Overheard a farrier say something about my hammer technique, still thinking about it

Was at the state fair demo in Iowa last Saturday, watching this farrier shape shoes. I was doing the whole arm swing thing, really putting my back into it. He walks over, not even asking, and says "you're hitting it like a nail gun, not a printer." Took me a second. He meant I was pounding every blow the same, no finesse. He showed me how he lets the hammer bounce and uses the rebound for the next hit. Tried it today on some 1/2 inch round stock, my elbow doesn't ache half as much and the tapers came out way cleaner. Anyone else had a random passerby point out a basic flaw that ended up being a game changer?

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felix4883d ago

Saw a welder do the same to me back when I was grinding beads on some gate frames. He told me I was pushing the grinder into the metal like I was trying to prove something. Said to let the wheel do the work and just guide it. Next day I backed off the pressure and my welds looked twice as consistent, plus the discs stopped burning out in ten minutes. Still think about that every time I pick up a grinder. Funny how those offhand comments stick with you.