Robert M, I use a 3 2/3 pound hammer most of the time that Raliegh Desiato made me her last day of a 5 day class. Every 3 to 3 3/4 pound hammer I have ever made for myself ends up getting sold, so I used my 4 pound10 1/2 ounce hammer. Now someone finally bought that hammer, but I traded Alec Steele my 6 pounder for his 4 pound 8 1/2 ounce hammer we made last year to replace it. I will never sell these hammers, so they are now my main hammers. I am comfortable with either one of them. If I can only take one when I fly, it would be the bigger one because I can do every thing with it. I don't forge hammer drifts with smaller hammers. I like my handles like the hammer eye shape, an oval with straight long sides.
A lot of guys say to never use such a large hammer on small work like this. At first I agreed. However, once I started holding my rounding hammer different ways, I now don't totally agree. You can get into the tiniest places with a hammer as long as you hold it properly. Also, they say heavier hammers move small work too quick. Once again I at first agreed, but now I don't. It takes multiple hits if you use a lighter hammer, where it might only take two with a heavier hammer. By no means am I saying you never need a small hammer again, but if you use your larger hammer right it can be a whole lot more effective and efficient. Thank you Brian becuase I have been watching your techniques and how you hold your hammer different ways to help me figure out this. Thanks for all your help.
Really love your hard hammer blows always on the point of aim, the wisper sound of your anvil and your feeling even with a heavy hammer at the finest end of tapering... i can listen and feel that there isn't any loss of energy by shaking anvils or hammer blows... thanks ! Best regards from a german farrier and blacksmith...Sorry for my bad english !
That is my old 4 pound 10 1/2 ounce hammer. Your other comment on the mushroom video didn't show up when I went to respond to it. You suggested shoulders on my hot cut hardy. A lot of people assume you need shoulders on a hot cut, but you do not. You do need them on other hardies that you forge with, but not with a hot cut. Just look at what happens to the struck end of top tools, the larger the surface area of the working area, the more the struck end gets mushroomed and needs to be maintained. A top hot cut does not suffer the same because it cuts the metal. A hot cut hardy with a tapered shank will not split an anvil because it does not take the same stresses as the larger forging hardies. That hot cut hardy is the best I've ever seen or used. It is also easier to make. I call it my best invention. If you've never tried it, you're missing out.
My go to is a 2.5 lbs rounding hammer. I'm impressed you can swing such a heavy hammer. From your videos I'm going to try to go heavier. Do you have a handle shape preference?
Definitely the best got cut design there is. Very little stress is placed on the hardy hole area. The cutting edge cutting hot metal has very little resistance, therefore placing little to no stress on the anvil.
Yes, Brian, your design works extremely well. I made myself a giant one out of huge railroad bolt and I use it all the time. Never any damage to my hardie hole. The only time I’ve damaged one is twisting on a bending fork
I am watching you hit....If you want to hit 25 ants with a tooth pick .I would say it would not take you twenty five hits .No I don't want ants versus you but You would win. Very good video ..love to see the best at work thanks
I made one once a long time ago when someone asked if I could figure out how the English guy that used to demonstrate the bull dog did it. Lyle Wynn does them now a lot and teaches them, and so do many of his students. Most of what I do are my own original designs that I teach.
Robert M, I use a 3 2/3 pound hammer most of the time that Raliegh Desiato made me her last day of a 5 day class. Every 3 to 3 3/4 pound hammer I have ever made for myself ends up getting sold, so I used my 4 pound10 1/2 ounce hammer. Now someone finally bought that hammer, but I traded Alec Steele my 6 pounder for his 4 pound 8 1/2 ounce hammer we made last year to replace it. I will never sell these hammers, so they are now my main hammers. I am comfortable with either one of them. If I can only take one when I fly, it would be the bigger one because I can do every thing with it. I don't forge hammer drifts with smaller hammers. I like my handles like the hammer eye shape, an oval with straight long sides.
Thanks for the response. Like your youtube videos, you are generous with your now how and skill. Smiths like you keep our craft going.
Bob M
A lot of guys say to never use such a large hammer on small work like this. At first I agreed. However, once I started holding my rounding hammer different ways, I now don't totally agree. You can get into the tiniest places with a hammer as long as you hold it properly. Also, they say heavier hammers move small work too quick. Once again I at first agreed, but now I don't. It takes multiple hits if you use a lighter hammer, where it might only take two with a heavier hammer. By no means am I saying you never need a small hammer again, but if you use your larger hammer right it can be a whole lot more effective and efficient. Thank you Brian becuase I have been watching your techniques and how you hold your hammer different ways to help me figure out this. Thanks for all your help.
Really love your hard hammer blows always on the point of aim, the wisper sound of your anvil and your feeling even with a heavy hammer at the finest end of tapering... i can listen and feel that there isn't any loss of energy by shaking anvils or hammer blows... thanks ! Best regards from a german farrier and blacksmith...Sorry for my bad english !
That is my old 4 pound 10 1/2 ounce hammer. Your other comment on the mushroom video didn't show up when I went to respond to it. You suggested shoulders on my hot cut hardy. A lot of people assume you need shoulders on a hot cut, but you do not. You do need them on other hardies that you forge with, but not with a hot cut. Just look at what happens to the struck end of top tools, the larger the surface area of the working area, the more the struck end gets mushroomed and needs to be maintained. A top hot cut does not suffer the same because it cuts the
metal. A hot cut hardy with a tapered shank will not split an anvil because it does not take the same stresses as the larger forging hardies. That hot cut hardy is the best I've ever seen or used. It is also easier to make. I call it my best invention. If you've never tried it, you're missing out.
I would agree I own one of Brian's hot cuts and it works better than any others I have tried it just down right superior
JP
My go to is a 2.5 lbs rounding hammer. I'm impressed you can swing such a heavy hammer. From your videos I'm going to try to go heavier.
Do you have a handle shape preference?
Definitely the best got cut design there is. Very little stress is placed on the hardy hole area. The cutting edge cutting hot metal has very little resistance, therefore placing little to no stress on the anvil.
Yes, Brian, your design works extremely well. I made myself a giant one out of huge railroad bolt and I use it all the time. Never any damage to my hardie hole. The only time I’ve damaged one is twisting on a bending fork
the precision in your strikes is amazing. hand eye coordination must help
Merry Christmas to Brian, family and crew!
@FRUNTCASTER
Thank you, Happy New Year!
If anyone can blacksmith a flying bird you would be my No. one pick.
Tyhanks
I have done several flying birds and free standing birds.
Cool video, what sized stock is that?
I am watching you hit....If you want to hit 25 ants with a tooth pick .I would say it would not take you twenty five hits .No I don't want ants versus you but You would win.
Very good video ..love to see the best at work thanks
Let me see you do a bull dog
Love you skill
..Dag good works thanks
I made one once a long time ago when someone asked if I could figure out how the English guy that used to demonstrate the bull dog did it. Lyle Wynn does them now a lot and teaches them, and so do many of his students. Most of what I do are my own original designs that I teach.