[TheForge] blacksmith question

[A. Vida]

Mike Sweany wrote:
> 
> SOunds like Blacksmiths elbow. 
> You get it from gripping the hammmer or in my case the tongs too
> tightly.  there is a good hammer control tutorial on anvilfire. 
> Mine went away after I learned not to do those things.  

	I grip my hammer in a fashion similar to katana (Jap. sword).
	Pinky and ring finger are tight, middle finger firm, fore
	and thumb are loose.  This takes a LOT of getting used to.
	You have to fight what I suppose is the natural urge to get
	a kamikaze grip with all fingers.  I still have to  make a
	conscious effort to work this way much of the time.

	As I come through the swing, the thumb and forefinger do
	tighten up a little, but not the way many people would
	think.  This has a couple of advantages, as far as I have
	been able to tell (and I suppose it could be wishful thinking).
	First, you don't get the tendonitis in the elbow area and
	second, you have more "feel" with the thumb and forefinger
	as to the left/right rocking orientation of the hammer. You
	can use them to make fine adjustments to the positioning of
	your blows in that particular orientation by rolling the
	helve between those two fingers.