TIL from a retired farrier that my hammer weight was all wrong

I've been using a 2.5 pound rounding hammer for years, thought it was fine. Then an old farrier watched me work a piece of 1 inch round stock and said 'you're hitting way too hard, that hammer's too light for that job.' He handed me his 3.5 pound Swedish hammer and I swear the metal moved twice as fast with half the effort. It made me wonder if I've been overcomplicating my striking for no reason. Anybody else had someone point out a tool size or weight that changed your whole approach?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_wren1d agoMost Upvoted

Read somewhere that Swedish hammers have a different center of balance.

the_nathan1d ago

Borrowed my buddy's Swedish hatchet once. Felt totally weird in my hand.