[TheForge] Sacred cows are better eaten than catered to.

[Dave Smucker]

Well said,

I enjoyed seeing the 300 pound hammer operate at the Asheville, conference 
-- but it is not where my real interests were.  (I have seen a lot of big 
hammers (presses) operate, up to 10,000 tons.  Yes I said tons, not pounds.  
The most interesting was a old 3000 ton steam press at the old Beth Forge 
Indusrtrial shop.)

That said it is the smaller hammers that have the wide interest.  25 to 150 
pounds, and treadle hammers too.  Lots of interest in the 50 pound spare 
tire hammers that Clay Spencer has been leading workshops on.

My guess is that most vendors would be willing to provide the power (or air) 
required for the hammers that they are trying to sell,  you would only know 
by asking them.

Dave

>From: "Kathy" <keporter at comcast.net>
>Reply-To: Sponsored by ABANA <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>To: "'Sponsored by ABANA'" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>Subject: RE: [TheForge] Sacred cows are better eaten than catered to.
>Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:13:06 -0700
>
>What is the percentage of artist blacksmiths who have industrial power 
>hammers?
>How many ABANA members, or regional organization members have--or ever plan 
>to
>acquire--an industrial power hammer? If the percentage is as low as I 
>suspect,
>than why are these power hammers given such a high priority at blacksmith
>conferences?
>
>The point I'm trying to make is that, if successful conferences on any 
>level are
>going to be put on, perhaps we should make sure that the amount of 
>consideration
>given to sacred cows conforms to their actual relevance in the lives of the
>hoped for audience. If the audience is going to be general, not many of 
>them
>will be able to operate an industrial power hammer in their garages. Even 
>the
>minority who live in the country aren't likely to invest in such equipment. 
>Now
>consider the infinitesimal few who have proved their interest in industrial
>hammers by going out and acquiring one. Given a choice between looking at 
>one
>more industrial brand, or a cleverly constructed home built hammer, which 
>do we
>suppose they'll want to see?
>
>Every student who built a gas forge in my garage wanted an anvil right 
>away;
>every one of them wanted tongs and hand hammers. A few of them were even
>interested in powered exhaust systems. Just one of them wanted a power 
>hammer,
>and he is building it.
>
>What makes a Big Show for the audience consists of the things they find
>entertaining, informative, and relevant to their own ambitions; not great 
>big
>shiny equipment that requires a full blown business to justify. Where are 
>the
>Heinz 57 different varieties of home-built power hammer at these shows? 
>I'll bet
>their owners could give chapter and verse as to what they take to operate, 
>and
>plenty of cooperation about setting up and operating them besides.
>
>Perhaps industrial hammers should be relegated back to the status of 
>vendors,
>where they belong, instead of being catered to. It's just a thought; 
>something
>along the lines of "just how many super tents are really needed for a July
>conference in Seattle?"
>Mikey
>
>
>
>
>
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