Want to learn how to use a hammer.

[joseph engraver]

Interested in learning to use the hammer and chisel? What is the “Proper Position” of the engravers body in relation to the work?
I dug up this old post and these photos, with the hope that the proper position as the engravers of Italy are taught will be of interest and help to you. I know that there are many ways to hold a hammer and a chisel besides this method, but this is the one that works for me and the Italians.
{1982} Note- I am standing erect and as close to the work as possible. I had recently spent one and half years studying in Italy. Every day my maestro insists that I maintain the correct position when I am in front of the vise. This means elbows up. Look at where my elbows are positioned. One is at right angles to my body and is parallel to the work. The other one is also in a fixed position but slightly lowered to accommodate the hammer handle length. Forearms, elbows, shoulders, and arms are as rigid as a triangular tool fixture.
The wrists and fingers do the magical work of guiding the tool point. Now pay attention to my left hand holding a chisel (in this case a lining tool set in a steel handle) Notice that only two fingers are lightly wrapped around the steel handle and that all the pressure being applied down to the tool point is done with the left forearm muscles. Notice also that my master eye is directly in line with the chisel point. This provides me with a line of sight to the chisel point and places the work in complete focus. What you cannot see is that my chin and the wrist of my chisel hand are firmly touching, thus giving me a bit of extra machine like rigidly. The movements that make the elegant curves that compose all fine engraving are imparted from the movement of the rest of the engraver’s body. Watching a stand up engraver working is like watching a ballet. All the body moves in harmony but the placement of the elbows, hands and wrists is always the same. That way the contact point of the hammer and chisel is also consistent. This is considered the proper stance to maintain for stand up hammer and chisel engraving used by the majority of European trained gun engravers. This photo was taken at the Winchester custom shop in1983 and is a posed photo that later was used on the Model 21 Grand American brochure covers. The vise is Italian made and was presented to me as a gift on my departure from school to the Uninted States. It is mounted on an adjustable pipe stand that is of the type used in Italy. I have included snapshots of the students at Giovanelli’s school and one taken by Franca so that you may better see what I mean. I have a small but properly equipped shop where I would be pleased to give basic instructions on the proper use of the simple tools of the past. I realize my location may be out of the beaten path. If you are interested I would gladly do it for free. You may see the accommodations by going to this site: www.viviun.com/AD-140557/

[jlseymour]

Joseph why would anyone use a H&C ???
Teach us...
Jerry

[johonatan]

thk, i realy need that joseph. Jlseymour, i need h&c cause i live in south america and powerfull tools like airgraver cost a lot of money to our economy XD, and in some ways i like the artisan style of this art.
PD: sorry my bad english

[tundratrekers@mtaonline.n]

Jerry,I think the question should be,why wouldn't everyone want to learn the hammer& chisel? God Bless,mike

[tundratrekers@mtaonline.n]

If you were a" master" carpenter,do you think you should know how to use a hammer? Or do we shun that tool and never use again,in favor of the nail gun?Why would you not want to develop the most basic skills of the past and present.Power tools are relatively new in the history of engraving.Do you know how to use a push graver?Why/why not? We have calculators,does that mean we no longer need to know how to do with pencil and paper?Do we shun drawing for photoshop?Do we not learn to walk,because we have cars? Does that answer your question?God Bless,mike

[tundratrekers@mtaonline.n]

Lets not overlook the financial aspect of tooling up. Chisel 0-$20,hammer 0-$40,vise/pitch block 0-?,optivisor $40, compare to the price of power tools,compressor,sharpening jigs,power hone,air compressor,microscope,electricity,etc...... Plus the portability factor.Lets not forget the fact that most the the european masters,use these tools,including Fracasi,Pedersoli,Coggan&Baptiste(until recently),Strolz,etc...Even Steve,learned hammer&chisel in the beginning.What about Winston Churchill?mike

[Roger Bleile]

HERE WE GO AGAIN

[Crazy Horse]

Holy smok. Now everyone wants to be a too pusher and tool tapper.
The machine age is doomed!

[JJ Roberts]

Roger,You got my attention Jerry back in the day with a wife,three young kids and a dream, that what I and alot of us had to do.Every spare moment was spent practicing and practicing.Just James Meek's book to go by,no one looking over my shoulder.I had to figure out everything myself.And that's the way it was.J.J.

[Tom McArdle]

Thanks for the pictures Joseph! I have tried that style a few times. i was taught what I guess is the American way? I can see the advantages to the European way. My stand at work is not high enough. I thik the health advantages of not bending my neck so much might be worth continuing to practice that style.

Why learn Hammer and chisel? Why learn Classical guitar when electrical is easier? There are some practical reasons, but for me, the "ballet" experience Joseph mentioned is one of many good reasons. I like using the airgraver, but I like the hammer and chisel too. I've been using it more often lately, and will continue to do so.

Just as an aside, I make my kids use wooden bats when they play youth baseball...

take care,

Tom