[TheForge] Re: Dewalt new hammer and sledges

[Mike Spencer]

Dave Mudge wrote:

> As far as I know, TheForge is still active. Maybe there is another
> site where people are exchanging ideas and discussing metalworking?

There's still alt.crafts.blacksmithing on usenet but little to zero
traffic.  Perhaps worth livening up a bit with whatever you have to
say or ask if you can drum up a usenet client and get signed up at
http://www.eternal-september.org/. [1]  Across the board, Usenet
appears to be dying but there are numerous groups that continue to be
active and there has been a slight trend for people disillusioned with
Farcebook, Slash/Dot and other corporate sites/media to drift back
rediscover it.

rec.crafts.metalworking also exists and has lots of traffic.  If
you're looking for non-blacksmithing metalwork advice, there are some
knowledgeable guys there.  But be warned that half the traffic or more
is intemperate political bun fights and personal hostilities.  Very
good place for use of kill files.

> I think that you will find that most blacksmiths will want to use a
> wooden handled hammer for a variety of reasons.
> [snip]
> Many blacksmiths like wooden handles that are flat on each side and
> rounded top and bottom. That gives one a better grip ("fit").

I have one hammer with a plastic helve, won it in Iron in the Hat.
Pretty yellow, attractive rubber grip padding.  It's handy when I just
want to smite something.  But all my forging hammers have wooden
helves.

A misguided rocket experiment in high school left me with all my
fingers (thank you Dr. Katz) but a non-standard grip.  All the hammers
I use regularly (axe, splitting maul, claw hammer too) have been
modified to give a firm and comfortable grip.  A stock hammer handle
from the store is usually too big for me and preses uncomfortably on
phalanges that aren't quite right as well.

> Forgive me if I sound too "preachy" but I have been hammering for a
> long time and mostly in an "old school" manner.

Not at all.  I think it may often be overlooked that novices,
especially those with smaller than average-male hands, can struggle to
learn hammer control when the off-the-shelf helve is too big and the
wrong shape for their grip.

- Mike

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-- 
Michael Spencer                  Nova Scotia, Canada       .~. 
                                                           /V\ 
mspencer at tallships.ca                                     /( )\
http://home.tallships.ca/mspencer/                        ^^-^^