[TheForge] Jesse James and Hofi

Fri Dec 16 17:18:07 EST 2011

Good color for you , though.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bruce Freeman" <freemab222 at gmail.com>
To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, December 16, 2011 5:10 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Jesse James and Hofi

> 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
>>>>
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>>
>>
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>
>
> -- 
> Bruce
> NJ
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