Hammer Control

[Gary]

Ben, what worked for me was taking a three foot section of 1/2 in. round stock and making it into 3/8 in. square. I did this three times. It's part of the apprentice program at Ft. Vancouver and worked wonders for my hammer control. Good Luck, Gary

[ThomasPowers]

Hmm one of the traditional ways of getting stock that is totally hand forged is to make it from a differen sized and or different cross section stock---like if you need 3/8 round make it from 1/2" square.

Makes sure there is no "mill finish" sections on the piece; expensive in time though; perhaps i should start my students on such hammer control exercises...

[Frosty]

Sounds like a classic practice issue to me.

Make sure your anvil is the proper height, between your wrist and knuckles.

Make sure your hammer faces are radiused so you have no sharp edges.

After that, practice, practice, practice. If you're really putting lots of sharp marks in your work you shouldn't worry about making "things" as such. Make lots of long draws or try some of the other exercises suggested already.

The real secret of a master smith is control. If you can't hit what you're aiming at in the way you want to hit it you aren't going to be successful. The only way to develop the control is by using your hammer. Driving finish nails with the ball pein might be a bit extreme but if you can do it reliably you be de MAN.

Frosty