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

[Kathy]

Exactly so; several strikers and/or home built hammers are going to be a lot
more interesting to watch than a monstrous large piece of industrial equipment
anyway. Supposing the strikers don't perform perfectly? That would be the worse
case scenario, and so what if they didn't? People would still enjoy their
performance far more than an industrial thunk machine. Supposing the home built
hammers are no where near as powerful as their industrial cousins? People would
still actually be interested in seeing their performance wouldn't they? Who is
thrilled watching industrial equipment doing the predictable?
Mikey

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Grover Richardson
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 11:27 AM
To: 'Sponsored by ABANA'
Subject: RE: [TheForge] Sacred cows are better eaten than catered to.

Agreed.  Everyone needs an anvil and tongs.  I don't need a power hammer
(yet).

On the other hand, the main advantage for a power hammer at the conference
is time.  We don't want to wait 20 minutes for someone to draw out a point
by hand (for the Nth time) when we can learn much more from that individual.

Then again, bring in the strikers and let them stand close and learn while
hammering.  That's how I learned a bunch.  I pulled the bellows and got a
close up look.

-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Riverbend Blacksmiths
Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2007 2:21 PM
To: Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Sacred cows are better eaten than catered to.

VERY, VERY good point. I think you've got it, 100%. We see all this  
terrific power-hammer work being demonstrated, and automatically  
think, hmmm, now, how in the hell am I gonna try something like that  
back home, when working all by myself?
---
On Mar 15, 2007, at 2:13 PM, Kathy wrote:

> 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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