I remember an old saying that went something like, speaking ill of others is a dishonest way of praising one's self. I'm always open to constructive criticism whether I heed it or not is another matter. I'll try different methods until I find what works best for me just as you do. Keep it coming Chis and pay the trolls no mind.
I'm on dialysis so All my joints suck and I have bad arthritis in my hands! You were an inspiration to me to start smithing after you powered through your elbow injury! Love these techniques and tips! I'm always trying to save my joints!
I've never commented negatively on anyone's technique, but since you bring it I'll make an exception. I started blacksmithing in the '80s and I think there is something to be learned from everyone and I've tried that hammering the anvil thing. All it's done for me is make needless noise and waste valuable time between heats. There is no rhythm that needs to be maintained if you're the one holding and striking, you pretty much know when that next hammer blow is coming and how long you have to reposition your metal. It's a different story if you are swinging a sledge for someone else, that's when you need to keep a rhythm. It bugs me when I see it but I can look beyond that without the need to criticize. Like you say, you do what works for you, keep up the good work.
While I haven’t found myself doing the resting bounce, it makes complete sense to me. I’m sure my lack of hammer bounces is more about my not having a flow, yet, in my blacksmithing habits. I’m surprised anyone gave you guff over this as it’s a pretty common practice.
Thank you so much, honestly working around other smith's and watching others via video it does seem to be very common. My split second breaks don't really allow much time for the steel to cool dramatically. I guess I'm just not in a big hurry. I really appreciate the comment
As for hammer technique, I took a one-day class from Brian Brazeal a couple of months ago, and he uses a totally different approach and technique than I was taught. Is his way better than Aspery's? For him, yes! I've started using a heavier hammer of his design for some of my stuff, and it lends itself to his technique better than my old daily driver. I try to use the hammer appropriate for my piece, and thankfully I'm not on TH-cam so nobody whines about it! Illegitimi non carborundum.
Thanks for the video, enjoyed it. I'm an amateur smith, just a couple of hours a week. But still got elbow problems. I build myself a treadle hammer, and it's been great. My legs do the heavy hammering, and it saves my elbows. Is that an option for you? I almost never see blacksmith using a treadle hammer. I never understood why. Keep up the good work Regards from the Netherlands
..Good perspective. Tap or no tap don't care. Only observation i have on the height of the anvil is this- does the hammer face make a full impression on the work. The top of the face makes more of an impression than the bottom or even side to side. Some clay and a few boards of various heights told me i need to lower mine just a bit of an inch...
Try not to take every comment to heart, need to have thick skin to be a TH-camr with all the trolls out, just wanting to get under your skin. Keep up the great work 👍🤓👍
@@wrotiron I used to watch Chandler Dickinson blacksmith and he had a lot of trolls in the comments on his TH-cam channel unfortunately he let them get to him and he no longer makes TH-cam videos. I've actually been thinking about doing some Black smithing TH-cam videos but I think I might have the comments turned off, but keep up the great work🤓👍
i agree but its hard when the ones throwing stones dont even have a youtube channel of there own, and having nothing to prove they even know what there talking about. i lost it with one, bad comments skipped through my video and missed the part were i said by the way this is a first for me and i havent a clue what im doing.... my skin isnt that thick but i get what you mean 😊😊
i can remember asking you why you did it you explained why. . and ive never thought about it again until now, not sure why some one would take the time to be nasty about it, me id rather be nice and ask, if anything just incase im missing out on some thing, that i should know. makes more sense to me, but there are some trolls out there ive had few and 10 out 10 times they havent even got there own youtube channel 😊😊 keep up the good work. simon .uk .
There are endless individual styles and techniques in blacksmithing that all get the task done. I never told a student how to stand, hold a hammer etc. I tell them some popular options , safety, and let them figure it out. And they did. Your body lets you know what’s comfortable or not. Fire let’s you know if you’re too close. And idiots let you know they are idiots. For those worried about damaging your anvil from tapping it, you can soften your hammer so the hammer dents and not the anvil. The hot steel will be even softer so no damage to the the hammer.
No issues with me it’s a system of control and rhythm and momentum blacksmith’s have been doing it for millennia don’t argue with a method that is proven to work 👍
I remember an old saying that went something like, speaking ill of others is a dishonest way of praising one's self. I'm always open to constructive criticism whether I heed it or not is another matter. I'll try different methods until I find what works best for me just as you do. Keep it coming Chis and pay the trolls no mind.
Thank you Bob I really appreciate it
I'm on dialysis so All my joints suck and I have bad arthritis in my hands! You were an inspiration to me to start smithing after you powered through your elbow injury! Love these techniques and tips! I'm always trying to save my joints!
Thank you for the comment it really means allot to hear.
I've never commented negatively on anyone's technique, but since you bring it I'll make an exception. I started blacksmithing in the '80s and I think there is something to be learned from everyone and I've tried that hammering the anvil thing. All it's done for me is make needless noise and waste valuable time between heats. There is no rhythm that needs to be maintained if you're the one holding and striking, you pretty much know when that next hammer blow is coming and how long you have to reposition your metal. It's a different story if you are swinging a sledge for someone else, that's when you need to keep a rhythm. It bugs me when I see it but I can look beyond that without the need to criticize. Like you say, you do what works for you, keep up the good work.
Exactly, thank you so much for the comment and bieng unbiased.
While I haven’t found myself doing the resting bounce, it makes complete sense to me. I’m sure my lack of hammer bounces is more about my not having a flow, yet, in my blacksmithing habits. I’m surprised anyone gave you guff over this as it’s a pretty common practice.
Thank you so much, honestly working around other smith's and watching others via video it does seem to be very common. My split second breaks don't really allow much time for the steel to cool dramatically. I guess I'm just not in a big hurry. I really appreciate the comment
As for hammer technique, I took a one-day class from Brian Brazeal a couple of months ago, and he uses a totally different approach and technique than I was taught. Is his way better than Aspery's? For him, yes! I've started using a heavier hammer of his design for some of my stuff, and it lends itself to his technique better than my old daily driver. I try to use the hammer appropriate for my piece, and thankfully I'm not on TH-cam so nobody whines about it! Illegitimi non carborundum.
Thank you, and that's awesome you got to take one of his classes
Thanks for the video, enjoyed it.
I'm an amateur smith, just a couple of hours a week. But still got elbow problems. I build myself a treadle hammer, and it's been great. My legs do the heavy hammering, and it saves my elbows. Is that an option for you? I almost never see blacksmith using a treadle hammer. I never understood why. Keep up the good work
Regards from the Netherlands
Thank you so much, and is actuality in the works for this spring.
..Good perspective. Tap or no tap don't care. Only observation i have on the height of the anvil is this- does the hammer face make a full impression on the work. The top of the face makes more of an impression than the bottom or even side to side. Some clay and a few boards of various heights told me i need to lower mine just a bit of an inch...
Very true, I did something similar with my main anvil
Tap that hammer! Thanks for the videos ❤
Thank you 😊
Try not to take every comment to heart, need to have thick skin to be a TH-camr with all the trolls out, just wanting to get under your skin. Keep up the great work 👍🤓👍
Thank you, this has been ongoing since the beginning. And it gave me a moment to discuss a few other things.
@@wrotiron I used to watch Chandler Dickinson blacksmith and he had a lot of trolls in the comments on his TH-cam channel unfortunately he let them get to him and he no longer makes TH-cam videos. I've actually been thinking about doing some Black smithing TH-cam videos but I think I might have the comments turned off, but keep up the great work🤓👍
i agree but its hard when the ones throwing stones
dont even have a youtube channel of there own,
and having nothing to prove they even know what there talking about.
i lost it with one,
bad comments skipped through my video
and missed the part were i said by the way this is a first for me
and i havent a clue what im doing....
my skin isnt that thick but i get what you mean 😊😊
Another thing that I see with tapping the hammer on the anvil the way you do is it gives your arm and hand a slight break. Nothing wrong with that.
i can remember asking you why you did it
you explained why. .
and ive never thought about it again until now,
not sure why some one would take the time to be nasty about it,
me id rather be nice and ask,
if anything just incase im missing out on some thing,
that i should know.
makes more sense to me,
but there are some trolls out there
ive had few
and 10 out 10 times they havent even got there own youtube channel 😊😊
keep up the good work.
simon .uk
.
Thank ya Simon I really appreciate you.
There are endless individual styles and techniques in blacksmithing that all get the task done.
I never told a student how to stand, hold a hammer etc. I tell them some popular options , safety, and let them figure it out. And they did. Your body lets you know what’s comfortable or not. Fire let’s you know if you’re too close. And idiots let you know they are idiots.
For those worried about damaging your anvil from tapping it, you can soften your hammer so the hammer dents and not the anvil. The hot steel will be even softer so no damage to the the hammer.
I appreciate it, that's my thoughts exactly
This video was hardly about technique and mostly addressing comments
No issues with me it’s a system of control and rhythm and momentum blacksmith’s have been doing it for millennia don’t argue with a method that is proven to work 👍
Exactly, thank you so much