Ridgewayforge Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Hello all! Today was my first time at the forge since March, I believe. I was fairly good before that, and was able to forge nice tapers and semetrical pieces. Now, however, I am slow at performing the basic tasks. Is this normal, and how do I get back into the swing of things? Today has really eaten away some confidence I had in my abilities. Thanks! RidgewayForge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Coke Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Greetings Ridge, LOL Just think of it like bowling or golf... If you put it down for a spell you can't expect to start right back up... One of the biggest things in blacksmithing isn't what to do But what not to do ... You will remember.. Take your time and have another go at it .. Keep it simple make some hooks.. Forge on and make beautiful things Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 Do a bunch of simple items till the speed and skill gets back in your muscles! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 its also a good time to consciously slow down, dont work at the speed you're mind tells you you "should" be able to work at, then pay attention to your "details", form, approach to the anvil,how your champherededges look, etc. you may be amazed at how many small things you will find that, before your layoff, were done automatically, and became a habit. work on correcting these. then instead of this time being a "negative", it becomes a very positive step in your development as a smith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Borntoolate Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Yeah. just like said above. Another way to say it is don't practice failure. Start back easy and only move on when you do well. This should be quick if you make it easy to start then easy to step by step move back towards where you thought you were. Incorporate this work into a project if possible. You might also just take a piece of rebar or other hunk of metal to just get back into the swing by squaring up a long section. Try to square it up and make it useful for something. The other things is.... MARCH! that was 9 months ago. Your problem ain't performing at the forge it is getting out to the forge and getting started. So that is might first thought actually... which I will submit last. Get Started!!! Like Bilbo Baggins he just needed to get one step started and then another. Get started. Have an idea of what you want to accomplish either that night or preferably that week if you are slow like me. Have a goal. But get started! Make something, learn from it and go from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedefiddle Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Good Morning, BornTwoLaight, Is that like a stutter??? :) :) The double post referred to was removed by the moderators Ridge - Start slow, make it NICE!!! Production isn't production, if you have to do it again. Walk slow and carry a big stick!! Don't count quantity, count QUALITY!! Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
divermike Posted December 19, 2013 Share Posted December 19, 2013 I am in the same boat, I even got a blister where there used to be a callous. Anyway I decided to just start by doin fundamentals again, and taking breaks by playing on the power hammer. It is coming back faster, because I decided not to let the frustration mount, just go with the flow. Hammer control memory starts kicking back in fairly quickly, just be glad you don't have a master breathing down your neck and watching your every mistake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Edgar Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Think of the fun you are going to have all over again, but at your own pace, like everyone else has said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewayforge Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 That's true, there is no master smith breathing down my neck. I was able to slow down, and make something basic, a hood. I reigned myself in; I really wanted to start all the projects I had drempt of, but kept myself on task. This is what I came up with! (the one on top is the one which I forged yesterday, the other one is the previous day's work.) Thanks for all the input and support! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmoothBore Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 its also a good time to consciously slow down That's good advice for most folks, ... but if I go any slower, I'll be going backward. :P . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Something not mentioned above I find works well. Don't TRY, just go out and do it. Don't sweat getting it right while you're doing it, just do something familiar and let your muscle memory work unhindered. The above advice is all good, pick something simple and basic you were good at and just have fun. It'll all come back surprisingly fast if you don't get too hung up on getting it right. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgewayforge Posted December 21, 2013 Author Share Posted December 21, 2013 Yeah, Frosty, that is the best advice for me. I'm a perfectionist, and I really want my work to be as good as it was before. But, I can't wait for perfection to catch up to me; I have to keep moving forwards! After all, its just heat and beat, right? Hammer marks are the new preferred finish, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reitenger Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 If it is square make an octagon, if it is octagon make it round, if it is round, make it square. Upset it, taper it, stretch it Basically, just play until you are back to not having to tell your arm what to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anvil Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 also, maby add a new trick to your bag of-- perhaps do a slit and drift instead of a punched hole. which is truly just a combination of 3 basic moves...slit,upset,drift. most impt! pay attention to each blow. see what you are doing. if it looks good you will see why, if it looks bad you will see why. words from a great man "if the eye can't see it the hand can't make it" when you are where yer at its a great time to improve yer "seeing" don't Iive in the past be inspired by the future live in the now oh yea, there's always one mastersmith around guess who that is. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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