Hammer Dressing/Ergonomics

Service Description

Tired of blisters, aching hands from gripping too large a handle, and losing your grip with sweaty hands on a varnished handle? This class will teach you basic hammer ergonomics, show you a variety of handle sizes and shapes to test and try out and then let you craft a hammer handle to suit your needs. Doug Hayes has shaped hundreds of handles to various configurations and will guide you through the process of ‘dressing’ new hammers and shaping and contouring the handles to suit your grip. In this class you will learn the basics of a well-controlled hammer swing, the principles used by professional smiths to minimize injury from repetitive hammering, and how smiths shape and modify hammers to become useful and comfortable tools in your smithy. Doug has been introducing folks to smithing since 2013 and has worked with over 1400 youth and adults in that time. He will explain the physics and the physiology of common injuries from hammering hot metal and share the results of research studies into the chronic wear and tear that can occur. Along the way, students will take a ball peen hammer (included in the class) and create their own customized smithing hammer while learning the basics of hammer dressing, the use of belt sanders, hand files and more. Students are also welcome to bring in one of their own hammers in as well, to dress and shape if time allows.”