[TheForge] Sow blocks. Why?

[Andrew Vida]

Bob, I would have to respectfully disagree about the potential dangers 
of using tall tooling under a hammer that may be churning up to 300 
blows per minute, and the larger the hammer, the larger the hazard.

Your point about control is well taken.

I would not operate the hammer sans sow block, if for no other reason 
than to prevent damage to the machine.  That's akin to using a fine 
handmade knife as a screwdriver.  Do as you wish, but I don't advocate 
using tools in violation of their designs.  YMMV.

schade at acegroup.cc wrote:
> 
> On Jan 15, 2006, at 8:56 AM, Rick Korinek wrote:
> 
>> Rodger and Andy,
>>
>> Thanks for your responses.  So you are saying there are at least 2 good
>> reasons for not exceeding the die spacing:  Wrecking the hammer the
>> possibility of serious bodily harm.  Points well taken.
>>
> 
> 
> 
> I don't see how it could be dangerous. The hammer is still going to stay 
> in the guides. The place your top die hits will still be at the same 
> point it was with the sow block in place... except that the top die will 
> be hitting a tool instead of the material.
> 
> That said I don't think it will be controllable enough to really give 
> you any advantage.
> 
> But I don't see any danger here either. If you can get the key out of 
> your sowblock give it a try at slow speeds. See what happens.
>