Functionalist Hammer upcycle

The aesthetic I wish to explore is functionalism; this is idea that a things pure value and beauty is derived from it’s use (or function). I may not agree directly with this aesthetics’ cut and dry approach to beauty but I do believe that things which are functional and beautiful are more valuable that one that are mutually exclusive.

I wish to make a hammer for my upcycle project out of scrap materials such as steel, wood and brass; the form of the tool will be solely defined by it’s functionality; this in it of itself would not make for a ‘beautiful’ hammer per say, so I would like to incorporate material manipulation techniques which both heighten the functional nature of the tool and it’s outward beauty.

I am interesting in picking up skills to bring this project to life, namely wood carving (such as checkering, scroll work, or stippling) and material deformation skills (such as riveting and cold working).

These are examples of cold worked metal finishes, one of which I would like to incorporate into the head of the hammer.

The textured surface of the wooden handle is something I wish to replicate on the hammer’s handle.

Sources:

http://www.mooseforge.com/Techniques/textures.html

https://www.simmonssportinggoods.com/buck-knives-r40000-fixed-7-4-wood-handle/

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/hammers/76107-8-oz-delrin-faced-brass-hammer?item=88K2150