I can tell you right now that a hammer more than half that size IE 3 pounds, with a proper swing will move
1-the same amount of material
2-not be nearly so tiring
3-not be any more stressful to your wrist
4-most likely will be less stressful to your wrist, as a proper swing allows flex in the hand and fingers not the wrist, and if there is an errant blow it will not even effect your wrist.
How you are swinging now will most certainly destroy your elbow, watching your video is almost painful to mine! Your elbow is way out in space, and the way you swing not allowing your hand or wrist to flex transmits all the shock right up to that joint and a little to your shoulder joint. watch the video again, when the hammer impacts the steel your forearm and elbow is shocked because of the momentum. With your death grip on the hammer also is transmitting ALOT of shock into your wrist as well as your forearm and elbow, even though you might not feel it yet, you will in a couple months (ask me how I know
).
My two measly cents, get yourself a hammer that MUCH smaller, 2 pounds or 3 pounds at most, grab it at the end of the handle or only slightly forward of the end, keep your elbow tighter to your side. When you raise the hammer keep a light-but-tight grip with your index finger and thumb, but allow your middle ring and pinky fingers to open a little bit which will cushion your arm and wrist on the top end of your swing. When you come down close your middle ring and pinky fingers so your whole hand has that light-but-tight grip and guide the hammer in sort of a "throw" motion into the steel. All you are doing it picking the hammer up and accelerating and guiding it to it's target, you do not have to force it like you do now. A hammer is a tool, let the tool do the work so you don't have to. It might take a bit more practice to gain accuracy for heavy blows, but hey if it was easy everyone would do it. The way you swing now is a bad habit that should be gotten away from early to prevent long term damage. I have only been swinging a hammer 7 years, not just for blades either where it's a couple hours a day to forge out a blade or two, I am talking 7-8 hours of straight production forging in an architectural ironworks shop without the use of a powerhammer. If I did not break my bad habits swinging a hammer early like I was taught on I probably would be doing only stock removal now if you catch my drift.
69, sorry to hijack, I just don't want to see you hurt yourself because that is some nice forging, and I would like to see you do it a little easier for a long long time.
-Matt-
Pretty cool. Like the speed demon forging!
