Rawhide mallet....hard and lacquered?????

[DellaUK]

Hi ladies,

I am about to take the leap into silver coring, and have purchased a (possibly too) cheap rawhide hammer to finish off after coring.  I had expected it to be relatively soft, but it has arrived lacquered or glued so that it's really hard, and I would have thought would scratch silver if I bashed with it.  Is this as it should be?  Do I need to bash it about a bit to wear it in?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Della

[Madam Steph]

George told me to bash mine a good few times before using it.
I think most of them arrive like this, Della

Linda x

[Enchanted Cobwebs]

they soften up eventually, still softer than metal though they look tough!

[mizgeorge]

You need to give them a really good bash, ideally on a bit of old concrete or paving slab, to work the varnish off the hitting face. Some people also soak them for a while to help soften them up still further. There needs to be no trace of red left or they can mark your silver.

It's one reason why a lot of people have switched to nylon hammers

[DellaUK]

Thanks ladies.  Looks like I'll have to get bashing!

Della

[Enchanted Cobwebs]

I bought a nylon one first, didnt like it as it seems just too hard. My rawhide one is OK now but I have had it about 7 years so its fairly well 'bashed'