[TheForge] RE: blacksmith question holding hammers

[Bob Ehrenberger]

Checkering may be nice but a little over kill, in my opinion.

When I reshape my handles I use a rasp which also leaves a rough grip. After
getting it the shape I want I sand it just enough to remove the sharp edges.
There is still plenty of texture left from the rasp.  After a couple years
of use it will get polished up from my hand, I just go over it with the rasp
to rough it up again and I'm good to go.

I used to use a spoke shave on my handles but that was a lot more work. And
then I still had to rough them up.

I try to use a loose grip. If I ever slip back into old habits (death grip)
my arm reminds me why I changed.

Bob Ehrenberger
Shelbyville, Mo