How to get a handle on things...

    Now that we have put our striker on a pedestal, both literally and figuratively, it is important to get as much work out of them as possible with the least amount of effort.  A great deal of how well this is accomplished is by how well you hold the work piece and how good of a target the top tool, if any, presents.  If the piece you are working on is too small to hold in your (gloved) hand, make certain that your tongs fit the piece EXTREMELY well.  If you cannot effectively hold and control the work piece, each time the striker swats it, it will bounce off the anvil or pop out of the tongs.  No one likes being hit with large chunks of very hot metal so this is a safety concern as well.  If the piece is bouncing around you have to reposition it between each strike and that wastes time.  In this business time is heat as well as money!!  If you do not have tongs that fit, make them! Drawing out the reins could be a good warm-up for you both and it really does not take long to make a good pair of tongs.  Another option would be to weld a handle to the work piece.  If you decide to use this route make certain you use the largest stock size your work piece will comfortably accommodate.  A handle made from stock that is too small will tend to bend from hammer shock and you will then waste time straightening it out after each heat.  That is, of course, until it snaps off.
       Now that we have a good grip on the work piece, remember to hold it firmly AGAINST the anvil.  If you just lay it on the anvil face it will tend to bounce around regardless how well or squarely the striker hits it.  A firm, downward pressure against the anvil face will keep it steady and minimize the “shock bounce.”  By the by, if the piece is too cold it will bounce anyway.  Pay attention to the metals effective working temperature and work only within that range.  Do not tire out your striker by making them hit metal to cold to forge effectively.  Under ideal circumstances like correct working temperature, firm pressure against the anvil and a squarely placed hammer blow, the piece will not bounce at all.  As the person holding the work piece and tooling it is your job to lead the striker and monitor every aspect of the jobs progress.  All the striker has to do is hit it, you have to watch and lead them as to where, how hard and how much. The striker has the heavy job and must be able to accurately place the big hammer, they cannot stop and squint down between each blow and see how its going, that is your job.
    Next time we will discuss a bit about top tools and work piece placement.  Until then grasshopper, may the forge be with you.

    Franklyn D. Garland
    Jeffrey D. Knight