I'm new to the forum. Since the military, and a cult I was once a member of, I'm not much of a 'joiner' but, being a dedicated Blacksmith, IFI is just too good a resource to pass up! I love the idea of being able to pick the brains of more experienced smiths. I've been reviewing some of the past chatter on forging hammers and I wanted to add my two cents...(that may be an exaggerated value for my opinion!)

I have a German pattern, a Swedish pattern, a French pattern, a Hofi hammer, and some bastard children of all of them. I find pros and cons for each of them. I went to Austin Community College in Austin, TX a few years back and got an AAS in Welding Technology-Art Metals. Most of my classes were Blacksmithing classes. Most of those were with William Bastas. He's studied under, or worked with Hofi, Tom Clark and a number of others. William teaches the Habberman method and has designed his own forging hammer. He teaches his students to make their own Bastas hammer in Tool Making classes.

Bastas hammers are both beautiful and functional and, I have to say, I like them the best of all I've used. He used to sell them through Pieh tools but just got too busy to continue. Anyone else out there have one?

Edited November 14, 200817 yr by Falconer

There are a few of the members of Balcones Forge in Central Texas that have acquired them through William Bastas over the years. I had the pleasure of using one at a Houston Area Blacksmith Assn. Fall Forgefest. It was a very well balanced and well thought out hammer that belonged to the President of the Balcones Forge group(Rudy). I did not have my Hofi at the time so it was hard to compare after use. Both have their merits and are somewhat similar in design. The piened end of the hammer head is more tapered on the Bastas hammer and is easier to get into nooks and crannies when doing delicate work. Great hammer-congrats on owning one-kind of like a "Holy Grail" of blacksmithing hammers.:cool:

I have one of Tom Clarks', now a cherished tool, and use it probably 95% of the time. How about a picture of one of Bill's? Oh, and welcome to IFI. You should check into SWABA, it's the ABANA chapter in New Mexico. Awesome bunch of folks, and tell them TDean said "HOWDY!"

Yes, I'd love to see a picture or two as well!

Whenever I click the upload image icon it only offers to add one with a URL address? I have them on my hard drive but am not that computer savvy...I'm only a Blacksmith after all!!!

Whenever I click the upload image icon it only offers to add one with a URL address? I have them on my hard drive but am not that computer savvy...I'm only a Blacksmith after all!!!

If you click on "Go advanced" below the edit window and then scroll down from the window that comes up you'll find a button that says "manage Attachments". click on that button and you'll get a window with a column of "Browse" buttons. Click on one and select the picture you want to attach then click "Upload" when you have the pics you want to include.

Frosty

Frosty you are a man after my own heart! You gave me simple, straightforward directions in Plain English!


You sir, are a gentleman and a scholar! (There are xxxx few of us left!!)


My original post now has some dark, crappy photos to give you some dim hint of what a Bastas hammer looks like!


Note the longer, thinner flared pien. It give you greater finese and from any angle bounces back into your hand instead of away like a flat pien does.

TEST If this works Thanks Frosty

It worked

Mike Tanner

Sorry wrong photo but at least i know how to do it now

Mike Tanner