Description

The Original Tungsten Carbide Niroc Knockometer.

Carbide Blade Straightening Hammer

“If your blade is a rockin’, the NIROC comes a knockin'”

Weighing in at approximately 160 grams (5.6 oz) the Niroc Knockometer was originally designed as a blade straightening tagane hammer, but they are also prized by panel beaters, tool makers, leather workers, saw doctors and tool repairers. They are useful to anyone that needs a small, but very hard hammer.

These are hand made and every effort and care is made to create a beautiful tool that, with care, will last. The heads are machined from brass bar. Brass is selected due to its relative density being heavier than steel for the same volume and its ability to deform. This “beds” the carbide and reducing the likelihood of chipping or fracturing. The carbide inserts are silver brazed in place with 45% silver brazing alloy, and the process I use ensures the brazing completely retains the insert.

The eye of my hammers is integral to the design and retention of the head on a handle, whether fitted by me or by you. I machine the eye with an hourglass taper, meaning the width of the eye is narrower in the middle of the hammer. When driven onto a tapered handle and wedged, the likelihood of it ever coming loose is slim to none.

I make two heads:

Carbide peen x carbide flat face and carbide peen x brass flat face.

There are three handle options:

1. As a head only
2. With an Australian factory made spotted gum handle fitted
3. With a hand made, custom design Osage Orange handle fitted

Why a Tungsten Carbide Faced Hammer

The Carbide Ball Peen

The tungsten carbide ball peen has the primary purpose of straightening blades: A video on this process can be seen here:

The tungsten carbide peen is also super useful for shaping and faceting pins when riveting, and for precision dent removal and shaping of sheet metal.

The Carbide Flat Hammer Face Option

The tungsten carbide flat hammer face gives the ultimate hardness for riveting pins and any other task requiring a hard flat face. The tungsten carbide does the job of a heavier hammer efficiently deforming pin material with precision.

The Brass Hammer Flat Face Option

The brass flat face gives you a softer deadblow hammer face useful for straightening San Mai blades and fitting guards and fittings. The brass is softer than steel and will not mark steel guards and fittings like a steel hammer you can also knock tight fitting pins in and out with less risk of deforming. The Brass hammer face will get marked up and deform with usage and should be dressed as required.

Hammer Handles

Every hammer handle fitted by me is done so to the best of my ability. The handle is carefully shaped to precisely match the hammer eye and is carefully wedged in place with Osage Orange wedges. This is a time consuming process, but is worth the effort to get right.

The Australian made factory handles are made from spotted gum, a material renowned in Australia for tool handles. I only use approximately 70% of the handles supplied from the factory, removing anything that does not meet my quality standards. Due to the manufacturing process these handles are not always symmetrical, however they feel good in the hand and the lack of symmetry provides the user with a feel for the hammer orientation, and they are nice to use. These are shorter and vary in colour depending on where the wood comes from in the tree from light tan through brown to a dark red.

With performance as a hammer handle similar to hickory, osage orange is far more aesthetically pleasing. My custom handle design is longer, thinner, light, whippy and strong and perfect for a range of tasks. These are made by either myself, or ABS Journeyman Bladesmith and renowned knifemaker, and one of my best mates, Keith Fludder. We shape these individually by hand and eye. They are truly hand made and there is always some variance. Each handle is unique despite meeting my standards. In my opinion the Osage Orange is a fantastic choice for a tool that will be treasured and hopefully last for generations.

MY GUARANTEE

If it is not right, I will fix it or replace it. If something goes wrong just let me know.

I have worked, directly and indirectly in customer service for my whole working life. I know sometimes things do go wrong and it is what I do about it that defines my business. Please give me the opportunity.

Explanation of the Options;