Flatter

**Philip Davies** · Oct 14, 2021, 06:36 AM

This is a flatter made from scrap materials. A ball pain hammer was annealed and a hole drilled through the poll. This was truncated and the piece left over becomes a header for rivets.. I cut a 2” piece of 2 x 5/8” plate and drilled a hole ha
Lfvway through the centre and inserted a bit of rod into the hole. I also cut a 1/2” length of tube for a collar.
My welding is not the best and rotating it frequently gave me a lot of blobs to grind off, but I hope it will hold up.
Part of my reason for making this is that flatters are in short supply and if I can encourage people who can do better, there will be more to go round.

**nova_robotics** · Oct 14, 2021, 10:53 PM

A very nice precision smashometer.

**Toolmaker51** · Oct 15, 2021, 12:06 AM

Confused, thinking a flatter was made to be hit by another 'smith, while the primary moved it around part being shaped, or is that a different tool?

**Philip Davies** · Oct 15, 2021, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by Toolmaker51

Confused, thinking a flatter was made to be hit by another 'smith, while the primary moved it around part being shaped, or is that a different tool?

Yes, that’s correct. It is basically a finishing tool, to remove, hopefully, the hammer marks (although I like those!) if the piece is held steady on the anvil with a holdfast, one hand holds the flatter, or set-hammer, or fuller, or swage, and the other hand holds the hammer.

**bwpigeon** · Oct 15, 2021, 08:31 AM

Great idea. I have several old hammers that have seen their best years. Now would be a good time to repurpose some of them. I figure I could make at least 3 or 4 different styles.

**BuffaloJohn** · Oct 15, 2021, 09:55 AM

Gallagher would be proud

**mklotz** · Oct 15, 2021, 10:49 AM

Caveat: I know virtually nothing about woodworking.

My understanding of "flatter" matches the blacksmith interpretation discussed here. However, my subconscious keeps tickling me with the idea of something used in applying veneer in woodworking. Also, something associated with "fulling".

Are there any alternate usages of the word or is it just some wires crossed in my medulla?

**Philip Davies** · Oct 15, 2021, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by mklotz

Caveat: I know virtually nothing about woodworking.

My understanding of "flatter" matches the blacksmith interpretation discussed here. However, my subconscious keeps tickling me with the idea of something used in applying veneer in woodworking. Also, something associated with "fulling".

Are there any alternate usages of the word or is it just some wires crossed in my medulla?

Veneer is applied with a veneer hammer, although no hammering is involved. It looks a bit like a croupier’s rake, but is used back to front, with pressure applied on the cross piece in a zigzag way along the veneer being laid. I’ll post a picture tomorrow, if you like.

**mklotz** · Oct 15, 2021, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by Philip Davies

Veneer is applied with a veneer hammer, although no hammering is involved. It looks a bit like a croupier’s rake, but is used back to front, with pressure applied on the cross piece in a zigzag way along the veneer being laid. I’ll post a picture tomorrow, if you like.

Ah, yes, veneer hammer...

https://www.fine-tools.com/ham6.html

now that I see one, it looks vaguely familiar. Somehow I mis-mixed the "hammer" word with the notion of flattening.

Thanks for straightening me out.

**Toolmaker51** · Oct 15, 2021, 02:43 PM

Aren't "Flatter's" the left-wing extremists of Flat Earth Society?

Not to worry Mr. K, your wiring is A1, medulla and beyond.
Between us, mine's that with questionable integrity...