How to Hammer Metal
Stand straight, facing the work. Once you get yourself into this correct body posture, use your feet to move yourself so that your arm is comfortably bent to slightly greater than a right angle, with the face of the hammer resting on the metal to be formed..
5 Minute Read
Whether you're flattening a small piece of wire or making a punch bowl, good hammering practices are uni- versal.
Hammering can be a satisfying and Zen-like experience when you are hammering comfortably and effectively. Proper alignment of the torso, arm, and hammer improve accuracy and avoid muscle strain. When hammering, keep your upper arm in a relaxed position with your elbow hanging directly down from your shoulder and your forearm perpendicular to your body. Stand straight, facing the work.
Once you get yourself into this correct body posture, use your feet to move yourself so that your arm is comfortably bent to slightly greater than a right angle, with the face of the hammer resting on the metal to be formed.
Keep Your Stance: Move Something Else
Stand so that your hammer, shoulder and elbow are lined up in front of the metal and your body is to the side of the work. This allows the hammer to come down in an arc that is perpendicular to your body.
If you need to sit instead of stand, orient yourself in the same way by moving the chair. Sitting side-saddle or twisted at the waist restricts the limbs from moving freely and can strain your muscles. Many people like to sit for fine work and stand for heavy hammering, such as forming a large vessel. One advantage of standing is that it is easier and more natural to move your body into a comfortable, non-fatiguing, non-straining posture.
Whether standing or sitting, the working height is important. Set things up so that when your arm is bent at a right angle, the hammer is slightly above the metal. If the hammering surface is too high, there is a tendency to hitch the shoulder up, raise the elbow, or stick the elbow out — all of which stress the body and reduce accuracy. A hammering surface that is too low may be hard on your back, but it tends to be better than a surface that is too high. If you find that you need to reach up to hammer, it is best to use a small platform to elevate your body. Quick and easy platforms can be made from phone books, cement blocks, bricks or a few two-by-fours and a piece of plywood nailed together.
Wear ear protection to protect your eardrums from the hammer noise and comfortable leather gloves to dampen vibrations, prevent blisters and improve gripping power.
Hammer Grips to Avoid
Shake Hands with Your Hammer
A handshake is more than just a polite greeting when it comes to hammers; it's the best way to approach them. When you pick up your hammer, reach out to it as if you were shaking somebody's hand and take hold of the handle. Use a relaxed, loose grip that will let the handle move within your hand. Grip firmly enough to guide the hammer but loosely enough that it can rebound easily.
Avoid putting your forefinger or thumb straight along the handle because this can cause tendonitis. It's generally best to hold the hammer near the end of the handle, but find the place that allows you to balance control with the force of the blow. Gripping the handle above the optimal point is known as "choking up" on a hammer. Though it's best to avoid choking up, there are a few occasions where it is acceptable, such as when you need to have control of a very heavy hammer.
Some people find it helpful to think of the ham- mering motion as being like the motion of throwing a ball. The whole arm works in one fluid motion. Start by appropriately orienting your body so that the upper arm is in a relaxed and stable position at your side, with a right angle at the elbow. The motion begins by lift- ing the hammer while holding the hand slightly upward from the wrist. As the hammer motion continues, the lower arm and hand move downward toward the point of impact so that when the hammer makes contact, the hand and wrist are in line with the arm. Avoid letting the wrist bend downward.
After impact, the wrist and the arm bounce up with the rebound of the hammer. At all times, the arm, the elbow, the wrist and the grip should be relaxed. Use your ears as well as your eyes—if you hear a single hit, then all is well; if you hear a double hit, that means your wrist or arm are tense, which is restricting the rebound of the hammer.
As you learn how to hammer comfortably and ef- fectively, maintain this upper body position and rela- tionship to the hammer as your work progresses. Move either the work or your feet, but not your arm/hand/ hammer arrangement. Avoid hitting sideways, back- wards, or any-other-ways. Hammering should main- tain a natural arcing motion.
Think of being a "hammering machine." The arm, the hammer, and the stake maintain a constant rela- tionship. The hammer keeps going in the same com- fortable position while the metal is moved over the stake. Find a rhythm. Some people are like a staccato machine gun: ratatatatatatatat. Some hammer in 4/4 time: bububuBUM or HUPtwothreefour. Your natural rhythm will provide a consistent surface, keeping things even, and increasing your stamina
Purchase your own copy of “Creative Metal Forming” today. |
You assume all responsibility and risk for the use of the safety resources available on or through this web page. The International Gem Society LLC does not assume any liability for the materials, information and opinions provided on, or available through, this web page. No advice or information provided by this website shall create any warranty. Reliance on such advice, information or the content of this web page is solely at your own risk, including without limitation any safety guidelines, resources or precautions, or any other information related to safety that may be available on or through this web page. The International Gem Society LLC disclaims any liability for injury, death or damages resulting from the use thereof.
Related Articles
Step by Step Guide to Single Row Pave Settings
Martha Glowacki & Fields of Reference
Intro to Enameling: Double-Sided Pendant 2
Dealing with Fire Scale
The All-In-One Jewelry Making Solution At Your Fingertips
When you join the Ganoksin community, you get the tools you need to take your work to the next level.
Trusted Jewelry Making Information & Techniques
Sign up to receive the latest articles, techniques, and inspirations with our free newsletter.