My other birthday present was a new hammer, a specific type called a cobbler's hammer. It is designed for leather work, and ideally has a softer face. I prefer this type of hammer for chasing and repoussé. The face should wear down nicely, in tune with my own striking rhythm, and will fit me perfectly. I have another cobbler's hammer, but made the mistake of letting someone else use it. Then the hammer conformed to her rhythm and it's never felt right to me since.
Now I have my own, and I'm going to be especially selfish with it.
How does a girl greet a new hammer?
Well first, I take off my rings. Rings and hammers don't get along.
Then I test the weight and heft, how it falls into my hand.
Run my palms over all of the surfaces to check edges
Yup, it feels good. The handle is a little short and fat, but I can still put it to work.
Next week I will change it over to a standard hammer handle, slimming down the upper neck section
so it's a bit springier.
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I'm teaching a workshop this weekend at Tunnel Mill in Minnesota. This is one of my favorite groups to work with, so I'm really looking forward to it. I'll be there until Saturday night. Any orders will be shipped out on Monday.
I get to sleep in one of these.
Sweet.
4 comments:
Do they have a website? I grew up near there and had no idea it existed!
How do you change the handle?
Replacing it...different wood...shape, or carving/reshaping the one that it's got?
Great post Kirsten..no one understands the love of a good tool but another artist. Hmm, should I re-phrase? :) Happy hammering!
LOVE THIS POST! I love my hammers too. If the house was on fire, you'd better believe I'm going after my hammers...
Your "accommodations" are adorable--please tell me there's a bathroom inside?
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