[TheForge] hammer of the gods

[Chris Worsley]

Justin,

Certainly not a reference directly towards you, just an observation made 
after 25 years since I first started in the back yard with a hibachi 
full of coal hooked to a vacuum cleaner and a 100 pound anvil.

As a member of The Blacksmiths' Guild of the Potomac since that time, I 
have seen several examples of what I described, with some Little Giants 
sitting in the snow and rain for years and never getting hooked up. A 50 
pounder (not out in the snow)  was MINE. When deciding that  I had no 
use for the LG, I reconditioned it and sold it to a very happy friend.
I found it much more satisfying to learn the craft as it was learned 
traditionally, using a striker when necessary.
Years later, when working in an architectural blacksmithing shop, there 
was a legitimate need for the Kuhn that we had.

So, relax and buy everything you want, and enjoy what you buy.  Dan's 
comment on making bigger mistakes quicker is oh so true!

Chris

Justin Fellenz wrote:

>Ow, Chris. That's unusually acrimonious for this usually very friendly
>list.
>
>At the risk of perpetuating incivility, for the record, I don't
>actually believe that buying a hammer will make me a smith. Not sure
>where you got that idea, nor am I certain at what point one can
>authentically call oneself a capital-B "Blacksmith," nor how you know
>where I am in the process. Maybe you were just speaking generally, not
>about me in particular. Either way, I don't recall a period of
>apprenticeship stipulated anywhere before a budding smith earns the
>right to buy machinery for his trade or hobby, whichever it is. 
>
>As for the machines, the difference is pretty obvious from looking. I
>posted it because there are other machinery geeks out there on the list
>and it's kind of cool to see a huge hammer like that. Maybe it's old
>news to you and the rest but I've never seen one. Call it human
>interest for gearheads.
>
>Still looking, sort of, unhurriedly, for a hammer. And a press (two,
>apparently) and whatever other cool old equipment passes by too cheap
>to pass up. Thanks for the ebay link, Graham, but I'll hang out till
>that smokin' deal on a pneumatic or electric comes along.
>
>Cheers,
>
>JRF
>
>  
>