I understand your personal preference for a particular hammer, but as someone who uses a couple of different rounding hammers for the majority of my work, I have no idea what you were talking about when describing the use of a rounding hammer("dancing and jiggling") and trying to find the right die to use. In reality, it takes no more time or effort than deciding which die to use on cross peen. If you're going to dance and jiggle with a rounding hammer, you're probably going to dance and jiggle with a cross peen. Besides that, I agree that you should use whatever hammer feels best to you. Arguing over which style is "best" is all subjective. Use whatever hammer will make you want to get out and forge more often.
i agree with you, i don't understand what dancing and jiggling Roy talks about. also, for the type of work i do a cross pin wouldn't be any better than a rounding hammer, in fact i prefer the balance of the rounder better. the only time i ever use a cross pin is when i forge a leaf. and even then i only use it for drawing out the sides of the leaf and making the texture. but i do get that that's his preference.
pmsl. Another opinion Roy may as well keep to himself. Dancing and jiggling deciding what to do. Says more about him than the hammer type Prefer a rounding hammer to one of them blocks of steel with a hole punched in it like the ones he uses Or his RIDICULOUSLY PRICED hammers he sells. $400 each 🤣🤣😂🤣🤣😂😂🤣🤣😂
I like using a rounding hammer and other hammers whatever is needed for the job. I like the round die of the rounding hammer because it is so versatile , I can draw out a leaf or use it to help spread the metal as in drawing out reins for tongs. I use the flat die too quite a bit for flat work and to planish. I also use my cross pein for certain work as in drawing out material and for small bends like when doing an offset for some tongs, just up from the boss area, I use the cross pein to give a few taps behind the boss area and this helps line the reins up pretty good. That's my take on what I use.
Thanks for the chat. I just bought a 2.5 pound Rounding hammer. I bought it to support a local smith. I have used it for a couple of days, trying to get used to it. I find it good at long drawing outs. But, they it is back to a 2 pound ball peen with a bent red oak tree branch from my yard for a handle. I just comfortable with the ball peen. It is familiar feeling....
I think a smith should use what they're comfortable with, or what they learned with. I learned the use of a rounding hammer from Lyle Wynn, who learned from Brian Brazeal. I think the primary reason why I like the rounding hammer is that I can use the edges of the flat die as any cross pein is used to spread material in two directions and, the round die for general forging and can switch quickly to the flat for very nice, clean planishing. To each his own! Brian has a video on why he uses a rounding hammer ua-cam.com/video/pCiMitLk5GI/v-deo.html I'm sure you've probably seen it. Thanks for the videos!
I started with a German style cross peen until I was gifted a couple rounding hammers. My go to is the 2.5lb rounding hammer now. I just found it to be much more comfortable and effective as a general forging hammer. The round face makes for more aggressive forging when I have a lot of drawing out to do, it can get into sweeps and up close to shoulders without the risk of damaging them as much as with flat dies. I don't have a jiggling problem, as I always pick up and set down my hammer from the anvil the same way, and one or two whacks is enough to know if you're using the right side! If ever it is real critical which die to use, then it's just apparent that you ought to look and make sure which end of the hammer you're about to throw down, regardless of what hammer you're using.
Let me get this straight - people shouldn't use a rounding hammer because they shouldn't limit themselves? Isn't it limiting yourself by stating that you won't use a certain tool? Maybe it would be best to say you'll only use a rounding hammer where a rounding hammer is called for and not when it's not called for?
The first couple minutes of your video are spot on. Different hammers lend themselves to Different styles and finishes. But you should see what I can do with my rounding hammer. Ain't no dancing about.
I appreciate your thoughts but I do use a rounding hammer for moving the metal. I will set my tapper with the flat face the draw out with the round face. For me this seems to work the best and I also use a 1.75 lbs hammer. However there are several hammers out that I like the looks of and will tryout like yours there.
Hmm, I use a rounding hammer a lot, sometimes a 4 pounder for initial drawing out , often a 3 pounder for the bulk of other stuff. Both of them are re-purposed by grinding from standard lump hammers. I would say the 3lb rounded and flat face is my favourite. I've tried a cross-pein hammer but can't seem to get used to it at all. I will use a lighter cross-pein for beginning the closure of sockets, such as arrow or spear heads or for very specific tasks (can't think what they might be atm). The light cross-pein is double-ended with 2 different radii and about 1.5 lbs. I use a 2lb flat hammer for hitting punches and chisels. it's not softened but I don't hit then very hard anyway. I began metal life using ball-pein hammers. You can go a long way in a fabricating and welding shop with a 12 oz ball-pein hammer. I have a 4lb ball-pein but I rarely use it. There does seem two teams in the blacksmithing world - cross-peins v rounding hammers. I guess it's what you get used to, and then the feeling is hard to break. I made a dogshead hammer earlier this year intending to try it for regular use. Made it around 3lbs but it's just too heavy on my wrist. I've re-labelled it as a flatter. I need to try again, this time around 2lbs of dogshead pattern. Pein is the English spelling of the word in case anyone wonders.
I primarily use a modified 2.5 Lb. cross peen. A little heavy for all day use but it moves metal well. The peen has been narrowed a little and blunted much for the same reasons stated in the video. The face has been flattened and rounded a little, not to the extent I would call it a rounding hammer, enough that it has a larger sweet spot and works well with the peen to perform most shaping strikes. I would like to do the same thing with a 1.75 Lb. just to be able to hammer more without fatigue. Ultimately I believe in using what works best with the least amount of effort.
I've been (quietly) forging for 35+ years.... . I still use the same 2-1/2 # Cross pein for 90% of my work, That I used when I first began ...Some times when I'm feeling 'edgy' I use a Straight pein
As he says, everyone should use the tool that works best for them and the work being done. But blacksmiths, like all humans, are susceptible to fads and trends, and rounding hammers certainly are a current fad. I just made a quick look into the five smithing books in the case next to my chair, and none of them mentions rounding hammers. One refers to the two faced horseshoers' hammer, which is really what is now called a rounding hammer. So what does this lack of mention seem to indicate? That for hundreds of years and generations of smiths, the rounding hammer was not considered the best tool for the work being done and techniques being used. I don't think techniques have radically changed. That seems to lead to the conclusion that the widespread popularity of rounding hammers is a new trend, perhaps even a fad. I think the influence of the work being done by Brian Brazeal may be one big factor. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. But it isn't the wheel reinvented either. Bottom line brings it full circle -- use the hammer that works best for *you.* Try using all types of hammers to see how they feel. The person who is teaching you may swear by a "X" style of hammer, but a "Y' , "W" , or "Z" may work better for you. Don't be limited in your thinking, and don't think you can't produce good work without the trendiest tool out there, be that a rounding hammer, power hammer, belt grinder, etc.
I can certainly agree that choosing the tool that works best for you is the best option. But I would like to note that just because history hasn't shown the prevalence of the rounding hammer does not mean that it didn't simply need to right person to find a new way to use it and revolutionize the craft. This happens often in nearly every conceivable environment. The right person comes along who can take a took and maybe use it slightly differently than anyone else has before and it works best. I view the rounding hammer as precisely that. A newer method that resonates with smith's. I think it is naive to assume that everyone using rounding hammers today is simply doing it because it is a fad. Many smiths who started with other techniques are now using rounding hammers.
Agree fully. The best hammer for me is a 2.2 lb straight peen that’s too light for some people and most prefer other hammers. Very few people like straight peens the most
I personally use a 2.5lb Brian Brazeal style rounding as it's seems to be the most versatile hammer at least to start out with. The reason I love it so much is that given a tilt of my wrist I can get the effects of a crosspein without switching hammers.
I prefer a rounding hammer for most of my work. The dancing around is just switching faces. I do the same with a cross peen. I like a rounding hammer for forging inside curves and drawing out isolations with offset tapers. I also do some farrier work so it's nice for that.
I like a 2.5Lb straight pein for hand forging. I have had carpal & cubital hand problems along with trigger finger so I like a lighter hammer than some. If I need a bigger hammer, the shop I am working in has a 50Lb & 150Lb power hammer. Dave Huffman
i have never ever used time to find out what side of the hammer i use you kind of know after using it after a while i guess... good to hear you point of view thou :)
It seems to me that switching to a large rounding hammer is like getting on the freeway. Faster way to get to the neighborhood of where you're headed. I have noticed that when you're knocking off the sharp corners of a machined part or maybe some cold roll, round dies tend to send the material perpendicular to the hammer face instead of driving it into the center of mass. Much worse cold shuts than with a flat face. I like to grind really sharp corners off to prevent this.
Rescued an abused three pound cross pein by grinding the extremely chipped face round (necessity) and widening the chipped pein to half inch ( Peter Ross), semi-squared the sides of the new oval handle (D Dunn, champion horseshoer) and kept the overall length at 14 inches (U Tube) . Became my favorite forging hammer --about 2.75 lbs. The wide flat cross pein face is amazing for drawing out and spreading--the round main face seems to cause less fold over.
I love to use rounding hammers! They make excellent billets for forging tools such as handled hot punches, handled hot cutters, and set hammers! In a few years folks will jump on the " why I forge with a set hammer" mentality.
I made a straight pein with a much less aggressive pein, its not flat like yours but I think it has a lot of similar advantages. Over the last few months it has really become my favorite. I don't really understand why straight peins aren't more popular, especially among knife makers or anyone who does a lot of drawing out. I also have a 5.5 pound rounding hammer I made. It really moves some metal when I need to, but that straight pein is really growing on me.
Got a old cross pane hammer from my son really beat up chipped faces and restored it with the angle grinder into round/planishing style hammer it works great with semi polished working surfaces at 1200 grit. Can use it on blacksmithing and cold forming equally well and no more chipped hammer faces. i like restoring the old hammers, would like to make a hammer or two but my oldish arms not quite up to it at the moment. Thank you for all the videos and all the best.
That being said I use a Hofi hammer that was gifted to me by my teacher. Someone gave it to him and he didn't like it. I've been wanting to get a different style to see if I prefer one or the other but I can't seem to bring myself to spend the cash.
My three most used hammers, in order of use are a 2lb cross pein, a 3lb lump hammer with a longer than usual handle an a short handled 4lb sledge! I do use a rounding hammer, but infrequently!
LOL after 15 years of forging I'm still using my 2 pound ball peen hammer with a flat face. I do have a 2 pound cross peen with a round face i use for moving metal around. Love the channel and video's.
I make and sell hammers. By far the 3#-4# rounding hammers are my best seller. I also make straight and cross peen hammers. I use all 3 styles in my work. I find a 3-1/2# rounding hammer to be the most versatile tool by far. When doing heavy drawing over the edge of the anvil the rounding hammer will move metal more efficiently than a flatter faced hammer will. And planishing is easily done with the flat die face with a simple flip in the hand. I can't say I've seen ANYONE dancing around trying to figure out what die to use. Also the edges of both faces can serve as a peen, or fullering tool if you will. I have rounding hammers in my collection of working tools from 1-1/2#-6#, and cross and straight peen hammers from 10 oz-5#. They all serve a purpose, but for general forging work my hand grabs the 3-1/2# rounding hammer.
My wife and kids just bought me a 3 pound Nordic/ Brian Brazil style hammer from Rovatar forge, And I've use it ever since, I find it to be very handy for most jobs I've done lately.although can get a little heavy after a hour or two. Other than that my other favourite is a small 500 gram machinists hammer for cleaning up.
I am a hammer junkie if there's style of hammer I want it. I started out using a modified 2 pound rounding hammer as my main forging tool, but now I mainly use a 3 pound cross peen. It saves me time because it moves metal very fast. That's important to me as I'm on call 24-7 . You just get steel hot and the phone rings I've got 30 minutes to be on scene across town. you'd be surprised how much steel I can move 2 minutes dancing and jiggling from flat die to peen. Enjoy your videos very much Thank you and God Bless
I personally use a 2lb rounding hammer for most of my work. I find the round face more efficient at moving the metal for tapering and then with a flick of the wrist I can spin the hammer and use the flat face to planish my work. Only use my cross peen when I require a large amount of spreading on the metal ie: axes and adzes. For making leaves I tip my hammer and use the rounded edge as a peen as I find it more comfortable and controllable than having to move my tong hand so that my project lines up with the swing of my cross peen or straight peen.
I weigh 140 lbs and just can’t imagine swinging a really big rounding hammer all day. I use a 2 or three pound cross pein or straight pein. I have some a smaller rounding hammer, several different sized ball pein and mechanic hammer. I prefer smaller hammers. I have an air hammer to move big stuff. I enjoy your channel. Frank
I have a 2 lb. rounding hammer i forged in a class. I switch between this and a 2 lb. German style cross peen for the majority of my work. I like the round die for the getting into areas where i would have hammer marks from a square face hammer but honestly a lot of it just is about the weight distribution of my hammers. I just enjoy the feel of the rounding hammer more for the time being.
Is the round hammer or cross peen hammer better for hanging a picture? Not really sure, but I don't what to mess up hanging a handmade painting of our family. I'm thinking the rounding hammer since the cross peen is harder to hit? Which hammer is designed for this?
Never been a fan of small hammers. also find that I cannot use large handled hammers as well (usually I get hurt) with no control and whack my hand but, use heavy hammers with thinned down and shortened handles, although do not swing them all day as you do. short sessions, move the metal and get it done. my work is not the same as yours, but sometimes cross paths of similar ground
I own a few hammers. 2x 2.5lb ball pein, one of them i changed the face to be a rounding hammer. 2x 2.5lb blacksmithing square faced hammers, slightly rounded to address the hard edges. 1x 1 1/2lb round faced sledge hammer, it has a smaller face for finish work in tight spaces. Next project is to convert a 1 1/2lb claw hammer to 1lb finishing hammer. Kinda in the style of a Japanese hammer, all the weight in the front and none in the back (cut off the claw). I fine that i use pretty much all my different hammers on every project. Each hammer has a different face for different effects on the metal. Use what you got to get where you want to be. Some things work for some people and some projects, and other things work for other projects and people. Do what works for you and smith on!
I think use what feels-good for the job it helps with control which is the most important thing to do quality work ,do great quality speed will follow in time! My opinion only
but, but, but..... They look so cool doing that hammer dance. I too use the flat peen more often, but i still struggle to look cool without a refined hammer dance technique. thanks bro!!
As a total noobie smith, I really like my rounding hammer (flat die on one side, round on the other). It just makes intuitive sense to me at this point. I do use my cross peen when I need to spread material in just one direction (forging a socket for example), and I use my little ball peen here and there, but I find myself reaching for my 3.5lb rounding hammer the majority of the time, it just seems to work for me. I will say, I've had a few times where I wished I had a straight peen, I should probably get one, or better learn to make one.
I absolutely love my 11/2lb 6 inch long cross peen! square faced, light, and gets in places most hammers can't get. I use a ball peen for drawing out bar stock, it has a stocky walnut handle and the peen is the same size as the face. the next favorite is my cold rolled soft face hammer. I use it for top tools, first hammer I ever made!! believe it or not I have an old Vaughn 18 oz framing hammer that I use for tapers and squaring up portions of round for twisting, sometimes use it for planishing on other projects as well!! I use other hammers, but these are my favorites that I use most.
I make small stuff and knives. I prefer a turning hammer as i use it a lot when making feathers, leafs and knives as well as small bowls. Other than that I use my ballpen hammer a lot as it leaves nice forgemarks in my products.
I haven't found my favorite hammer yet. But as my skill advances I'm guessing my favorite hammer is one I will make. That said I use a bought hand made rounding hammer for some things but have so far there are a couple antique hammers that work well
I use a 2 pound short handled sledge, and I love it I upgraded it and made one side of the hammer a shallow taper for drawing stuff out I'm a beginner though so if something I said didn't make sense... Oops
Great video! I think that everyone has their own personal favorite style of hammer. I accept that people have their preference. Hat being said I’m the weird guy who primarily uses a straight peen hammer. I have several cross peens a rounding hammer and I bought another rounding hammer but I still use my 2 lb straight peen. I like it the best. I made it to my needs and wants and I love the hammer. My striking hammer is also a 9 lb straight peen :) it just works for me and is most comfortable to use Forging another straight peen. Because they are my favorite kind :)
I would like to see you doing some of the lock work, as far as the hammers I don’t have a rounding hammer so i can’t say what I like better all I have are cross peens a 2.5, 3, and a 4lb. But I am very interested in seeing some lock work. I love the channel keep up the good work
Its all preference thats for sure and what you started with also has a lot to do with it. I for example would probably quit smithing if you took my rounding hammer away, because ive tried to use other styles and just cant get use to it. It just doesn't feel right to me and thats what its all about, its got to feel good or you wont want to do it any more. I get why some like what they like and in the end as long as it works and its beating the metal where it needs to go then all is fine.
Generally, I use a 3 1/2 lb straight peen for forging and a 2lb ball peen for fine work, I've loads of other types of hammers and I use them for specific jobs but the choice of my main two hammers, is that they just feel 'right' in my hand. I've made a rounding hammer and I've used it, presently, its gathering dust on my tool rack, not my 'go to' hammer.
Here in France we all and most only use the "French" type hammer which was by the way invented by Mr Eiffel (or one of his guys) to set rivets inside angle irons. This is not "cool chauvinism" or anything. This is just how we learned and work. And some of us do wonders. "Rounding hammers" are used by farriers. I have many farriers friends. They do weird things, wonderful. They swing their "rounding" hammers to some point I wish you to achieve some day, never "dance and jiggle" and never heard of Brian B. At the end of the day, "Le bon outil c'est celui qui va bien". No intolerance around an anvil please
I use all kinds of hammers. I suppose I am more particular about the wooden handle. I like it to be shorter with a nice thick swell towards the middle and a nice palm swell at the end. Hickory feels best. I also have hammers with plastic handles which do absorb a lot of vibration but they don’t feel right to me. Even so I use them anyway. Yes, I have a rounding hammer. I have cross peen hammers, ball peen hammers, and even a Hofi style hammer. Basically I love hammers. It would be a shame if they were all the same. I plan on making some hammers myself. The rounding hammer definitely has its place and I thank Brian for having promoted their use. Mine is a four pounder which is a nice weight for me. I have lighter hammers for finer work but when I really want to move metal I use at least a 3.5 lb hammer. Eventually I want to make decorative hammers, maybe even artistic looking ones.
IMHO, I think if you were forced to use a rounding hammer for a week, you would change your viewpoint. Meaning, if you walked into your shop and all of your hammers were replaced with a good, heavy rounding hammer… you would see why they have become so prevalent. Combined with proper use of the radius at the far and near sides of the face of the anvil means less surface contact with the hammer and the anvil. You’re putting the same weight and momentum into a smaller point. That means more movement of steel and less heat loss, which equals more forging efficiency and less trips to the forge overall, less swings and more importantly nowadays…means less fuel used. I started forging with a Swedish style hammer. Flat and cross peen. I converted after watching Brian Brazeal videos 10 years ago and I now only use that Swedish hammer for planishing occasionally. The multiple dies you get with the flat side of my rounding hammers have replaced most of the need to pick up any of my cross or straight peens. Personal preference aside, I think you are missing out on an advantage given by Brian’s style hammer. I think you would love using it too if that’s all you used for a week. There really isn’t much of a learning curve. I love ya to death, Roy and respect all you do for us. But I have to disagree on this point with you.
I completely and respectfully disagree. I’ve tried many different style hammers, and different size hammers, and the first time I used a rounding hammer, I knew I would never go back. It moves the steel so much faster and more efficiently, and prevents so many hammer marks from butchering your work. I pounded on steel for three hours with a regular 3 lb sledge hammer, and it barely moved. When I pounded on the same exact steel with a 3 pound rounding hammer, it flattened in about three minutes. Much more efficient and effective!
I’m an x jeweler, now a hobby. I generally use whatever tool the project calls for. I once spoke with a blacksmith who needed to fabricate a hammer fore a special job. It worked great for that commission and nothing else. What I’m saying is that we adapt our tools for our needs, and over time we may adjust to our tools.👻
My favourite hammer for blacksmithing... Is a claw hammer! It is the best hammer for blacksmithing, and the claw could be used as a peen. Very useful in my opinion.
I have 2 hammers so far. A 2lb cross peen hammer as my main hammer. I also have a 3lb hammer with a plastic handle. It hurts my wrist and forearm within a hour. The 2lb hammer I can use all day. So, I can't say really what my favorite hammer is because I've only tried 2 hammers so far. I banished the 3 pounder after it hurt me but, at least I found one of my limitations early on. Everything is a learning experience at my skill level. Lol.
So anything with a true radius (or near that) is a rounding hammer? You're joking about not knowing which face you're using right? One blow would tell you, or just looking with your eyes, or setting your hammer down the same way each time, or making one side or your handle rough sanded. And a square face is nice, until you're striking a piece wider than your face, then you move metal less efficiently (get less for your strike), and also, unless those square corners are well and truly rounded over (which you don't seem to approve of) then a hard blow leaves nasty divets. I use square and round-faced hammers all the time, and I don't own a hammer that has identical faces.
Okay, how I found this video. I had a kid today ask me what I thought of a "squared rounding hammer" haveing never heard the term before I found this video. I learned 34 years ago from a smith, who was the son of a smith etc etc. I learned with a cross pien I've never used this type. But whatever floats your boat.
Hi been watching your stuff for awhile. like it. I buy hammers from garage sales or where ever. I grind the faces and peins the way i want them. why take the time to make a hammer. tats my feelings.
I use several types of hammers. But I do not understand about the "dancing and jiggling".. I know how to use my rounding hammers when I need to use them. But I like a cross peen and rounding but mostly use rounding... and not because "its the latest blacksmith fad" But some good Ideas you have sir!
I found for making knives a rounding hammer hitting on top of the round horn really draws out a RR spike fast. I had a ball peen first that I still like. I got a cross peen from a feed & seed big box store and for reasons I don't understand detest it... To each his own... I like your videos but your name most of all!!
A more reasonable topic might be "Why I don't only use a rounding hammer". Most smiths have several hammers, including 1 or 2 that they use most often. Every hammer shape has purposes and applications or they would not exist for long. Your title looks more like click bait.
BTB Presents you don't need money man, make yourself one. I made a 4 pound rounding hammer this summer from 4340, you can find it on eBay. I bought 6" of 2" round for $15, should be able to find something useable to make yourself a drift. I made the eye punch myself as well from H13, it's incredible stuff. I hate hate hate working H13 by hand, I made the punch from 3/4" round, even glowing bright orange it feels cold under the hammer, but I put some serious abuse into it and it's still perfect. Putting the work into it sucks, but using the tool later is so worth the time and effort I put into it. H13 is indestructible lol
I think you just don't have very much experience using a rounding hammer. Fair enough, but you're taking your limitation of skill with one and projecting it onto the tool.
Man limiting your tool and telling people to limit their tools and getting into the whole my technique is best thing. Don't know stuff for views. I can't stand that nothing will make me unsub faster.
+Jesse Giese I don't know if this comment was directed at me or not but if it was you have mistaken the video sir. The very reason for this video is to explain exactly your point not limiting your tools to just one styling of work when there is so many other kinds of work and techniques and styling out there that can be achieved with different Hammer of different shapes using different methods. I thought this was outlined clearly in my video. Hope to retain you as a subscriber thank you for watching the video and expressing your opinion on this subject God bless
Roy, you are righ about thinking about what you are going to do! It SHOULD have been thought out ahead of time but, THAT has nothing to do with the use of ANY particular hammer because it you're implying that this only happens with rounding or turning hamers! As far as the use of a roundig/turning hammer, it DOES have it's place or farriers wouldn't be using them! Whether we like it or not, farriers ARE blacksmiths, although they limit theirwork to whatever is needed having to do with horses! But, they do quite well using THAT hammer for what it was designed for! If you don't use it, YOU are limiting yourself by using some other hammer to do the job of the rounding hammer! So, your opinion is of course, your opinion! I do appreciate your videos but, frankly, in my opinion, you are the least likable of all the UA-cam Blcksmiths I've run across! That said, I DO learn from you! Keep up the good work!
@@steve_____K307 Ok, Steve, I got your point. I do overuse the (!). However, if you went to the trouble of counting them, you are even more of a punctuation Nazi than I am when it come to wromg word usage and spelling. I also realize that I used the word, for, when it wasn't needed. Did you miss that or did you figure it wasn't wortg commenting on?
I have a small rounding hammer, just one of the many hammers in my arsenal. What Roy is reffering to is picking the hammer up and not knowing which face is going to strike the work next! I solve this by marking the handle with an "F" on one side and an "R" on the handle 180deg from the faces. So when I pick it up, if the "R" on the handle is facing me, I know that the rounded side of hammer will hit work next! Same for the "F". What ever letter is facing me, that's the side that hits the work... No more confusion.
I understand your personal preference for a particular hammer, but as someone who uses a couple of different rounding hammers for the majority of my work, I have no idea what you were talking about when describing the use of a rounding hammer("dancing and jiggling") and trying to find the right die to use. In reality, it takes no more time or effort than deciding which die to use on cross peen. If you're going to dance and jiggle with a rounding hammer, you're probably going to dance and jiggle with a cross peen. Besides that, I agree that you should use whatever hammer feels best to you. Arguing over which style is "best" is all subjective. Use whatever hammer will make you want to get out and forge more often.
I am very guilty of that while waiting for metal to reat up in the forge.
Rounding hammers are the bees knees
I don’t understand why you did exactly what you criticized CCIW for doing.
He literally said it was his preference. Just read title of video🤦♂️
i agree with you, i don't understand what dancing and jiggling Roy talks about. also, for the type of work i do a cross pin wouldn't be any better than a rounding hammer, in fact i prefer the balance of the rounder better.
the only time i ever use a cross pin is when i forge a leaf. and even then i only use it for drawing out the sides of the leaf and making the texture.
but i do get that that's his preference.
pmsl. Another opinion Roy may as well keep to himself.
Dancing and jiggling deciding what to do.
Says more about him than the hammer type
Prefer a rounding hammer to one of them blocks of steel with a hole punched in it like the ones he uses
Or his RIDICULOUSLY PRICED hammers he sells. $400 each 🤣🤣😂🤣🤣😂😂🤣🤣😂
I like using a rounding hammer and other hammers whatever is needed for the job. I like the round die of the rounding hammer because it is so versatile , I can draw out a leaf or use it to help spread the metal as in drawing out reins for tongs. I use the flat die too quite a bit for flat work and to planish. I also use my cross pein for certain work as in drawing out material and for small bends like when doing an offset for some tongs, just up from the boss area, I use the cross pein to give a few taps behind the boss area and this helps line the reins up pretty good. That's my take on what I use.
I use only use rouding hammers now because you hate them. ;) but I do like them. There is a time,place and job for every tool.
Just getting started, bought some cheap Harbor Freight hammers to try...gonna modify them as I see the need.
Thanks for the chat. I just bought a 2.5 pound Rounding hammer. I bought it to support a local smith. I have used it for a couple of days, trying to get used to it. I find it good at long drawing outs. But, they it is back to a 2 pound ball peen with a bent red oak tree branch from my yard for a handle. I just comfortable with the ball peen. It is familiar feeling....
I think a smith should use what they're comfortable with, or what they learned with. I learned the use of a rounding hammer from Lyle Wynn, who learned from Brian Brazeal. I think the primary reason why I like the rounding hammer is that I can use the edges of the flat die as any cross pein is used to spread material in two directions and, the round die for general forging and can switch quickly to the flat for very nice, clean planishing. To each his own! Brian has a video on why he uses a rounding hammer ua-cam.com/video/pCiMitLk5GI/v-deo.html I'm sure you've probably seen it. Thanks for the videos!
I started with a German style cross peen until I was gifted a couple rounding hammers. My go to is the 2.5lb rounding hammer now. I just found it to be much more comfortable and effective as a general forging hammer. The round face makes for more aggressive forging when I have a lot of drawing out to do, it can get into sweeps and up close to shoulders without the risk of damaging them as much as with flat dies. I don't have a jiggling problem, as I always pick up and set down my hammer from the anvil the same way, and one or two whacks is enough to know if you're using the right side! If ever it is real critical which die to use, then it's just apparent that you ought to look and make sure which end of the hammer you're about to throw down, regardless of what hammer you're using.
Let me get this straight - people shouldn't use a rounding hammer because they shouldn't limit themselves? Isn't it limiting yourself by stating that you won't use a certain tool? Maybe it would be best to say you'll only use a rounding hammer where a rounding hammer is called for and not when it's not called for?
The first couple minutes of your video are spot on. Different hammers lend themselves to Different styles and finishes.
But you should see what I can do with my rounding hammer. Ain't no dancing about.
I appreciate your thoughts but I do use a rounding hammer for moving the metal. I will set my tapper with the flat face the draw out with the round face. For me this seems to work the best and I also use a 1.75 lbs hammer. However there are several hammers out that I like the looks of and will tryout like yours there.
Hmm, I use a rounding hammer a lot, sometimes a 4 pounder for initial drawing out , often a 3 pounder for the bulk of other stuff. Both of them are re-purposed by grinding from standard lump hammers. I would say the 3lb rounded and flat face is my favourite.
I've tried a cross-pein hammer but can't seem to get used to it at all. I will use a lighter cross-pein for beginning the closure of sockets, such as arrow or spear heads or for very specific tasks (can't think what they might be atm). The light cross-pein is double-ended with 2 different radii and about 1.5 lbs.
I use a 2lb flat hammer for hitting punches and chisels. it's not softened but I don't hit then very hard anyway.
I began metal life using ball-pein hammers. You can go a long way in a fabricating and welding shop with a 12 oz ball-pein hammer. I have a 4lb ball-pein but I rarely use it.
There does seem two teams in the blacksmithing world - cross-peins v rounding hammers. I guess it's what you get used to, and then the feeling is hard to break.
I made a dogshead hammer earlier this year intending to try it for regular use. Made it around 3lbs but it's just too heavy on my wrist. I've re-labelled it as a flatter. I need to try again, this time around 2lbs of dogshead pattern.
Pein is the English spelling of the word in case anyone wonders.
Thank you for the spelling notation. I started thinking I'd been spelling it wrong!
I primarily use a modified 2.5 Lb. cross peen. A little heavy for all day use but it moves metal well. The peen has been narrowed a little and blunted much for the same reasons stated in the video. The face has been flattened and rounded a little, not to the extent I would call it a rounding hammer, enough that it has a larger sweet spot and works well with the peen to perform most shaping strikes. I would like to do the same thing with a 1.75 Lb. just to be able to hammer more without fatigue. Ultimately I believe in using what works best with the least amount of effort.
I've been (quietly) forging for 35+ years.... . I still use the same 2-1/2 # Cross pein for 90% of my work, That I used when I first began ...Some times when I'm feeling 'edgy' I use a Straight pein
As he says, everyone should use the tool that works best for them and the work being done. But blacksmiths, like all humans, are susceptible to fads and trends, and rounding hammers certainly are a current fad. I just made a quick look into the five smithing books in the case next to my chair, and none of them mentions rounding hammers. One refers to the two faced horseshoers' hammer, which is really what is now called a rounding hammer.
So what does this lack of mention seem to indicate? That for hundreds of years and generations of smiths, the rounding hammer was not considered the best tool for the work being done and techniques being used. I don't think techniques have radically changed. That seems to lead to the conclusion that the widespread popularity of rounding hammers is a new trend, perhaps even a fad. I think the influence of the work being done by Brian Brazeal may be one big factor. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. But it isn't the wheel reinvented either.
Bottom line brings it full circle -- use the hammer that works best for *you.* Try using all types of hammers to see how they feel. The person who is teaching you may swear by a "X" style of hammer, but a "Y' , "W" , or "Z" may work better for you. Don't be limited in your thinking, and don't think you can't produce good work without the trendiest tool out there, be that a rounding hammer, power hammer, belt grinder, etc.
I can certainly agree that choosing the tool that works best for you is the best option. But I would like to note that just because history hasn't shown the prevalence of the rounding hammer does not mean that it didn't simply need to right person to find a new way to use it and revolutionize the craft. This happens often in nearly every conceivable environment. The right person comes along who can take a took and maybe use it slightly differently than anyone else has before and it works best. I view the rounding hammer as precisely that. A newer method that resonates with smith's. I think it is naive to assume that everyone using rounding hammers today is simply doing it because it is a fad. Many smiths who started with other techniques are now using rounding hammers.
Agree fully. The best hammer for me is a 2.2 lb straight peen that’s too light for some people and most prefer other hammers. Very few people like straight peens the most
Well put good sir🍻
I personally use a 2.5lb Brian Brazeal style rounding as it's seems to be the most versatile hammer at least to start out with. The reason I love it so much is that given a tilt of my wrist I can get the effects of a crosspein without switching hammers.
I prefer a rounding hammer for most of my work. The dancing around is just switching faces. I do the same with a cross peen. I like a rounding hammer for forging inside curves and drawing out isolations with offset tapers. I also do some farrier work so it's nice for that.
I like a 2.5Lb straight pein for hand forging. I have had carpal & cubital hand problems along with trigger finger so I like a lighter hammer than some. If I need a bigger hammer, the shop I am working in has a 50Lb & 150Lb power hammer.
Dave Huffman
i have never ever used time to find out what side of the hammer i use you kind of know after using it after a while i guess... good to hear you point of view thou :)
It seems to me that switching to a large rounding hammer is like getting on the freeway. Faster way to get to the neighborhood of where you're headed. I have noticed that when you're knocking off the sharp corners of a machined part or maybe some cold roll, round dies tend to send the material perpendicular to the hammer face instead of driving it into the center of mass. Much worse cold shuts than with a flat face. I like to grind really sharp corners off to prevent this.
Rescued an abused three pound cross pein by grinding the extremely chipped face round (necessity) and widening the chipped pein to half inch ( Peter Ross), semi-squared the sides of the new oval handle (D Dunn, champion horseshoer) and kept the overall length at 14 inches (U Tube) . Became my favorite forging hammer --about 2.75 lbs. The wide flat cross pein face is amazing for drawing out and spreading--the round main face seems to cause less fold over.
I love to use rounding hammers! They make excellent billets for forging tools such as handled hot punches, handled hot cutters, and set hammers!
In a few years folks will jump on the " why I forge with a set hammer" mentality.
I made a straight pein with a much less aggressive pein, its not flat like yours but I think it has a lot of similar advantages. Over the last few months it has really become my favorite. I don't really understand why straight peins aren't more popular, especially among knife makers or anyone who does a lot of drawing out. I also have a 5.5 pound rounding hammer I made. It really moves some metal when I need to, but that straight pein is really growing on me.
Got a old cross pane hammer from my son really beat up chipped faces and restored it with the angle grinder into round/planishing style hammer it works great with semi polished working surfaces at 1200 grit. Can use it on blacksmithing and cold forming equally well and no more chipped hammer faces.
i like restoring the old hammers, would like to make a hammer or two but my oldish arms not quite up to it at the moment. Thank you for all the videos and all the best.
I just watched an episode of The Woodwright's Workshop and Peter Ross was explaining why he prefer's the flat peen. It was great to hear his insights.
That being said I use a Hofi hammer that was gifted to me by my teacher. Someone gave it to him and he didn't like it. I've been wanting to get a different style to see if I prefer one or the other but I can't seem to bring myself to spend the cash.
My three most used hammers, in order of use are a 2lb cross pein, a 3lb lump hammer with a longer than usual handle an a short handled 4lb sledge! I do use a rounding hammer, but infrequently!
LOL after 15 years of forging I'm still using my 2 pound ball peen hammer with a flat face. I do have a 2 pound cross peen with a round face i use for moving metal around. Love the channel and video's.
I make and sell hammers.
By far the 3#-4# rounding hammers are my best seller.
I also make straight and cross peen hammers.
I use all 3 styles in my work.
I find a 3-1/2# rounding hammer to be the most versatile tool by far.
When doing heavy drawing over the edge of the anvil the rounding hammer will move metal more efficiently than a flatter faced hammer will.
And planishing is easily done with the flat die face with a simple flip in the hand.
I can't say I've seen ANYONE dancing around trying to figure out what die to use.
Also the edges of both faces can serve as a peen, or fullering tool if you will.
I have rounding hammers in my collection of working tools from 1-1/2#-6#, and cross and straight peen hammers from 10 oz-5#.
They all serve a purpose, but for general forging work my hand grabs the 3-1/2# rounding hammer.
My wife and kids just bought me a 3 pound Nordic/ Brian Brazil style hammer from Rovatar forge,
And I've use it ever since, I find it to be very handy for most jobs I've done lately.although can get a little heavy after a hour or two.
Other than that my other favourite is a small 500 gram machinists hammer for cleaning up.
I am a hammer junkie if there's style of hammer I want it. I started out using a modified 2 pound rounding hammer as my main forging tool, but now I mainly use a 3 pound cross peen. It saves me time because it moves metal very fast. That's important to me as I'm on call 24-7 . You just get steel hot and the phone rings I've got 30 minutes to be on scene across town. you'd be surprised how much steel I can move 2 minutes dancing and jiggling from flat die to peen. Enjoy your videos very much Thank you and God Bless
I personally use a 2lb rounding hammer for most of my work. I find the round face more efficient at moving the metal for tapering and then with a flick of the wrist I can spin the hammer and use the flat face to planish my work. Only use my cross peen when I require a large amount of spreading on the metal ie: axes and adzes. For making leaves I tip my hammer and use the rounded edge as a peen as I find it more comfortable and controllable than having to move my tong hand so that my project lines up with the swing of my cross peen or straight peen.
I weigh 140 lbs and just can’t imagine swinging a really big rounding hammer all day. I use a 2 or three pound cross pein or straight pein. I have some a smaller rounding hammer, several different sized ball pein and mechanic hammer. I prefer smaller hammers. I have an air hammer to move big stuff. I enjoy your channel. Frank
I have a 2 lb. rounding hammer i forged in a class. I switch between this and a 2 lb. German style cross peen for the majority of my work. I like the round die for the getting into areas where i would have hammer marks from a square face hammer but honestly a lot of it just is about the weight distribution of my hammers. I just enjoy the feel of the rounding hammer more for the time being.
I don't really have one certain forging hammer, I use rounding hammers when I need them, and I use cross/straight peins when I need them.
Is the round hammer or cross peen hammer better for hanging a picture? Not really sure, but I don't what to mess up hanging a handmade painting of our family. I'm thinking the rounding hammer since the cross peen is harder to hit? Which hammer is designed for this?
Never been a fan of small hammers. also find that I cannot use large handled hammers as well (usually I get hurt) with no control and whack my hand
but, use heavy hammers with thinned down and shortened handles, although do not swing them all day as you do. short sessions, move the metal and get it done. my work is not the same as yours, but sometimes cross paths of similar ground
I own a few hammers. 2x 2.5lb ball pein, one of them i changed the face to be a rounding hammer. 2x 2.5lb blacksmithing square faced hammers, slightly rounded to address the hard edges. 1x 1 1/2lb round faced sledge hammer, it has a smaller face for finish work in tight spaces. Next project is to convert a 1 1/2lb claw hammer to 1lb finishing hammer. Kinda in the style of a Japanese hammer, all the weight in the front and none in the back (cut off the claw).
I fine that i use pretty much all my different hammers on every project. Each hammer has a different face for different effects on the metal. Use what you got to get where you want to be. Some things work for some people and some projects, and other things work for other projects and people. Do what works for you and smith on!
I think use what feels-good for the job it helps with control which is the most important thing to do quality work ,do great quality speed will follow in time! My opinion only
but, but, but..... They look so cool doing that hammer dance. I too use the flat peen more often, but i still struggle to look cool without a refined hammer dance technique. thanks bro!!
My favorite is a 4 pound 2 face sledge I have one side semi rounded and the other flat with a 1/4 crown
As a total noobie smith, I really like my rounding hammer (flat die on one side, round on the other). It just makes intuitive sense to me at this point. I do use my cross peen when I need to spread material in just one direction (forging a socket for example), and I use my little ball peen here and there, but I find myself reaching for my 3.5lb rounding hammer the majority of the time, it just seems to work for me. I will say, I've had a few times where I wished I had a straight peen, I should probably get one, or better learn to make one.
Useful information. Thank ya sir.
I absolutely love my 11/2lb 6 inch long cross peen! square faced, light, and gets in places most hammers can't get. I use a ball peen for drawing out bar stock, it has a stocky walnut handle and the peen is the same size as the face. the next favorite is my cold rolled soft face hammer. I use it for top tools, first hammer I ever made!! believe it or not I have an old Vaughn 18 oz framing hammer that I use for tapers and squaring up portions of round for twisting, sometimes use it for planishing on other projects as well!! I use other hammers, but these are my favorites that I use most.
I make small stuff and knives. I prefer a turning hammer as i use it a lot when making feathers, leafs and knives as well as small bowls. Other than that I use my ballpen hammer a lot as it leaves nice forgemarks in my products.
I haven't found my favorite hammer yet. But as my skill advances I'm guessing my favorite hammer is one I will make. That said I use a bought hand made rounding hammer for some things but have so far there are a couple antique hammers that work well
I use a 2 pound short handled sledge, and I love it
I upgraded it and made one side of the hammer a shallow taper for drawing stuff out
I'm a beginner though so if something I said didn't make sense...
Oops
August Ashes Forge try moving to a longer handle. You won't regret it. Much less effort and more effective strikes.
Great video! I think that everyone has their own personal favorite style of hammer. I accept that people have their preference. Hat being said I’m the weird guy who primarily uses a straight peen hammer. I have several cross peens a rounding hammer and I bought another rounding hammer but I still use my 2 lb straight peen. I like it the best. I made it to my needs and wants and I love the hammer. My striking hammer is also a 9 lb straight peen :) it just works for me and is most comfortable to use
Forging another straight peen. Because they are my favorite kind :)
I would like to see you doing some of the lock work, as far as the hammers I don’t have a rounding hammer so i can’t say what I like better all I have are cross peens a 2.5, 3, and a 4lb. But I am very interested in seeing some lock work. I love the channel keep up the good work
The rounding and flatting hammer in one is great. Ore should i say round face and flat face hammer.
Its all preference thats for sure and what you started with also has a lot to do with it. I for example would probably quit smithing if you took my rounding hammer away, because ive tried to use other styles and just cant get use to it. It just doesn't feel right to me and thats what its all about, its got to feel good or you wont want to do it any more. I get why some like what they like and in the end as long as it works and its beating the metal where it needs to go then all is fine.
Generally, I use a 3 1/2 lb straight peen for forging and a 2lb ball peen for fine work, I've loads of other types of hammers and I use them for specific jobs but the choice of my main two hammers, is that they just feel 'right' in my hand. I've made a rounding hammer and I've used it, presently, its gathering dust on my tool rack, not my 'go to' hammer.
Here in France we all and most only use the "French" type hammer which was by the way invented by Mr Eiffel (or one of his guys) to set rivets inside angle irons. This is not "cool chauvinism" or anything. This is just how we learned and work. And some of us do wonders. "Rounding hammers" are used by farriers. I have many farriers friends. They do weird things, wonderful. They swing their "rounding" hammers to some point I wish you to achieve some day, never "dance and jiggle" and never heard of Brian B. At the end of the day, "Le bon outil c'est celui qui va bien". No intolerance around an anvil please
I use all kinds of hammers. I suppose I am more particular about the wooden handle. I like it to be shorter with a nice thick swell towards the middle and a nice palm swell at the end. Hickory feels best. I also have hammers with plastic handles which do absorb a lot of vibration but they don’t feel right to me. Even so I use them anyway. Yes, I have a rounding hammer. I have cross peen hammers, ball peen hammers, and even a Hofi style hammer. Basically I love hammers. It would be a shame if they were all the same. I plan on making some hammers myself. The rounding hammer definitely has its place and I thank Brian for having promoted their use. Mine is a four pounder which is a nice weight for me. I have lighter hammers for finer work but when I really want to move metal I use at least a 3.5 lb hammer. Eventually I want to make decorative hammers, maybe even artistic looking ones.
I use mine to spread my steel 360 degree when I need to stretch steel wide and then flat it make it faster for me
IMHO, I think if you were forced to use a rounding hammer for a week, you would change your viewpoint. Meaning, if you walked into your shop and all of your hammers were replaced with a good, heavy rounding hammer… you would see why they have become so prevalent.
Combined with proper use of the radius at the far and near sides of the face of the anvil means less surface contact with the hammer and the anvil. You’re putting the same weight and momentum into a smaller point.
That means more movement of steel and less heat loss, which equals more forging efficiency and less trips to the forge overall, less swings and more importantly nowadays…means less fuel used.
I started forging with a Swedish style hammer. Flat and cross peen. I converted after watching Brian Brazeal videos 10 years ago and I now only use that Swedish hammer for planishing occasionally.
The multiple dies you get with the flat side of my rounding hammers have replaced most of the need to pick up any of my cross or straight peens.
Personal preference aside, I think you are missing out on an advantage given by Brian’s style hammer. I think you would love using it too if that’s all you used for a week. There really isn’t much of a learning curve.
I love ya to death, Roy and respect all you do for us. But I have to disagree on this point with you.
I completely and respectfully disagree. I’ve tried many different style hammers, and different size hammers, and the first time I used a rounding hammer, I knew I would never go back. It moves the steel so much faster and more efficiently, and prevents so many hammer marks from butchering your work. I pounded on steel for three hours with a regular 3 lb sledge hammer, and it barely moved. When I pounded on the same exact steel with a 3 pound rounding hammer, it flattened in about three minutes. Much more efficient and effective!
I use rounding and cross peen and a multitude of hammers. Depends on the job that I'm working on.
I’m an x jeweler, now a hobby. I generally use whatever tool the project calls for. I once spoke with a blacksmith who needed to fabricate a hammer fore a special job. It worked great for that commission and nothing else. What I’m saying is that we adapt our tools for our needs, and over time we may adjust to our tools.👻
My favourite hammer for blacksmithing...
Is a claw hammer! It is the best hammer for blacksmithing, and the claw could be used as a peen. Very useful in my opinion.
Awesome vid
I have 2 hammers so far. A 2lb cross peen hammer as my main hammer. I also have a 3lb hammer with a plastic handle. It hurts my wrist and forearm within a hour. The 2lb hammer I can use all day. So, I can't say really what my favorite hammer is because I've only tried 2 hammers so far. I banished the 3 pounder after it hurt me but, at least I found one of my limitations early on. Everything is a learning experience at my skill level. Lol.
So anything with a true radius (or near that) is a rounding hammer? You're joking about not knowing which face you're using right? One blow would tell you, or just looking with your eyes, or setting your hammer down the same way each time, or making one side or your handle rough sanded. And a square face is nice, until you're striking a piece wider than your face, then you move metal less efficiently (get less for your strike), and also, unless those square corners are well and truly rounded over (which you don't seem to approve of) then a hard blow leaves nasty divets. I use square and round-faced hammers all the time, and I don't own a hammer that has identical faces.
Okay, how I found this video. I had a kid today ask me what I thought of a "squared rounding hammer" haveing never heard the term before I found this video. I learned 34 years ago from a smith, who was the son of a smith etc etc. I learned with a cross pien I've never used this type. But whatever floats your boat.
Verity is the spice of life.
Like alot of others out there I have different hammers for different purposes, but started with a two pound ball peen
Hi been watching your stuff for awhile. like it. I buy hammers from garage sales or where ever. I grind the faces and peins the way i want them. why take the time to make a hammer. tats my feelings.
Nice did njoy that
No matter how much you jiggle and dance the very last always goes down your pants!
I use several types of hammers. But I do not understand about the "dancing and jiggling".. I know how to use my rounding hammers when I need to use them. But I like a cross peen and rounding but mostly use rounding... and not because "its the latest blacksmith fad" But some good Ideas you have sir!
Rounding hammer for me traditional
I love my Swedish cross peen. Just for the fact that it’s so terribly well balanced
I found for making knives a rounding hammer hitting on top of the round horn really draws out a RR spike fast. I had a ball peen first that I still like. I got a cross peen from a feed & seed big box store and for reasons I don't understand detest it... To each his own... I like your videos but your name most of all!!
A Hofi style cross peen about 2 pounds does the trick for me.
How do you like the hofi ? Any drawbCks. Is it easier on your arm?
I have a Brent bailey cross pein is my go to 2 pound I agree rounding hammer no real purpose
A more reasonable topic might be "Why I don't only use a rounding hammer". Most smiths have several hammers, including 1 or 2 that they use most often. Every hammer shape has purposes and applications or they would not exist for long. Your title looks more like click bait.
Cross peen hammer, all day. The peen is centered in the body of the hammer though, as opposed to a bias to the top or bottom, as Roy shows.
I only have one forging hammer lol it's a 2lb cross peen, I need money
BTB Presents you don't need money man, make yourself one. I made a 4 pound rounding hammer this summer from 4340, you can find it on eBay. I bought 6" of 2" round for $15, should be able to find something useable to make yourself a drift. I made the eye punch myself as well from H13, it's incredible stuff. I hate hate hate working H13 by hand, I made the punch from 3/4" round, even glowing bright orange it feels cold under the hammer, but I put some serious abuse into it and it's still perfect. Putting the work into it sucks, but using the tool later is so worth the time and effort I put into it. H13 is indestructible lol
Don V I need money for the steel
BTB Presents I think Menards sells some cross peins for about$10-15, it ain't much
Don V we don't have Menards down here but I know there not bad but I really haven't forged anything that my 2lb cross peen couldn't do
I am taking a class under Thomas Latena in Pepin Wi. Great guy. My favorite hammer is my little 2 pound cross P I love it
Can’t identify one hammer that is my go to, depends on the job
i want to make a hammer but at this point in time i need an anvil that has a hard face and a power hammer so my work can move quicker
Did you get that anvil yet?
@@tylergenke7252 I have a nice 200kg anvil bit broken but it works and planning power hammer
You are insulting so many smiths that are much more advanced and knowledgeable, not saying im any better but rounding hammers will do the same work .
Not really...
I think you just don't have very much experience using a rounding hammer. Fair enough, but you're taking your limitation of skill with one and projecting it onto the tool.
Five minutes in and you still haven't given an actual reason other than you don't really like them.
Sorry but your logic is convoluted. Use the best tool for the job...period.
Man limiting your tool and telling people to limit their tools and getting into the whole my technique is best thing. Don't know stuff for views. I can't stand that nothing will make me unsub faster.
+Jesse Giese I don't know if this comment was directed at me or not but if it was you have mistaken the video sir. The very reason for this video is to explain exactly your point not limiting your tools to just one styling of work when there is so many other kinds of work and techniques and styling out there that can be achieved with different Hammer of different shapes using different methods. I thought this was outlined clearly in my video. Hope to retain you as a subscriber thank you for watching the video and expressing your opinion on this subject God bless
2 pound Mac tools square and flat faced "antivibe" all day erryday
Roy, you are righ about thinking about what you are going to do! It SHOULD have been thought out ahead of time but, THAT has nothing to do with the use of ANY particular hammer because it you're implying that this only happens with rounding or turning hamers!
As far as the use of a roundig/turning hammer, it DOES have it's place or farriers wouldn't be using them! Whether we like it or not, farriers ARE blacksmiths, although they limit theirwork to whatever is needed having to do with horses! But, they do quite well using THAT hammer for what it was designed for! If you don't use it, YOU are limiting yourself by using some other hammer to do the job of the rounding hammer!
So, your opinion is of course, your opinion!
I do appreciate your videos but, frankly, in my opinion, you are the least likable of all the UA-cam Blcksmiths I've run across! That said, I DO learn from you!
Keep up the good work!
Whoa 😳!
Tip, any paragraph with ten '!' is probably not going to be taken seriously. :-)
@@steve_____K307 Steve, Im not sure if your comment was for me or someone else and I don't understand what you are saying.
Would you please elaborate?
@@steve_____K307 Ok, Steve, I got your point. I do overuse the (!). However, if you went to the trouble of counting them, you are even more of a punctuation Nazi than I am when it come to wromg word usage and spelling. I also realize that I used the word, for, when it wasn't needed. Did you miss that or did you figure it wasn't wortg commenting on?
So bad blacksmith channel
I have a small rounding hammer, just one of the many hammers in my arsenal. What Roy is reffering to is picking the hammer up and not knowing which face is going to strike the work next! I solve this by marking the handle with an "F" on one side and an "R" on the handle 180deg from the faces. So when I pick it up, if the "R" on the handle is facing me, I know that the rounded side of hammer will hit work next! Same for the "F". What ever letter is facing me, that's the side that hits the work...
No more confusion.
Hmm... politics comes to blacksmithing... 😐
Nope
@@ChristCenteredIronworks Sure as Hell sounded like it. 👍