Method of making a hammer mill hammer with grooves for receiving hard facing material

A method of making a hammer having a rod hole end having a rod hole disposed therein and wherein the rod hole is configured to engage a hammer mill rod so that the hammer can move about an axis extending through the rod hole;

• a grinding end being spaced from the rod hole end of the hammer, the grinding end having a length, a width, and a thickness defined between a first face and a second face of the hammer;
• an edge extending from the first face to the second face about opposing sides of the length of the grinding end and the width of the grinding end;
• a neck connecting the rod hole end and the grinding end;
• the method comprising:
• forming a continuous groove in the edge about the opposing sides of the length of the grinding end and the width of the grinding end for receiving hard facing material such that a plane, disposed transverse to the axis extending through the rod hole, intersects the continuous groove along a length and width of the continuous groove, the plane also intersecting the rod hole;
• and
• applying a layer of hard facing in the continuous groove.