Old timer told me my hammer strokes were all wrong...

I was working on a fire poker back in March, just banging away like I always did, when this retired blacksmith named Frank wandered into my shop. He watched me for like ten minutes without saying a word, then pointed at my hand and said "you're choking the hammer too tight, son. Let it bounce." I had no idea what he meant at first, but he showed me how to grip it loose near the end of the handle and let the weight do the work instead of my arm. Man, the first time I tried it I almost dropped the hammer on my foot, but after a couple tries I could feel the difference in my elbow and shoulder. I started getting cleaner strikes without wearing myself out after twenty minutes. Has anyone else had a veteran smith correct something basic you thought you had down?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_joseph5d agoMost Upvoted

Wait, are you telling me you almost dropped the hammer on your foot and still kept going?

joel_hall175d ago

Man I felt that line about "let it bounce" - thats the kind of advice that sounds backwards until you actually try it. The grip thing is huge too, I used to death grip my hammer like I was trying to strangle a snake and my forearm would be on fire after an hour. Once I loosened up and let the handle move in my hand a little (not too much, you still want control) the rebound just naturally follows through. Its funny how the simplest stuff like that can change everything, makes you wonder what other basic things were doing wrong without knowing it.