[TheForge] Jesse James and Hofi

Fri Dec 16 17:10:56 EST 2011

That's quite a sentence.  Yeah, that covers it, AFAIK.

The "pinch grip" is really just holding the hammer handle by the thumb
and index (and maybe middle) fingers.  Thinking of the wrist as a
simple hinge, that grip allows the "hinge pin" perpendicular to the
motion of the hammer.  That's easy on the wrist.

The alternative is to grasp the hammer with all five fingers, which
gives a motion that's hard on the wrist.  Also, there's a tendency to
grasp too hard, which is hard on the tendons (and sometimes the
muscles).

If anyone is interested, I developed an add-on to a hammer handle,
consisting of a rubber ball and some tape, that enforces the "Hofi"
grip while preventing the hammer from flying out of your hand.  It
also feels better.  So far, there's been no interest.  Maybe because
on my demo hammer the rubber ball is pink, and that's just not in the
color pallet of the blacksmith...  8^)

On Fri, Dec 16, 2011 at 3:52 PM, Bob Smolen <boka at mwt.net> wrote:
> To recap in one sentence, is the major difference in this method using a
> light grip with pinch fingers holding the hammer short and adding a wrist
> bend at the top and raising hammer above shoulder?
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ron Childers" <ron at munlaw.net>
> To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Friday, December 16, 2011 1:09 PM
> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Jesse James and Hofi
>
>
>> Whoa, Dan, you sound like 70 is old- I'm past that and at last count you
>> were not that far behind me (-:]> Actually, I think Tom was 75 when he
>> was kicking butt in the hammering contests and he showed his method to
>> everyone who would pay attention. I think it was 2007 at Madison when I
>> gave him the 6" piece of round bar for his "handicap" as a joke. Some
>> people thought it was unfair for him to compete because he used that
>> weird technique and always won. I said "Hell, no, he gets to play with
>> the rest of us". If you haven't tried it, don't knock it; I'm open to
>> suggestion. I even learned a lot from you over the years.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>> [mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of dan tull
>> Sent: Friday, December 16, 2011 10:43 AM
>> To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA
>> Subject: Re: [TheForge] Jesse James and Hofi
>>
>> Richard,
>> You can be closed minded if you want, but I at least tried it(the Hofi
>> hammering method).  It is nice to be able to make a hammer like that,
>> and
>> ,no, I wouldn't buy one, but I did earn one working @ a conference. I
>> like
>> it. Catch myself using my regular hammer w/ that grip. Easier on the
>> arm/elbow/shoulder.
>> Sounds like you might be jealous of the money being made. Sour grapes.
>> It's
>> not "all bullcrap", it's marketing. So, you formed such deep opinions of
>>
>> someone in watching only five minutes. WOW.
>>    Personally, if a 70 year old can whoop all the younger entrants in a
>>
>> drawing-out contest, I'm gonna at least try it before I show my a$$.
>>
>> for better blacksmithing,
>> Dan
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>> What a joke.  Jesse James a blacksmith.  I've been doing this long
>> enough
>>> I don't need someone to tell me or show me how to swing a hammer.
>> These
>>> so called experts might be able to blow smoke up someone else's butt.
>>> It's all show and no go and another way to take your money.  What a
>> waste
>>> of my time and your money.  What makes any hammer better then another.
>>
>>> The only differences is this guy convinced you somehow other wise and
>> you
>>> got to have his hammer if you want to do it his way. What's wrong with
>>
>>> doing it your way?  Why not make your own hammer if you can't buy one
>> of
>>> the thousands off the shelf that could work for you for alot less
>> money.
>>> This guy isn't traveling around or doing anything for free.  I'm sure
>>> James wasn't thought anything from Hofi for free.  I wouId waste a
>> penny
>>> buying anything either of these guys were selling.  If I swing a
>> hammer
>>> one way and it hurts I stop doing it that way.  I haven't seen
>> anything
>>> from Hofi or James I'm impressed with.  It's al
>>> l bull crap.  I have better things to do then watch any of it on TV.
>> A
>>> friend called to tell me Jesse James was on TV calling himself a
>>> blacksmith.  I could only watch about 5 minutes worth until I was
>> about
>>> ready to upchuck.
>>>
>>> Richard
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Vincent_Nakovics <Vincent_Nakovics at nps.gov>
>>> To: theforge <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
>>> Sent: Wed, Dec 14, 2011 10:30 am
>>> Subject: [TheForge] Jesse James and Hofi
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi Guys,
>>>  While Hofi may be the smith du jour, the hammer techniques he talks
>>> bout were taught to me as a kid long before I ever thought of using an
>>> nvil by my neighbor who was a cabinet maker. Say late 1960's. As far
>> as JJ
>>> eing a blacksmith - I am quite sure that this episode made them both
>> loads
>>> f cash. More power to them. The benefit is that a lot of folks who
>> would
>>> ever have looked at an anvil might give it a whirl and who knows...
>> the
>>> ext Nol Putnam, Yellin, Colnik, etc might be out there watching. JJ
>>> ertainly didn't re-invent blacksmithing, but it sure has been fun
>> reading
>>> nd talking about the show.
>>> erry Christmas and Happy New Year!
>>> hanks for keeping this blog running!
>>> est Regards,
>>> Vince
>>>
>>> _____________________________________________________________
>>> heForge mailing list
>>> ome: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
>>> elp: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> ost: mailto:TheForge at mailman.qth.net
>>> TheForge mail list group photo site is
>>> ttp://www.photoworks.com
>>> ogin: blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
>>> assword: anvil
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> lease help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> TheForge mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:TheForge at mailman.qth.net
>>>
>>> TheForge mail list group photo site is
>>> http://www.photoworks.com
>>> Login: blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
>>> Password: anvil
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> TheForge mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:TheForge at mailman.qth.net
>>
>> TheForge mail list group photo site is
>> http://www.photoworks.com
>> Login: blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
>> Password: anvil
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> TheForge mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:TheForge at mailman.qth.net
>>
>> TheForge mail list group photo site is
>> http://www.photoworks.com
>> Login: blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
>> Password: anvil
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
>>
>> -----
>> No virus found in this message.
>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> Version: 10.0.1415 / Virus Database: 2108/4084 - Release Date: 12/16/11
>>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> TheForge mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/theforge
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:TheForge at mailman.qth.net
>
> TheForge mail list group photo site is
> http://www.photoworks.com
> Login: blacksmithblacksmith at hotmail.com
> Password: anvil
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

-- 
Bruce
NJ