Talked to an old timer at a forge-in and now I'm rethinking power hammers

I was at a meetup in Dayton last month and got chatting with this guy named Tom who's been smithing since the 70s. He told me he's never owned a power hammer, just uses a heavy sledge and good technique for drawing out. Said power hammers can make you lazy about reading the steel and timing your hits right. I've been saving up for a small one for a year, but now I'm wondering if I should spend that $2,000 on an anvil and more coal instead. Anyone else skip the machine and stick to hand tools long term?

3 comments

3 Comments

simonp471mo ago

Hold on, is it really that big of a deal? I mean, Tom's got a point about hand tools keeping you sharp, but calling a power hammer the devil's tool feels a bit much. A good sledge and a well timed strike are great for sure, but I've seen guys with both that are just as skilled and read steel just fine. Maybe it's more about how you practice than what you swing, you know? $2,000 is a lot, but I wouldn't let one guy's philosophy make you second guess a tool that could save your shoulders and speed things up if that's what you need.

iris5741mo ago

You got the price wrong though, I think it's more like $3,500 for a good one, not $2,000. Not trying to be picky, just helps to have the right number if someone's saving up.

oscar_ellis19d ago

Nah $3,500 sounds right for a decent power hammer. $2,000 gets you junk that'll break in a month.