[TheForge] hammer of the gods

[Chris Worsley]

Right you are Ralph. I was thinking later that the word 'traditional' 
was not the best choice. Perhaps starting with the basics would have 
been a better way to word it.  I still think that one should learn how 
to forge by hand first though.
Chris

Ralph Douglass wrote:

>Chris Worsley wrote:
>  
>
>>Ralph,
>>What's your point about tradition?  All I was trying to say was that I
>>wanted to hand forge things and learn how to do it by HAND. The things I
>>made as I was learning did not require a power hammer. That is why I
>>sold mine.
>>I use coal in a forge with a squirrel cage blower, I use several angle
>>grinders, drill press, belt/disc sanders, electric lights, safety
>>glasses, Kevlar gloves, NO apron, and a radio. I am not confining myself
>>to "preserving traditional techniques" at all. I use the tools the get
>>the work done that I want to do.
>>If you reread my post you will see that I did happily use a Kuhn air
>>hammer in the past when working with Brad S. because we were a
>>production shop that had to meet deadlines for architectural ironwork
>>set by the customer.
>>At home in my shop, it is different. I set my own deadlines.
>>Chris
>>    
>>
>
>Chris my point it that 'tradition' if differnt to different folks and is
>different as to what time period that is being used as the source.
>
>I mean everyone assumes that traditional made stuff is hand made. But if
>you look at many of the crafts books from the Rennisance period then you
>will see a lot of stuff was made using tilt and drop hammers.
>So I get a tad bothered about all the 'traditional' stuff.
>Now if you would have said that you work at making things by hand that
>is a different story.
>And I too would agree that is what I do, including power hand tools as
>needed.
>
>BTW I was not really angry or upset with you personally. Just with the
>choice of words, and to be honest it is a small thing and is not that
>important in the scheme of things. (smile)
>
>Ralph
>  
>