Old timer at a blade show changed my mind about power hammers

I used to think power hammers were just for lazy smiths who couldn't handle hand work. Then I was at the Midwest Blade Show in 2019, and this guy named Ray pulled me aside. He showed me his damascus billet and said, "You ain't getting that consistency with a hand hammer, kid." He let me watch him run his 25-pound Little Giant for about 10 minutes, and I saw how even the layers came out. That one demo convinced me to save up for my own, and now I've got a 50-pound model from 1952. Ever had a tool completely change your approach to forging?

2 comments

2 Comments

troy_sanchez81mo ago

Honestly that's a solid question because I get how a good demo can flip your whole mindset. But did you ever try out a power hammer before buying one, or did you just trust that old timer's demo and take the leap?

terryr461mo ago

My buddy has a 50lb Little Giant and he let me spend a whole afternoon on it before I bought mine. That hands-on time was way more useful than any demo because you really feel the rhythm and power difference yourself. Demos are great for showing possibilities, but nothing beats actually running one for a couple hours.