See the hammer in use texturing a ring..... kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iriWaMqUxt-WYac.html Dave.

I've used this hammer for a couple days--and I find it's a real step up from a quality hammer that was inadequate for this kind of work--too light and too narrow a hammer face. Now I'm hitting the punch every time, and getting far better impressions. However, anybody shopping for this hammer in the USA will notice a number of negative reviews at a prominent jewelry tool supplier. Some say the head has dented or fallen off, or the handle is shaped wrong for the intended use. Like all my Fretz hammers, this one just feels like quality. And, the way I've learned to use such hammers--you let the weight of the head do *most of the work* and the end of the handle is pivoted between the thumb and forefinger for a lot of quick, successive blows. So if you wield this hammer like you're driving a nail, you might get different results and perhaps problems with the head. Everyone has to figure out a technique that works best for them, and I might get another Fretz hammer to do heavier work. Cheers

Excellent point about the wider head-it sure would cut down on those times I’ve missed hitting the tool. So I’m in the market for a real repousse hammer, and I’m looking at *all the hammers* . Even on the higher end, there are many generic hammers described as “tool steel” with “hardwood" handles. While both those materials *should* denote quality, there is still a lot of difference in grades of both wood and steel. With Fretz, I know *exactly* what I’m getting-because they tell you. Fretz uses 420 stainless, a high-carbon stainless which can be hardened up to 50 RHC-and my Fretz hammers have really held up well under heavy use. As for handles there's a big difference in what's called "hardwood".Tthe African Padauk which Fretz uses has a Janka hardness of 1970, which is ~40% harder than ‘hard maple’--meaning it won’t ding easily or split under heavy use. That’s just my thought process when buying a new tool-it’s better to spend a little extra money for a tool of proven quality, than taking a chance on some generic tool that might not last as long.

Baby socks for protection might be even cheap and more handy