[TheForge] Anvil Orientation (seriously) - Non-YAK

[Peter Fels And Phoebe Palmer]

Phil:
Traditionally hammers were hung differently for lefties and righties ( 
not political). The reason is the tendancy to rotate ones palm inward at 
the wrist at the end of the stroke: thus handles were carved twisted to 
the right  about 10 degrees for right handed smithum.......
Chris: a real oldtime guy has his horn sticking straight out forward. 
The Hoffi method is a  modern modification that allows short armed 
smiths with large anvils to cope by standing sort of sidesaddle.
Justin , you may feel the love, but hardy hole abuse is not to be 
tolerated! Just think about all the anvils  with the heel broken 
off............ Pete f

Phil wrote:

>Well, it did come through immigration, from Europe.
>
>Speaking of making handles, I don't make them from
>scratch, but store bought handles are typically too
>thick, and not the right shape.  I like the cross
>section to be rectangular with the corners knocked
>off.  I typically take the handle down with a draw
>knife, spoke shave, sureform plane, and belt sander. 
>I recently put a new handle in my primary hammer
>(handmade, by me of course, because as you know, we
>are blacksmiths, and therefore don't buy store bought
>hammers and tongs).  I didn't notice until I had the
>handle on the hammer head that it had a twist in it. 
>I though to myself "crap, I went to all this trouble,
>and now I have to put yet another handle on it". 
>Well, I decided I didn't feel like putting another
>handle on right then, so I went ahead and used it. 
>You know what?  (you're supposed to say "what?")  It
>didn't make any difference.  I don't know, maybe I'm
>compensating for the twist.
>
>Phil
>--- Chris Worsley <worsley at verizon.net> wrote:
>
>  
>
>>Phil,
>>Sounds like you have an anvil that came through
>>immigration.
>>A further pressing concern has come to mind. Since I
>>make a few of my 
>>own hammer handles by carving them out of old ax and
>>shovel handles, I 
>>am wondering if I am putting the heads on the wrong
>>end. Perhaps some 
>>that I have made should be used only on  those
>>(sadly incorrectly) left 
>>pointing anvils like yours.
>>Don't tell me to head the smaller end of the handle.
>>There isn't one 
>>before I start carving.
>>John, of course, is another voice of sanity in the
>>discussion, and I agree.
>>Chris
>>
>>Phil wrote:
>>
>>    
>>
>>>Hmmmm, that's strange, my horn points to the left,
>>>      
>>>
>>and
>>    
>>
>>>my hardy hole is on the left.  Are you below the
>>>equator by any chance?
>>>
>>>Phil
>>>--- John Switzer <switz at mindspring.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> 
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>>>Personally I have the horn to my right and I'm
>>>>        
>>>>
>>right
>>    
>>
>>>>handed.  There was no 
>>>>real reason at first.  However, I find that with
>>>>        
>>>>
>>the
>>    
>>
>>>>hardy hole on my left 
>>>>I can leave a tool in the anvil with little risk
>>>>        
>>>>
>>of
>>    
>>
>>>>hitting it while 
>>>>hammering.  This would be very dangerous with the
>>>>hardy under the hammer hand.
>>>>
>>>>John Switzer
>>>>7019 Burnt Mill Rd
>>>>Beulah, CO 81023
>>>>(719) 485-3109
>>>>   
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
>>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
>>theforge mail list group photo site is
>>http://www.photoaccess.com
>>Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
>>password:  anvil
>>___________
>>
>>
>>
>>    
>>
>
>
>
>		
>__________________________________ 
>Do you Yahoo!? 
>Yahoo! Mail - now with 250MB free storage. Learn more.
>http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250
>_______________________________________________
>Manage membership or unsubscribe at:
>http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
>theforge mail list group photo site is
>http://www.photoaccess.com
>Login:  blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
>password:  anvil
>___________
>
>
>
>  
>