for molding plane irons. I'd been feeling guilty about using a steel one, so I happened to see one on ebay for 7 bucks with free shipping. There is no issue with it not being soft enough, and it looks like it will work just fine, after I glue the head on the handle. I don't think a wedge will be a good fix for a round peg in a round hole. Like everything else made in China, they do a good job of making it look like what it's supposed to be. It looks just like a brass head, ball peen hammer.