Rant: I was dead set against using a power hammer until I saw one in action last month

I always figured hand forging was the only real way to learn the trade, but a guy at a shop in Pittsburgh let me watch him run a 25-pound Little Giant for an hour. The way he controlled the metal with that thing, getting consistent tapers in half the time, made me rethink my whole stubborn attitude. Has anyone else here switched from hand to power and felt like they wasted years fighting the steel?

2 comments

2 Comments

craig.reese4d ago

Honestly same here man. I was convinced hand hammers were the only way to build good muscle memory and feel for the steel. Watched a buddy at a local shop run a 30lb LG on a leaf spring project and he was done before I'd even have my first heat set up proper. Made me feel pretty dumb for being so stubborn about it for like 5 years.

mason.paige4d ago

The LG makes you realize how much time you waste babying the steel (plus your arm is way less tired at the end of the day). It's almost embarrassing how fast you can shape a leaf spring once you let the hammer do the heavy lifting.