GilbertAC

I saw the Myth Busters episode about hammers exploding. They used brand new hammers for the test. I believe that it is old well used hammers that are the greater danger of having a catastrophic failure.
When I was sixteen I was making a jig for my dads tablesaw. I was using a piece of cold rolled steel to go in the guide slot. Using a large ball peen hammer to strike a small ball peen hammer to ding the steel bar to fit the guide slot better. The small hammer failed. One piece hit and penetrated a full one gallon paint can. A second piece went through a window. The rest of the hammer face landed at my feet. The peen end was still attached to the handle. Since the paint can and the window were about 135 degrees apart, from where I was working, I think this qualifies as an explosion. I later found out that the hammer that failed had been my grand father's. It was estimated to be about eighty years old and had seen a lot of use.
I now have two rules about striking one hammer face with another. 1. DO NOT EVER DO IT. 2. When in doubt see rule one.