[TheForge] A maker of $100 hammers weighs in

[Andrew Vida]

Chuck Robinson wrote:
> 
> I would just add that, If Bob Schade is happy with his  hammers, more power
> to you Bob.

	Agreed.  BTW, my opinion on this issues stems from the fact
	that I am not a farrier.  If I was, I migth well feel 
	differently about it, but I also like making my own.

> My  point is that better tools  tend to make the process easier and more
> enjoyable.

	Definitely so.  I also think it is safer.  I don't relish
	the thought of shearing off a substantial and sharp splinter
	of shrapnel from a hammer during work.

> And finally, Bob Bastas is absolutely right:
>  There is a very small profit made for the amount of work involved in making
> a custom made tools.

	That's the problem with all this wonderful stuff we do
	in the old fashioned ways.  Basically you will never recover
	the resources spent in making them.  If you could, I dare
	say there would be far fewer smiths driving around in beat
	up old Honda's and pickup trucks from the days of the Romans.
	Same applies for just about any craft artist you can name.

	My mom is the quilter from hell.  She uses no machinery of
	any form.  Just needle, thread, scissors, pencil, paper,
	and straight edge.  One quilt she made for me I'd have to
	conservatively value at $10K.  Took her better part of six
	months.  She doesn't even bother trying to sell them, she
	just gives them away to her friends and family members.

> More than a few Bladesmiths have been drop kicked out of their friendly
> local machine shops when they requested the shop machinists duplicate my
> adjustable blade anvil  for less than the $400  I charge for them.

	Or laughed out. :)