the technique of smoothing metal against a stake by making overlapping blows — a stretching method that simultaneously forms metal to the underlying stake. The domed face addresses previous raising hammer marks, smoothing them out efficiently. The flat face then refines those marks to a near-smooth finish. Beyond planishing, this hammer excels at sizing rings, forming bezels, and general metal forming against mandrels and stakes. It is the most widely used hammer in the Fretz line.

Features

• 420 stainless steel head cast and hardened to 50Rc for long-lasting performance
• Highly polished head surfaces on both the flat and domed faces for clean, refined hammer marks
• Dual-face design — domed face smooths prior raising marks; flat face refines to a near-smooth finish
• African Padauk handle (a type of Rosewood) provides exceptional feel, smooth grip, and perfect balance
• Handle weight matched to head weight — heavier heads are paired with appropriately sized handles for optimal balance
• Versatile application: ring sizing, bezel forming, and general metalsmithing against mandrels and stakes
• Handle color may range from dark brown to lighter shades depending on sourced Padauk stock — all handles meet the same quality standard

Specifications