Jeff and I have tried on several occasions to put together a comprehensible article on team striking.  We usually end up shelving it because its just too long.  This time we decided to break the article up into several parts and spread it out over several issues in order to avoid "bogging down."  We hope it will help out those of you just trying your hand at larger forgings and maybe point out a few things to the "old salts" who have been at it a while.  This is not meant to be interpreted as the only "correct" way of doing this, its the way we do it and it has worked very well for us.  It seems to me if you put 10 blacksmiths in a room and showed them something you wanted made, in one hour they would have made it 10 different ways and each would be arguing that theirs is the "correct" way.  It just ain't so.

     To start, lets point out a few guidelines and safety tips. 

1. Always make sure the work area is clear of trip hazards and that there is enough ceiling height to allow a full swing of the sledgehammer(s) being used. 
   
2. All top tools should be handled (an obvious point but you would be surprised). 
   
3. Match the hammer(s) to the work and anvil, for every ten pounds of anvil you can use one pound of hammer. 
   
4. When working with multiple strikers always try to maintain an angle between you and the next guy.  Avoid at all costs standing directly opposite a sledge hammer swinging fiend.  If someone goofs or a handle works loose/breaks the unfortunate sap standing directly across the anvil WILL get beaned by a hammer shaped projectile.  This may limit the number of folks to three, but I have always found more than three people around the anvil to be too crowded anyway. 
   
5. When cooling your top tools in water, especially fullers, flatters or large punches, a quick wipe across your apron to remove excess water is a really good idea.  On several occasions a drop of water between the hot work piece and the tool face exploded (BANG) when the tool was struck.  Steam expands, striking the tool causes compression and then the scale and slag blow out with a loud bang and a very dramatic display of flying hot stuff.  Not a nice thing to happen.

     Next time we will start our discussion from the strikers point of view.  The heavy hammer is the hardest part to master so it provides the best place to start learning.  So until then........

Good Luck!!!!!!!
Franklyn D. Garland
Jeffrey D. Knight