This is a guest post from a valued member of the Seattle Findings family.
Hammers are not a commonly reviewed item – which I really don’t understand. Like most metal workers I am a hammer junkie and have a collection of them. I recently added our new goldsmith hammer to my arsenal and it has quickly become my favorite.
I needed a small hammer for texturing and planishing on gold and sterling. This little hammer has a cross-peen face and a gently curved, round face. The cross-peen face moves the metal unilaterally, in a single direction, while the goldsmithing face moves the metal radially, outward in all directions. It also planishes helping remove the marks left by your cross-peen work.
The finish on both of the faces is excellent. The majority of the time, I find that some finishing or
polishing on new hammer faces is necessary, but not here. I opened it up and it was ready to use out of the box! This makes me happy. On a quick side note, if you ever do purchase a tool that needs a good polish, Fabulustre works amazingly well. Now, on my bench this hammer is used exclusively on jewelry pieces. If you decide to use it to strike other tools, its face will show the marks and dings from your efforts and should be resurfaced before using directly on your jewelry pieces. If the hammer is not used directly on jewelry pieces, there is really no need to polish either face, just keep them tidy using Scotch-Brite® or a 220-grit sanding paper.
polishing on new hammer faces is necessary, but not here. I opened it up and it was ready to use out of the box! This makes me happy. On a quick side note, if you ever do purchase a tool that needs a good polish, Fabulustre works amazingly well. Now, on my bench this hammer is used exclusively on jewelry pieces. If you decide to use it to strike other tools, its face will show the marks and dings from your efforts and should be resurfaced before using directly on your jewelry pieces. If the hammer is not used directly on jewelry pieces, there is really no need to polish either face, just keep them tidy using Scotch-Brite® or a 220-grit sanding paper.The hammer itself looks like a piece of art. It is a truly classy, well made tool for a good price and will last a long time. Its balance is awesome and the head is securely mounted on a contoured, hardwood handle. The feel of this hammer in my hand makes me smile and I cannot wait to see what it and I can make together.
Seattle Findings Blog 
Great post! The goldsmith hammer is truly indispensable for fine jewelry work. I’ve also found the cross peen hammer very useful for shaping and texturing metals. Anyone else use it frequently?
Great insights! The cross peen hammer is indeed a versatile tool, especially for metalworking and shaping. Its unique peen end allows for precise control, making it a favorite among blacksmiths. Have you tried using the Maximus 350? I’ve heard it offers excellent balance and durability!