The bullet or head debate goes on.

[Apthorpe]

Like “perm”, I’d never heard the expression “heads” for bullets until I joined SD.

"Shottie", "rimmy" and "Annie" too. Although the latter two may be leading somewhere best avoided.

 

[sunndog]

Yes of course I do, you have never let me forget how much you resented my trying to help.

As you have raised the matter, yet again...

I don't know what tone you would have preferred....of course I tried to help, one craftsman to another....by passing on the guidance I had been given.

I could see you were holding the sledge in the equivalent way of shooting a shotgun off your left shoulder but pulling the trigger with your right hand. Yes it is possible, but as your striking video showed, unnecessarily difficult to achieve every angle. Even after twisting your body, your mate had to finish off the left side because you could not get to it.

When I was told after being seen to be doing it incorrectly, holding in exactly the same way as you in your video, it was embarrassingly in front an audience of the leading European blacksmiths, but I still didn't resent the help, quite the opposite.

My "roundabout" explanation to you came about because I misunderstood your initial reaction...instead of saying "That sounds interesting, I will try it next time" you told me you didn't need to do anything different, as a panel beater you knew how to use hammer. So presuming my description wasn't clear, I tried to explain it in other ways...my suggestion that holding it like your panel beating hammer would enable you to use the same muscle memory and coordination...I even including a video of some USA smiths demonstrating the technique.

I am still puzzled as to your continuing resentful reaction...I was just so grateful for the same information, as is everybody else I have ever shared it with. Every time I see the guy (Julian Coode from near Canterbury) in the forty years since, I thank him for it.

So yes, I do remember, and can see the similarities between your resistance to change and reluctance to use the word bullet.

Alan

I'm more curious about this hammering technique than anything else.

 

[enfieldspares]

Oh, yes, the same as the nonsense that used to be heard in Leicestershire that referred to an FAC as a "ticket" as in "I've got to renew my ticket next month so I'll put on for that variation then".

 

[John Gryphon]

A head of broccoli
A head of lettuce
A head of cauliflower

A bullet

And yes there are a few cabbage heads on here

 

[shakey jake]

how many people that use heads get bullet holes in the target?
if you load bullets in to the gun and fire a bullet how come a bit of brass is left over?

 

[sunndog]

how many people that use heads get bullet holes in the target?
if you load bullets in to the gun and fire a bullet how come a bit of brass is left over?

Ah well that's the bullet sleeve obviously

Anyone got once fired bullet sleeves for sale....yep sounds legit

 

[shakey jake]

Ah well that's the bullet sleeve obviously

Anyone got once fired bullet sleeves for sale....yep sounds legit

i thought a bullet sleeve was a barrel? surely its a head roll, like a toilet roll??

 

[A Guy Out West]

When it comes to reducing the collective level of intelligence down to the lowest common denominator then, yes, it matters a great deal.

That’s what we do over here, look at what it got us.

 

[A Guy Out West]

It’s the Finn’s fault.

 

[Apthorpe]

It’s the Finn’s fault.

No, it's not. They call them bullets too. They don't even speak English as a native language and can get it right.

Sako Super Hammerhead Hunting Ammunition

The extended range performer for Big Game hunting

www.sako.fi

 

[sunndog]

i thought a bullet sleeve was a barrel? surely its a head roll, like a toilet roll??

Ah yep that sounds right

 

[Alantoo]

I'm more curious about this hammering technique than anything else.

Happy to oblige, there are no trade secrets in blacksmithing...but there are specialist skills, striking is one of them. Send me a PM with an email address and I will send you a blow by blow analysis of the two holds demonstrated in the videos in the "Not swinging the Lead" thread, and the reasons behind the blacksmiths' direct forging sledge hammer technique.

Alan

 

[Pedro]

Like many, so long as your meaning is clear the correct usage of these words or not isn't really life changing and anyone who thinks it is, must be off their bullets.

 

[sunndog]

Happy to oblige, there are no trade secrets in blacksmithing...but there are specialist skills, striking is one of them. Send me a PM with an email address and I will send you a blow by blow analysis of the two holds demonstrated in the videos in the "Not swinging the Lead" thread, and the reasons behind the blacksmiths' direct forging sledge hammer technique.

Alan

I'll check that thread out later, although not a blacksmith I do a lot of general fabricating and mechanical work plus fencing ect an an axe enthusiast so i reckon I've got hammering down to a fine art.
Interested to see if there's something I'm missing

 

[gixer1]

Rage Against The Machines’ song would have sounded cack….

“A head in the head”…

 

[Boosh]

Not even flicking through the 7 pages to read this, just find it funny that a few folk get there knickers in a twist about it.

 

[Alantoo]

so i reckon I've got hammering down to a fine art.

So does Tim and so did I, until my friend showed me the advantages of the blacksmiths' hold 40 years ago. Even the old WCB Silver Medal Holding 'Eminent Master Blacksmith' I worked with and occasionally struck for over 4 years didn't know it. I don't think it is intuitive.

It combines a number of elements.

The Physics of deriving power by accelerating through a longer arc length. Not from sheer strength which is not sustainable day in day out.

Anatomy, using the body mechanics to provide an easily repeatable and precise arc which allows the longer swing arc length, and which is in line with your view and not across it.

Muscle memory and coordination derived from using a hand hammer which enables the striker to reproduce the rhythm, position and hammer angle required on the fly and at the same rate as the smith.

Particularly appropriate for direct forging on an anvil when working as smith and striker, but once learned and practiced is useful in many other scenarios, such as knocking in fence posts and splitting wood with a maul.

Alan

 

[User00044]

Rage Against The Machines’ song would have sounded cack….

“A head in the head”…

I fox on some Monastery land , thought about filming and using "Killing in the name of.." as the soundtrack

 

[sunndog]

So does Tim and so did I, until my friend showed me the advantages of the blacksmiths' hold 40 years ago. Even the old WCB Silver Medal Holding 'Eminent Master Blacksmith' I worked with and occasionally struck for over 4 years didn't know it. I don't think it is intuitive.

It combines a number of elements.

The Physics of deriving power by accelerating through a longer arc length. Not from sheer strength which is not sustainable day in day out.

Anatomy, using the body mechanics to provide an easily repeatable and precise arc which allows the longer swing arc length, and which is in line with your view and not across it.

Muscle memory and coordination derived from using a hand hammer which enables the striker to reproduce the rhythm, position and hammer angle required on the fly and at the same rate as the smith.

Particularly appropriate for direct forging on an anvil when working as smith and striker, but once learned and practiced is useful in many other scenarios, such as knocking in fence posts and splitting wood with a maul.

Alan

Its interesting stuff.
Axe work in particular (felling) is something that you examine to the most minute detail to wring every last bit of effect from your effort.
Got a long day today but I'll be on it later

 

[Alantoo]

Its interesting stuff.
Axe work in particular (felling) is something that you examine to the most minute detail to wring every last bit of effect from your effort.
Got a long day today but I'll be on it later

The angled arc planes required for felling are much more difficult to achieve accuracy and precision with...compound swings and a progressively shifting target. It is why chain saws were invented!

The blacksmiths' hold is good for two handed use of a side axe or adze though, any time the energy needs to be directed vertically down and especially when the working at anvil height.

Alan