[TheForge] hammer of the gods

[Doug Ayen]

Thus Spake Chris Worsley (worsley at verizon.net):
> There is a big difference between a drop hammer and a forging hammer.
> I am amazed at how many fairly new "smiths" think getting a power hammer 
> of some sort is going to make them a Blacksmith.
> Chris
> 

LOL. Yeah, until you can do it by hand, don't try it on the power hammer.
In my shop, when teaching, I always do stuff by hand so the students can
see that it can be done without the power tools. Then, when I've got the
shop to myself, I'll finish the work with the 50 lb little giant. 

I'm doing a fair amount of damascus work now, so I'm working on some fairly
large billets, 6 layers of quarter inch by one inch (L6 and O1) a good 16" 
long currently. Did the first round of welding by hand using the old coal forge
and the hand cranked blows, pretty much just to show my students that it could
be done. Finished it off with the power hammer, as drawing out that much steel
would take forever without a striker or power hammer. 

--doug