What are benefits of new shanks on upright hammer replacement ?

[John Delacour]

Michael Magness wrote:
> ...true you have to reduce the hammer shanks a little, if using the 
> originals, to remove all the glue...
Why?  The glue can be removed without removing any wood and once the end 
of the shanks have been soaked and allowed to dry out they are the same 
diameter, or even a little more, than they were originally.

JD