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My mentor swears by hand-hammering, but I'm tempted by power hammers
He says it builds CHARACTER, but I see the SPEED benefits. Where do you fall on this?
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margaret_white482mo ago
I heard a purist say exactly that "builds CHARACTER" line at a craft fair last year. Honestly though, watching someone use a power hammer for the rough shaping was incredible. It let them focus their real skill on the fine details instead of just exhausting themselves.
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grace_hill2mo ago
But like, is anyone really out here judging someone's CHARACTER by how they shape metal? Tools are just tools, they don't make the art good or bad. Maybe the real skill is in knowing when to save your energy for the parts that actually need a human touch. Getting tired doesn't automatically make your work better, it just makes you tired. Seems like a weird hill to die on for a hobby.
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