My shop neighbor thinks hammer control is everything, but I've had better luck focusing on heat.

I find that managing your forge temperature matters more than perfect hammer strikes for consistent results.

3 comments

3 Comments

Totally get where you're coming from. If your metal isn't at the right heat, even the perfect hammer strike won't do what you want. You can fix a bad hit, but you can't fix metal that's gone cold or burned from bad temperature control. Getting consistent with the color in your forge changes everything for bends and draws. Your shop neighbor isn't wrong, but the hammer is just following what the heat allows.

jennifer_kelly1810d ago

Ugh, took me forever to learn that lesson. I finally got it when I stopped guessing and just watched for that bright orange glow every single time.

andrewross8d ago

I learned that lesson after hammering cold metal until my arms were JELLY. Heat control isn't just key, it's a mercy for my poor technique.