Everyday Systems

I've just been upgrading my hammer again and thought you might be interested...

All you need is a couple of lead diver's weights (they cost a couple of $$ each from sports store), a hot glue gun and some string. A hot air gun is useful if you've got one.

Step 1) Glue the weights to the side of the hammer. If you have a hot air gun heat the whole thing up so the glue really sticks well (gluing onto a big piece of cold metal isn't ideal...). If you haven't got a hot air gun don't worry, the glue is mainly there to stop the weights from rattling, the real strength is in the string.

You can use other types of glue if you want to (eg. epoxy resin) but hot glue makes it very easy to take apart when it's time for another upgrade - just heat it up and the glue will melt.

Step 2) Bind the weights tightly with some string to make the whole thing really solid.

That's it!

Here's some photos...

My girlfriend's hammer is on the left and is now 5kg (11 pounds). Mine is on the right and is now 7kg (15.4 pounds).

I love to see modded hammers.

I am interested.

They certainly are beautiful!

I'd be scared the weights would come flying off, but I guess you've been doing this for years now with no terrifying incidents.

For those who aren't familiar with fungus's history of modding hammers, here's a link he posted way back in 2007:

http://biggerhammer.bravehost.com/

Reinhard

Never had a problem with the weights coming off (yet!) The old zip-tie upgrade always felt as solid as a rock.

I used string this time because it's prettier. That string can probably hold 50kg (100 pounds) with no problems. Six strands on either side of the weight means it would take way more than half a ton of force to break it.

I could put more turns on there but ... I'm not too worried.

Very nice! I'm from the school that just buys heavier hammers. I now own an 8-lber (which I admit I never used, it's my partner's), a 10-lber, a 12-lber, and a 14-lber (which I use now). I'm expecting I'll start jonesing for a 16-lber in a few months, but I'm fine for now. It does take some sleuthing to find the right weight--my dad ended up finding the 14-lber at Liquidation World (sort of like a clearance hardware store) randomly. Made for a nice birthday present!

As an alternative, you could also decrease your leverage by moving your hands closer together on the handle. I imagine that this would allow more "modulation" of effort contrasted with increasing your hammer size.

I say I imagine, because for the time being, I'm using kettlebells.

Cheers!

-Frank