Bench block

[HildesJewelry]

I bought a bench block, 4x4 inch. It said it was hardened and of steel. I tried it today and used my chasing hammer. The surface of the block had many small marks after it. It wasn`t cheap either, $28, and the weight is 2 3/4lbs.
Have I bought something of bad quality?

[Former_Member]

What were you hammering?

[Former_Member]

My steel 4"x4" bench block also has lots of nicks and dents in it. Steel comes in different grades and perhaps the chasing hammer is harder than the block. Just like when I use my brass hammer... It's now deformed pretty badly from how dented it is (glances off the punch I'm hammering on). Your block is still usable for a long time though. It just isn't pretty. lol

[HildesJewelry]

I was hammering silver ear hooks, flatten them.
I know a person who knows a lot about metal to look at it, and he said it`s not hardened. When he took a file and he easily made marks on the block.
I bought this block instead of the anvil which had several marks on the surface. Some meant the marks on the anvil could be the reason to all the tiny marks on the silver wires after I had work harden them with a nylon hammer.

[CarolBradley]

Was it hardened and polished or just hardened?

[HildesJewelry]

In the description it says it`s hardened, but nothing about polished. It is very smooth, though.