Working face insert connection for a tool

Abstract

A tool includes a working face insert 504 connected to a toolhead body 502 via an offset fastener 506. The working face insert may include a protrusion 520 received by a front bore 536 of the toolhead, and the fastener can be positioned between a circumferential perimeter of the protrusion and an access hole 540 communicating with the front bore. The access hole, and the fastener positioned therein, may be axially offset from the front bore and the protrusion such that the fastener facilitates connecting, orienting, aligning, and preventing rotation of the working face insert relative to the toolhead. The fastener may be under compression, which provides a more reliable connection than fasteners under tension.

Description

554524-25 WORKING FACE INSERT CONNECTION FOR A TOOL CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 760,400, filed February 19, 2025, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND

[0002] This disclosure relates generally to striking tools that include a striking face insert.

[0003] Striking tools (e.g., hammers) can benefit from a striking face insert connected to a working component or toolhead (e.g., a hammer head) depending on the materials, design configuration, and intended application of the tool. Striking face inserts typically have a boss or protrusion at a rear end that is inserted into a receiving pocket at a front end of the toolhead. The boss or protrusion may be mechanically fixed to the toolhead via a fastener (e.g., a bolt or stud and nut assembly). The fastener may be inserted through an access hole formed in the toolhead that communicates with the pocket and a corresponding cavity in the boss or protrusion. The fastener may operate to clamp the striking face insert to the toolhead and is typically under a tension load. A locking element, such as a locking washer, may be required to maintain the clamping force via the fastener under the repetitive striking impact conditions. Clearance in the toolhead is also typically needed for the fastener head. Some indexing may also be required to orient and locate the striking face insert relative to the toolhead.

[0004] FIG. 1 depicts a prior art hammer head 100 that includes a body 102 and a striking face insert 104. The striking face insert 104 is mechanically connected to a front end554524-25 striking face insert 104 may be mechanically connected to the body 102 via a fastener 112 that extends through an access hole 114 defined in the body.

[0005] Referring to FIG. 2, the fastener 112 may include, for example, a bolt or a socket head cap screw 116 and one or more lock washers 118. The screw 116 may include a tail 120 and a head 122. The washer 118 is positionable on the tail 120 and can abut the head 122. The striking face insert 104 includes a boss or protrusion 124 that faces and is received by the front end 106 of the body 102. The striking face insert 104 may also include antirotation tabs 126 adjacent the boss 124 that engage with the body 102 and prevent rotation of the striking face insert relative to the body.

[0006] Referring to FIG. 3, the fastener 112 is inserted into the access hole 114 via a counterbored opening 128 in the body 102 proximate the rear end 110. The washer 118 and the head 122 are positioned in the counterbored opening 128, and the washer 118 is positioned between the head 122 and the counterbored surface. The counterbored opening 128 may require a relatively complex shape for inserting the fastener 112 into the access hole 114 and accessing the head 122 due to interference via the claws 108 at the rear end 110.

[0007] The tail 120 extends through the access hole 114 to a pocket 130 defined at the front end 106 of the body 102. The access hole 114 may taper outwardly towards the pocket 130 to allow insertion of the tail 120. The pocket 130 communicates with the access hole 114 and receives the boss 124 of the striking face insert 104. The boss 124 includes a cavity 132 that aligns with the access hole 114 and receives the distal end of the tail 120. The tail 120 may engage within the cavity 132, e.g., via threads. The head 122 of the fastener 112 can be manipulated using a suitable tool whereby the tail 120 can be tightened in the cavity 132 and the striking face insert 104 can be drawn into secured engagement with the front end 106 of the body 102.554524-25

[0008] The mechanical connection for the body 102 and the striking face insert 104 of the hammer head 100 puts the fastener 112 under a tension load, which requires a relatively large diameter of the fastener to meet the loading conditions without failure. A larger size of the fastener 112 corresponds to larger size requirements for the access hole 114, the counterbored opening 128, the pocket 130, and the cavity 132. Even when these features are sized to meet the loading conditions, the fastener 112 in tension may tend to frequently become loose after repetitive strikes using the hammer head 100. The features in the body 102 that accommodate the fastener 112 also reduce the available space for connecting the body with a handle.

[0009] In tools that include a handle requiring relatively large access into the toolhead body, such as in wood handle hammers, the fastener for the striking face insert cannot be conveniently tightened without removing the handle. FIG. 4 illustrates the difficulties of using a striking face insert in such a tool. Here, a hammer head 200 includes a central opening 202 defined in a body 204 between a front end 206 and a rear end 208 of the body 204. The central opening 202 can receive a handle, such as a wood handle. The body 204 includes a first access hole 210 proximate the rear end 208 that extends transverse to and communicates with the central opening 202. The first access hole 210 may receive a fastener to connect the hammer head 200 with the handle received in the central opening 202. A second access hole 212 with a counterbored opening 214 is defined in the body 204 and communicates with the opposite side of the central opening 202 from the first access hole 210. The second access hole 212 extends to the front end 206 of the body 204 and can receive a fastener 216 for connecting a striking face insert 218 to the front end of the body. The second access hole 212 is not accessible when the handle is installed in the central opening 202. As such, re-tightening the fastener 216 to re-secure the striking face insert 218 to the body 204 requires first removing the handle from the central opening 202. This can be554524-25 cumbersome to the user and may be perceived as not worthwhile. As a result, hammer heads that may be used in wood handle hammers or similar tools typically do not have a striking face insert.

[0010] There is therefore a need in the striking tool industry and similar fields for a striking face insert connection that can overcome at least some of the above-described disadvantages of the prior art and can increase the versatility and usability of striking face inserts.SUMMARY

[0011] The tools hereof include a working face insert connected to a toolhead body via an offset fastener. The working face insert may include a protrusion received by a front bore of the body. The fastener can be positioned in an access hole that communicates with the front bore. The access hole, and the fastener positioned therein, may be axially offset from the front bore such that the fastener engages a circumferential perimeter of the protrusion in the front bore. Such engagement between the fastener and the protrusion can facilitate connecting, orienting, aligning, and preventing rotation of the working face insert relative to the toolhead body. The fastener may be under compression, which provides a more reliable connection than fasteners under tension. The compression load on the screw may also allow for a smaller fastener to be used due to the increased strength and reduced risk of failure associated with a compressive loaded fastener relative to a tension loaded fastener. The offset between the fastener and the working face insert may also allow better access for tooling and die components, thereby improving casting and machining operations. In some embodiments, the fastener may be a headless set screw which can eliminate the head and lock washer configuration of the prior art fasteners and significantly reduce the size requirements of the access holes for installing the fastener.554524-25 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a prior art hammer head.

[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the hammer head of FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the hammer head of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a cross-section of another prior art hammer head.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a top view of a hammer head incorporating aspects of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the hammer head of FIG. 5.

[0018] FIG. 7 is an isolated perspective view of a body of the hammer head of FIG. 5.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a side cross-section of the body of FIG. 7.

[0020] FIG. 9 is an isolated perspective view of a working face insert of the hammer head of FIG. 5.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a side cross-section of the working face insert of FIG. 9 installed in the body of FIG. 7, shown without a fastener connecting the components.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a cross-section of the hammer head taken along section line 11 — 11 of FIG. 5.

[0023] Like components and elements are indicated throughout the drawings using like reference numerals.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Described herein are tools (e.g., striking tools such as hammers) having a toolhead that includes a body and a working face insert connected to the body via an offset fastener. The fastener may be a headless set screw in some embodiments, which can reduce the sizing requirements of access holes defined in the toolhead for accommodating the fastener and the sizing requirements of corresponding features in the working face insert for554524-25 engaging the fastener. The fastener may engage a circumferential perimeter of a protrusion of the working face insert for connecting the insert with the body. For example, the protrusion may be received in a front bore of the body, and the fastener can be positioned in a peripheral access hole in the body that communicates with and is offset from the front bore. The fastener may be put under a compression load when connecting the working face insert with the body, which can reduce the risk of failure due to repetitive impact and otherwise increase the strength and reliability of the connection relative to connections provided by fasteners under tension. The offset between the fastener and the protrusion of the working face insert can also facilitate aligning, orienting, and preventing rotation of the insert relative to the body. The offset of the access hole from the front bore can also reduce interference for machining and die tooling designs. In some embodiments, features of the hammer head can be cast so no machining is required which is advantageous for production cost and hard to machine materials like titanium.

[0025] Embodiments described herein incorporate aspects of the present disclosure using a hammer as an example. The present disclosure is not limited to hammers, and one skilled in the art could incorporate aspects of the present disclosure for hammers or any similar tool that includes a head suitable for use with a striking face insert or another type of working face insert. Moreover, various modifications, omissions, and / or changes can be made to the toolhead and / or the working face insert to enable a reliable and removable mechanical connection between the toolhead and the working face insert without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Various embodiments incorporating aspects of the present disclosure, including a reliable mechanical connection between a toolhead and a working face insert, will be described but are in no sense limiting to the modifications, omissions, and / or changes that can be made as would be appreciated and anticipated by a person of ordinary skill in the art when reading the present disclosure.554524-25

[0026] The embodiments described below include various elements and features that can be incorporated in any combination. Any omission in an embodiment of an element and feature that is described and / or depicted for another one or more embodiments is by way of conciseness and brevity. The features and elements of any of the embodiments described herein can be incorporated in any other embodiment unless expressly stated otherwise or the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0027] Referring now to FIG. 5, a toolhead incorporating aspects of the present disclosure is indicated at 500. The toolhead 500 in this example is a hammer head and may be interchangeably referred to as a hammer head 500. Other toolheads may be used. The hammer head 500 includes a body 502 and a working face insert 504 that is connected to the body via a fastener 506. The fastener 506 may include external threads. In some embodiments, the fastener 506 may include a set screw. Unlike the fasteners used in the prior art hammer heads described above that are under a tension load, the fastener 506 may be under a compression load when the body 502 and the working face insert 504 are connected. The compression loading on the fastener 506 may provide a more reliable and stronger connection than tension loading. In this regard, the use of the fastener 506 can reduce the risk of the connection between the working face insert 504 and the body 502 becoming loose or failing due to repetitive impact. The fastener 506 may also have a relatively small footprint and as such can be accommodated within small and / or strategically located features in the body 502 as described below.

[0028] In some embodiments, the working face insert 504 is connected to a front end 508 of the body 502. The working face insert 504 may define a working surface 510 of the hammer head 500 opposite the front end 508. The front end 508 of the body 502 may be a driving or striking end. The body may include claws 512 at a rear end 514. The rear end 514554524-25 may be a prying end. The working surface 510 may be configured (e.g., sized and / or shaped) to drive a nail into a structure such as wood.

[0029] Additionally, or alternatively, the working surface 510 may be configured (e.g., sized and / or shaped) to strike an object, drive an object, or perform another intended function using the hammer head 500. The working face insert 504 in some embodiments may be made of a material that provides desired or advantageous properties for the working surface 510 of the hammer head 500, such as higher hardness, greater wear resistance, etc. The working face insert 504 may be referred to as a striking face insert and the working surface 510 may be referred to as a striking surface in some embodiments. The working face inserts described herein are not limited to inserts used as a striking face insert, however, and the present disclosure encompasses any insert that is used with a toolhead and can benefit from aspects described herein.

[0030] The body 502 may include a center eye hole 516 between the first end 508 and the second end 514. The eye hole 516 may be configured (e.g., sized and / or shaped) to receive a handle usable with the hammer head 500. In some embodiments, the hammer head 500 may be usable with a wood handle, fiberglass handle or other reinforced polymer handle. The eye hole 516 may extend entirely or only partially through the body 502. The eye hole 516 may extend in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the hammer head 500. The longitudinal axis may be parallel to the section line 11 — 11 shown in FIG. 5.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 6, the working face insert 504 may include a head 518 and a tail 520 extending from the head 518. The tail 520 may also be referred to as a protrusion or boss. The tail 520 may be received by the front end 508 of the body 502. The head 518 may extend radially outward from the tail 520 and may abut the front end 508 of the body 502. The head 518 may define the working surface 510 of the working face insert 504.554524-25

[0032] The body 502 may include a collar 522 that at least partially defines the eye hole 516 described above with reference to FIG. 5. The collar 522 may define a bottom 524 of the body 502. The collar 522 may receive the handle via the eye hole 516 in the bottom 524. The body 502 can be connected to the handle by pressing the body 502 onto the handle, e.g., a wood handle, until the bottom 524 interferes with a larger area of the wood handle such that further movement of the body down the length of the handle is limited or restricted. Atop of the handle may protrude out of the eye hole 516 above a top 528 of the body 502 and may be trimmed, e.g., using a saw. Wedges may be pounded into the eye hole 516 via the top 528 to expand and spread apart the handle material. The eye hole 516 proximate the top 528 may be tapered such that it is slightly larger proximate the top 528 than proximate the bottom 524 and such that the expanded handle material retains the body 502 from coming off the handle. Fiberglass handles or other reinforced polymer handles may also be installed in similarly shaped eye holes in the body 502 and may use strong epoxy to attach the body and the handle.

[0033] The working face insert 504 may be attached to the body 502 before installing the handle. The fastener 506 that is used to connect the body 502 and the working face insert 504 may be inserted into the body 502 via a rear access hole 526 and / or via the eye hole 516. In some embodiments, the fastener 506 may be inserted into the body 502 via the eye hole 516 from the bottom 524. Additionally, or alternatively, the fastener 506 may be inserted into the body 502 via the eye hole from the top 528 of the body. In some embodiments, a hole may be defined, e.g., drilled, in the handle that aligns with the rear access hole 526. In this way, the fastener 506 may be inserted into the body 502 and / or manipulated in the body via the rear access hole 526 after installing the handle.

[0034] In some embodiments, the fastener 506 may not include a head. The fastener 506 may include a drive opening, such as a socket, at one or both ends that allows the554524-25 fastener to be driven without a head. In some embodiments, the fastener 506 may be driven, or tightened and loosened, via a hex key, an Allen wrench, a hex screwdriver, or another suitable tool. In some embodiments, the fastener 506 may include a headless set screw, such as a socket set screw. The headless fastener may eliminate the need for large access holes and / or counterbore or countersunk openings in the body 502. Lock washers or other loadbearing elements can also be omitted with the use of the headless fastener.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 7, the body 502 may include the collar 522 extending downwardly from a center section 530. The center section 530 may define the top 528 of the body 502. The eye hole 516 may be defined by the collar 522 and the center section 530 such that the eye hole extends through the bottom 524 and the top 528. The claws 512 may extend rearwardly from the center section 530 towards the rear end 514 of the body 502. The body 502 may also include a nose 532 extending frontwardly from the center section 530 towards the front end 508. The nose 532 may define a front surface 534 and a front bore 536 that is accessible via the front surface. The front bore 536 may also be referred to as a front pocket.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 8, the front bore 536 may be axially aligned with a longitudinal axis Al of the body 502. The front bore 536 may be a blind hole and at least partially isolated from the eye hole 516 via an internal wall 538. The front bore 536 may communicate with the eye hole 516 via an access hole 540. The access hole 540 may be axially aligned with the rear access hole 526 along an axis A2. The axis A2 may be parallel to the longitudinal axis Al . The axes Al, A2 may be offset by an offset distance DI . In this way, the access hole 540 may be axially offset from the front bore 536. The access hole 540 may be a partial blind hole that communicates with the front bore 536 via a longitudinal slot 542. The access hole 540 may terminate at an internal surface 544 located beside the front bore 536 and facing the internal wall 538. In some embodiments, the internal surface 544 may have a semi-conical shape and may be at an oblique angle relative to the axis A2. The554524-25 access hole 540 may be defined by a substantially smooth inner surface 558 extending between the eye hole 516 and the internal surface 544. The inner surface 558 may be cylindrical in shape. The slot 542 may be defined in the inner surface 558 such that a portion of the inner surface 558 proximate the internal surface 544 has a semi-cylindrical shape.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 9, the head 518 of the working face insert 504 may define a rear stop surface 546 opposite the front surface 534. The tail 520 may extend rearwardly from the stop surface 546 to a rear end surface 548. The tail 520 may include a groove or recess 550 extending frontwardly from the rear end surface 548 towards the rear stop surface 546 of the head 518. The groove 550 may depend into a circumferential surface of the tail 520. The groove 550 may include a threaded groove portion 552 adjacent to and partially defined by the rear end surface 548. The groove 550 may also include a non-threaded or smooth groove portion 554 extending frontwardly from the threaded groove portion 552. The smooth groove portion 554 may terminate at a tip 556. The tip 556 may have a semi-conical shape. The portions 552, 554 of the groove 550 may have a semi-circular shape. In some embodiments, the groove 550 may be entirely, or nearly entirely, threaded.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 10, the tail 520 of the working face insert 504 may be inserted into the body 502 via the front bore 536. The rear stop surface 546 of the head 518 may engage or abut the front surface 534 of the nose 532. The rear end surface 548 of the tail 520 may be located adjacent to the internal wall 538 of the body 502. The rear end surface 548 may engage or abut the internal wall 538 or the rear end surface may be spaced from the internal wall with a small gap therebetween. The tail 520 may be concentrically aligned with the front bore 536 relative to the longitudinal axis Al.

[0039] In some embodiments, an outer dimension, such as a radial length, of the tail 520 may be approximately equal to an inner dimension, such as a radial length, of the front bore 536. For example, the tail 520 and the front bore 536 may have approximately the same554524-25 radial length, R1. In some embodiments, the outer dimension of the tail 520 may be slightly smaller than the inner dimension of the front bore 536 to allow some clearance for inserting the tail into the front bore.

[0040] The tail 520 may extend at least partially over or beside the longitudinal slot 542 that allows communication between the front bore 536 and the access hole 540. The tail 520 may be oriented such that the groove 550 in the tail 520 faces and is accessible via the access hole 540. At least the threaded groove portion 552 of the groove 550 may be accessible via the access hole 540. The groove 550 may have an inner dimension, such as a radial length, that complements an inner dimension, such as a radial length, of the access hole 540. In some embodiments, the groove 550 and a portion of the access hole 540 beside the slot 542 may each have a semi-circular or semi-cylindrical shape with approximately the same radial length. The groove 550 and the portion of the access hole 540 beside the slot 542 may cooperate to define an inner diameter, D2, which may be approximately the same as the diameter of the access hole 540 prior to the slot 542 and adjacent the eye hole 516.

[0041] In some embodiments, the features of the body 502 can be formed integrally, e.g., via casting, without the need for machining. For example, the claws 512, the eye hole 516, the collar 522, the rear access hole 526, the center section 530, the nose 532, the front bore 536, the access hole 540, and the slot 542 may be formed integrally in a one-piece unit body 502, e.g., via casting, without the need for machining. The ability to form the features of the body 502 may be enabled via the fastener 506 which, as discussed below, is accommodated by the access hole 540 and the threaded groove 550. As such, the use of the fastener 506 may be advantageous for production cost and hard to machine materials like titanium. In some embodiments, at least one of the body 502 and the working face insert 504 may be made of titanium. In some embodiments, at least one of the body 502 and the working face insert 504 may be made of alloy steel, brass, or another durable material554524-25 depending on the application. In some embodiments, the working face insert 504 may be made of steel that can be hardened.

[0042] The groove 550 may be formed in the tail 520 via machining such as milling. The threaded groove portion 552 may be formed via thread milling. Advantageously, thread milling can be used to form the threaded groove portion 552 while machining, such as thread milling, of the access hole 540 is not required. The groove 550 is easily accessible by the thread milling tool because the insert 504 is a small piece separate from the body 502.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 11, the fastener 506 can be positioned in the access hole 540 and can threadedly engage the threaded groove portion 552 of the tail 520. The fastener 506 may be rotated about the axis A2 and tightened with respect to the threaded groove portion 552 to connect the insert 504 and the body 502. The fastener 506 may be rotated using a tool, such as a hex key, an Allen wrench, a hex screwdriver, or another suitable tool. The tool may access the fastener 506 via the rear access hole 526 and / or the eye hole 516.

[0044] As the fastener 506 is tightened, the external threads engage with the threaded groove portion 552 of the tail 520 which draws the tail 520 tight into the front bore 536 and the head 518 into secured engagement with the front end 508 of the nose 532. The access hole 540 may be defined by the smooth inner surface 558 as described above such that threaded engagement may only be provided between the threaded groove portion 552 and the external threads of the fastener 506. The smooth access hole 540 may advantageously allow the body 502 to be cast with no machining required to thread the inner surface 558. The fastener 506 may engage with the internal surface 544 of the access hole 540 which may urge the fastener against the threaded groove portion 552. For example, the internal surface 544 may be conical in shape at an oblique angle to the axis A2 such that the fastener 506 is urged by the internal surface into engagement with the threaded groove portion 552 as the fastener is tightened. In this way, the fastener 506 can initially travel in the access hole 540 via554524-25 rotation about the axis A2 towards the internal surface 544 between the smooth inner surface 558 and the threaded groove portion 552. Once the fastener 506 engages the internal surface 544, continued rotation of the fastener 506 about the axis A2 may move the working face insert 504 inward along the axis Al via threaded engagement between the fastener and the threaded groove portion 552 until the head 518 securely engages the front end 508 of the nose 532. At this point, the fastener 506 may no longer rotate and may be torqued and in a tightened, compressed condition.

[0045] As discussed above, the axis A2 of the access hole 540 may be offset from the longitudinal axis Al of the front bore 536 by the offset distance DI. The offset distance DI may be such that the fastener 506 engages the circumferential edge or perimeter of the tail 520 within the access hole 540. As such, the fastener 506 can operate to connect the working face insert 504 and the body 502 while also facilitating orienting, aligning, and preventing rotation of the insert relative to the body.

[0046] The axis A2 may also be offset from the tips of the claws 512 by an offset distance D3. The offset distance D3 may allow straight-line access to the rear access hole 526, and thereby the access hole 540, without interference from the claws 512. This may be advantageous for the user to access the fastener 506 with a tool for manipulating the fastener. The offset distance D3 may also be advantageous for easier straight-line access for machining and casting tooling dies.

[0047] Throughout this specification, the term “embodiment” may refer to a particular implementation of one or more aspects of this disclosure. The terms “including” and “having” may be used in an inclusive sense, meaning that additional elements or steps may be present. The terms “a” and “an” may be interpreted as “one or more” unless explicitly stated otherwise or the context clearly indicates otherwise.554524-25

[0048] The terms “about,” “substantially,” “approximately,” and the like, may be used herein to account for variations that do not affect the underlying intent of the invention. These terms indicate a degree of approximation that is within a range that allows the invention to function as intended.

[0049] When used in this specification, means-plus-function language is intended to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification and equivalents thereof. Any means-plus-function term should be interpreted in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph.

[0050] The embodiments described herein are illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the disclosure is defined by the appended claims, and various modifications or changes may be made within the scope and spirit of the claims.

Claims

554524-25WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A tool compri sing :a toolhead having a front bore extending along a longitudinal axis of the toolhead and an access hole communicating with the front bore, the access hole extending along a second axis parallel to and offset from the longitudinal axis;a working face insert including a head and a protrusion receivable by the front bore, the protrusion including a threaded groove portion that is alignable with the access hole relative to the second axis; anda fastener positionable in the access hole and engageable with the threaded groove portion of the protrusion for connecting the toolhead and the working face insert.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the fastener is under a compression load when connecting the toolhead and the working face insert.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the fastener includes a headless set screw.

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the toolhead includes a central hole for receiving a handle, the central hole extending transverse to the longitudinal axis.

5. The tool of claim 4, wherein the front bore is a blind hole at least partially isolated from the central hole, and wherein the access hole allows communication between the front bore and the central hole.

6. The tool of claim 1, wherein the toolhead is formed as a one-piece unit via casting.

7. The tool of claim 1, wherein the toolhead and / or the working face insert is made of alloy steel, brass, or another durable material.

8. A tool compri sing :a toolhead having a front bore and an access hole offset from the front bore, the access hole in communication with the front bore, the access hole terminating at an internal surface;554524-25a working face insert including a head and a protrusion received by the front bore, the protrusion including a groove defined in an outer surface, the groove aligned with the access hole; anda fastener positioned in the access hole and the groove,wherein the fastener is engaged with the groove and with the internal surface and the fastener is under a compression load.

9. The tool of claim 8, wherein engagement between the fastener and the groove limits rotation of the working face insert relative to the toolhead.

10. The tool of claim 8, wherein the internal surface has a semi-conical shape.

11. The tool of claim 8, wherein the groove includes a threaded portion, and wherein the fastener is a headless set screw engages the threaded portion of the groove.

12. The tool of claim 11, wherein the threaded portion of the groove is proximate a rear end of the protrusion, and the groove includes a non-threaded portion extending from the threaded portion to a tip of the groove.

13. The tool of claim 12, wherein the tip of the groove has a semi-conical shape.

14. The tool of claim 8, wherein the toolhead includes a central opening configured to receive a handle, the central opening communicating with the front bore via the access hole.

15. The tool of claim 14, wherein the toolhead includes a rear access hole aligned with the access hole, the rear access hole communicating with the access hole via the central opening.

16. A hammer compri sing :a hammer head having a front end and extending along a longitudinal axis; and a striking face insert connected to the front end of the hammer head via a compression-loaded fastener, the striking face insert having a protrusion extending into the hammer head along the longitudinal axis,554524-25wherein the compression-loaded fastener is positioned offset from the longitudinal axis between an access hole in the hammer head and a groove in an outer surface of the protrusion.

17. The hammer of claim 16, wherein the hammer head is attached to a handle, wherein the handle is received by a central hole of the hammer head, and wherein the central hole communicates with the access hole.

18. The hammer of claim 16, wherein the groove includes a threaded portion, and wherein the compression-loaded fastener threadedly engages with the threaded portion.

19. The hammer of claim 18, wherein the compression-loaded fastener is a headless set screw.

20. The hammer of claim 18, wherein the access hole terminates at a semi-conical inner surface, wherein the compression-loaded fastener engages with the semi-conical inner surface.

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