JIG Peening Set

The peening jig is an accessible entry point into peening, both in terms of skill and price, and it is where Phil began.

It helps you learn the basic principles of peening and get a good result, whilst lessening the need for accuracy of hammering.

The Peening Guide tells you all about peening and has a specific section on using the peening jig.

Phil prefers to peen with an 800g hammer.

With a heavier hammer you can let the hammer fall and allow it’s weight to do most of the work. This can help increase accuracy of placement of blows and reduce fatigue.

We find there are two kinds of peeners:

Some people are a little timid with their hammer blows and are prone to under-peening with a 500g hammer. An 800g hammer can help in this case.

However, some people are used to “hitting” with a hammer. If you prefer to strike firmly you may find an 800g hammer causes you to over-peen the blade.

• Choose the 800g hammer if you think you are likely to strike softly, or would prefer to allow the weight of the hammer to do most of the work.
• Choose the 500g hammer if you think you would prefer to fully strike with the hammer.

• The peening hammer and jig are for carrying out the actual peening
• The blue (60 grit) Garryflex block is used to clean up your blade prior to peening, removing any rust or build up of sap residues etc on the edge.
• The flat file and Carborundum stone are used to file out areas of damage prior to peening.
• The Carborundum stone is also used to quickly sharpen the very edge of the blade, where it has pressed against the pillar of the jig, before returning to your standard finer field stone when out scything. Whilst tempting to use the finer natural stone you may already have, you really need something with a bit more bite like this Carborundum to carry out the task effectively and in a timely manner.
• The ear defenders are to protect your hearing. Peening makes a repeated percussive sound that could cause damage to your hearing over time. We encourage everyone to wear ear defenders when peening, especially those who are peening regularly.

You will need to mount your jig before you begin work. You can:

• Make a simple peening log such as this one.
• Make a simple peening bench.
• Buy a peening bench.

If you already have some of the parts in the COMPLETE SET, you can get the BASIC SET then add any parts you are missing to you cart from our shop.

Here are links to the individual products:

• Standard Peening Jig
• Carborundum Stone
• Flat File
• Garryflex blocks
• Ear Defenders

You can learn more about peening:

• in our Peening Guide
• on a Peening and Sharpening Workshop
• on the Scythe Masterclass
• from the videos of Phil’s Peening Masterclass at the Scythe Festival in 2011 (links at the end of the Peening Guide).
• from other tutors via the Scythe Association of Britain and Ireland

Peening with a jig is a great way to familiarize yourself with peening, and it lessens the chance you will damage your blade as you learn. For many people, it is all the peening equipment they will ever need.

Next Steps

If you want to move onto freehand peening, a good intermediate step is to use the jig to complete the first lines of peening, then finish the edge freehand.

This is the easiest line to place freehand. Practicing in this way will help you build the skills and confidence to complete the whole task on an anvil.

This guide covers choosing between anvil and jig peening.