[TheForge] Re: What handle to put on hot cutter?

[Saint Phlip]

I'm going to disagree with Mike. For a hot cutter, even if I'm working
alone, my longer handle is good, because I can align the handle with
my forearm, and hold it steadier with my left, while striking with my
right. Originally decided to make it long because I occasionally do
have strikers, but found it was equally nice when I worked alone.

On 3/1/07, Harry <iowaharry at fastmail.net> wrote:
> Hi Mike,
>
>   I don't see anything that looks like a horse shoe. The markings look
>   like "HUBBARD SPECIAL ALLOY". And no, they weren't digitally blurred.
>   It looks more like hammer blows that blurred the markings. Why anyone
>   would feel the need to pound on that spot I don't know. Otherwise it
>   is in pretty good shape.
>
>   No stikers here, just me.
>
>   Harry in Iowa, where snow is the order of the day, and how!
>
>
> On Wed, 28 Feb 2007 14:41:14 -0400, "Mike" <mspencer at tallships.ca> said:
> >
> > > I have just purchesed a hot cutter via ebay Item number: 330086220630.
> >
> > This looks like it might be an original Atha hotset. If I hold my
> > mouth right, I can convince myself that I can see the heel of the
> > horseshoe logo.  Curiously, when I saved the image from eBay and
> > magnified the pixels, it looks as if the area that might be the logo
> > has been intentionally digitally blurred.  Huh.  So, does it have a
> > "A" in a horseshoe logo?
> >
> > Do you ever have a striker, Harry?  If so, put a 24" helve on it.
> > Unless both you and the striker are demigod smiths, you'll want to be
> > well back from that 8- or 12-pound hammerhead when the inevitable
> > misplaced blow or unintentional twitch sends stuff flying.
> >
> > If you never have a striker and will only use this by yourself, make
> > the handle the length of your other hammer handles or even a bit
> > shorter.
> >
> > In either case, a slender helve is good, just big enough so that you
> > can get a good fit in the eye and big enough for your hand to get a
> > firm grip.  The old hockey stick suggestion is a good one, provided
> > that the hockey stick is thick enough to fit the eye.  I've seen a lot
> > of tools here in Canada helved with hockey sticks, often with a really
> > crappy fit because the eye was wider than the thickness of the stick.
> >
> > But for the short, strike it yourself version, make sure the helve's
> > cross section aligns very well with the eye.  You want to be able to
> > tell by feel that you're holding the head straight up-and-down.
> >
> >
> > > Wrom: ZIDREXCAXZOWCONEUQZAAFXISHJEXXIM
> >
> > > http://www.fastmail.fm - Or how I learned...
> >
> > So, where are you?  Iowa or the Federated States of Micronesia? :-)
> >
> >
> > - Mike
> >
> > --
> > Michael Spencer                  Nova Scotia, Canada       .~.
> >                                                            /V\
> > mspencer at tallships.ca                                     /( )\
> > http://home.tallships.ca/mspencer/                        ^^-^^
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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
> > ___________
> >
> >
> --
>  Harry
>  iowaharry at fastmail.net
>
> --
> http://www.fastmail.fm - Access your email from home and the web
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
> ___________
>
>
>


-- 
Saint Phlip

Heat it up
Hit it hard
Repent as necessary.

Priorities:

It's the smith who makes the tools, not the tools which make the smith.