I’ve had the pleasure of making just over 450 “Square Circle” rounding hammers for the Alec Steele Co.

Update: The hammers Alec Steele Co. are selling as of December 2020 are NOT my hammers, but ones made down in Montana by the Alec Steele Co. shop. I will still keep this page up to provide information for people that have previously purchased the hammers I made for them.

Just keep in mind that this information is dated.

The best way to get to know about this is by watching the YouTube video series on my channel called “Making 100 Hammers for Alec Steele”. I will link the first episode below.

Alec and I have worked, thought, and talked about all the aspects of these hammers, to produce them with the same look and feel as the original “square circles” that he made. When I was 13, I studied the “Tools to Make Tools” curriculum with him in England, and we have remained friends since then. Once in a while I would call him up to bother him with some questions too. It was a great honour when he presented this opportunity to me, and I am thrilled that he trusted me to replicate and produce his hammers.

This style of hammer is called the “square circle”. It has most of the same attributes as the classic rounding hammer, but it is instead forged from a square billet with the corners chamfered, and the proportions have been changed.

These hammers are made in the same manner as the rest that I offer (hand-forged, all finish work and handles done in the shop) The raw materials are 1045 carbon steel for the head, and hickory for the handles. The heads are obviously heat treated and the handles have a black, charred finish, and are rubbed down with linseed oil and pine tar.

The hammers are shipped to Alec, and they become available on his website, so you have to keep an eye out on his videos and website in order to know when the next batch will be available. They come in 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5 pound weights. (THEY ARE NOT CURRENTLY FOR SALE THROUGH THIS WEBSITE!)

Both of our touch marks are stamped into them, along with our last names, and the weight.