On 11/7/2014 8:58 PM, John B. Slocomb wrote:
Some people argue that a lead hammer is better for setting things in a
vice as it is said to be a "dead blow" whereas the steel hammer has a
certain amount of bounce back.


Lead is also better than brass, as brass can work harden. Not that the
occasional tapping on a draw bar would cause it, but one shouldn't be
complacent about using a brass hammer. This one of those DAMHIKT
things, that happened to involve a stuck lathe spindle. Fortunately the
damage did not affect its functionality.

Bob