Sell me your McDevitt Hammer

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Tea

Trad climber

Behind the Zion Curtain

Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 18, 2010 - 02:08am PT

Anyone got one of these hammers lying around that they would like to turn into some cash?

Cheers.

t

healyje

Trad climber

Portland, Oregon

Jan 18, 2010 - 02:50am PT

I'd take one as well.

Linda Jarit

climber

Jan 18, 2010 - 11:48am PT

I need one too! I tried a lighter hammer and I definitely preferred using Bryan's McDevitt's hammer.

Minerals

Social climber

The Deli

Jan 18, 2010 - 12:08pm PT

Wow, Linda’s first post on ST! No way!!! ;) Hey, got your 17/64” collet from Jonny B yesterday…

Got three McDevitt hammers but ain’t lettin’ ‘em go. I love these hammers too – they are pretty much the only ones that I will use.

Maybe we can get Theron to make a small batch, as a CNC-machined head is a lot easier to deal with than a forged head. He’s been sittin’ on my brand new McDevitt hammer for a while now so he’s got something to copy… Theron, whatcha think?

Tea

Trad climber

Behind the Zion Curtain

Topic Author's Reply - Jan 18, 2010 - 12:15pm PT

Thanks for Posting up Minerals! This hammer was your design, wasn't it?

I am ready to pre-pay for a couple.

Let's make it happen...these hammers fuggin rule.

But could we make the head attachment better for longer life?

Linda Jarit

climber

Jan 18, 2010 - 12:18pm PT

Thanks for the collet Bryan but I REALLY need that hammer...what good is a hurricane drill if I ain't gotta hammer to hit it with???

Theron?

Wade Icey

Trad climber

www.alohashirtrescue.com

Jan 18, 2010 - 12:19pm PT

Hi Linda!

Tea

Trad climber

Behind the Zion Curtain

Topic Author's Reply - Jan 18, 2010 - 12:23pm PT

(chant it with me) THERON! THERON! THERON!

Linda Jarit

climber

Jan 18, 2010 - 12:24pm PT

Howdy supertopians...
Guess my needs outweighed my shyness....
no more lurker status! ;)

Linda Jarit

climber

Jan 18, 2010 - 12:25pm PT

THERON THERON THERON

Mungeclimber

Trad climber

sorry, just posting out loud.

Jan 18, 2010 - 12:44pm PT

The Theron God cannot be appeased with chanting, you must provide schematics, and metal sacrifices and HOOKS, LOTS OF HOOKS!!!

:)

You know what's funny, is I bet that BD hammer that's on sale at REI is still sittin there. Everybody wants a D5 or Cali Custom.

Minerals

Social climber

The Deli

Jan 18, 2010 - 01:05pm PT

Both Dan and I helped to design the hammer and they were produced by Bill Forshee(sp?) in the '90s. Glad you like the hammer, Tea!

I agree that the head attachment could use a little work, but we don’t want to give it a harsh feel – that’s one of the things that I like best about the McDevitt hammer – the feel. I can hand drill all day long with that hammer and it doesn’t vibrate the crap out of my swinging hand. The sharp angles on the head allow for better hammer contact when placing a beak/rurp/etc. in a corner – a rounded hammer head will just glance off the piton.

I find that the striking surface on the head of the BD hammer is too small in area and the surface gets rounded rather quickly; this rounded shape means that the hammer will glance off of a hand drill A LOT more than a hammer with a larger, flat striking surface. I can’t drill with a BD hammer – too frustrating! And too light.

One thing that I have done with my McDevitt hammers is to tap some tico(sp?) nails into the top of the handle to act as a wedge (you know, the short nails used for attaching metal clips (too many A-35s for me…) to lumber when framing a house…). This should help to tighten the head/handle connection. Just make sure that the nail(s) clears the roll-pin.

A few reposts… of the goods…

Theron is the man and he's got the plans!!!

Tea

Trad climber

Behind the Zion Curtain

Topic Author's Reply - Jan 18, 2010 - 01:19pm PT

You just cited all the exact reasons I dig it. Great Hammer.

Tea

Trad climber

Behind the Zion Curtain

Topic Author's Reply - Jan 19, 2010 - 11:48am PT

bump for Hammer time!

ryanb

climber

Seattle, WA

Jan 19, 2010 - 01:56pm PT

Would it be possible to modify the head design to fit the d5 handles/attachment scheme without ruining the feel?

That way the project could piggy back on all of the work already done on that...

mucci

Trad climber

The pitch of Bagalaar above you

Feb 10, 2014 - 12:36pm PT

SCORE!!!!

After 6 years of searching, I landed one on ebay.

May be the most obscure wall hammer ever made in the USA.

STOKED!

Mungeclimber

Trad climber

Nothing creative to say

Feb 10, 2014 - 12:41pm PT

Ebayaddiction12stepprogram.com

mucci

Trad climber

The pitch of Bagalaar above you

Feb 10, 2014 - 01:11pm PT

7 hammers make that statement ring as true as a well placed angle.

Banquo

climber

Amerricka

Feb 10, 2014 - 07:08pm PT

I like the design of this hammer. I'd like to try one someday.

My testing of drill rates has led me to conclude that not only does the shape of the bit influence drilling efficiency but the shape of the hammer head does too. I think the hammer head should have an axis of symmetry that is the same as the axis of the impact which this one seems to have. I think that a hammer with a non-symmetric, drooping pick will vibrate. I also think the head should be compact which would mean losing the pick and biner hole which both probably screw up the dynamics.

Machinists seem to have figured this out Ball peen, cross peen and European style machinist's hammers are all symmetric and generally compact.

I think we could make a McDevitt hammer head with a milling machine if we got the alloy right and could heat treat it properly. It looks like it was milled rater than forged or cast.

Only the first hammer in the photo below is symmetric. The OP hammer is a beast to use - the center of mass is low so you always strike at the bottom of the face. The Yosemite hammers are fairly symmetric which may be why people like them. The alpine hammers probably don't hammer very well.