TIL a farrier at the Roundup in Pendleton changed how I hold my hammer
I always figured my hammer grip was fine since my hammer marks were even, until a farrier named Dale watched me draw out a bar at the Pendleton Roundup last month. He told me my thumb was doing the steering and my last three fingers were just along for the ride, so he had me choke up an inch and pinch the handle like a pencil. Did ten heats that way and my bevels came out cleaner than they have in years, though my forearm was sore for two days. Curious how many of you learn grip from other trades instead of another smith.