[TheForge] Cutting with a set hammer

[bmyers647 at comcast.net]

Harry, I have found the passage in the book:  American Blacksmithing by Holstrom and Holford, copyright 1916.

"This is a very important little tool and for cutting steel it is a good deal better than a chisel.  Plow steel and every kind is easier cut with this hammer than any other way.  In cutting with the set hammer hold the steel so that your inner side of the set hammer will be over the outside edge of the anvil.  Let the helper strike on the outside corner of the set hammer will be over the outside edge of the anvil.  Let the helper strike on the outside corner of the set hammer and it will cut easy.  The steel to be cut should be just a little hot, not enough to be noticed.  It the steel is red hot the set hammer cannot cut it.  The heat must be what is called blue heat.  I would not be without the set hammer for money, and still I often meet smiths who have never seen this use made of the set hammer.  Plow points, corn shovels, and seeder shovels are quicker cut with this tool than any other way, with the exception of shears."

Forgive the punctuation as this is how it is given.  

The use I have given it for cutting has been in the vise.  I don't have a striker or anvils with sharp enough edges to act as the other shear...

Barry Myers