Thread: Forging tip: Avoid leaving deep hammer marks

Don Fogg is one bladesmith I've watched who can produce a blade like Mike is describing. I watched Don do a demo at the Ashokan bladesmithing get-together in 2008, and it was very impressive. I still have a lot of practice ahead of me.

Rounding the corners and smoothing the face of all of your hammers is another must-do item. My heavy hammer has a crowned face, which helps move the steel faster. My main finishing hammer has a small, relatively flat face with a gentle crown and smooth edges.

If you get crescent or square gouges in the workpiece, dressing the hammer face will help. Your anvil could also be at the wrong height; you want it to be around waist high, so that the hammer face naturally strikes flat when your arm is at full extension.

Josh