I'll take a striker over a power hammer any day

I know everyone these days is saving up for a power hammer saying it's the only way to work efficiently. But after 15 years at my shop outside Boise, I've found a good striker who knows the rhythm gives me way more control. I can stop mid-stroke, change angle on the fly, or just tap a detail without resetting. Has anyone else gone old school and stuck with a human helper instead of dropping $7,000 on a machine?

3 comments

3 Comments

king.derek26d ago

Adam_lewis I get where you're coming from, I really do. That rhythm with a striker is something else. But after a decade of swinging with a partner and then finally going solo with a good power hammer, I see it the opposite way. You can't beat being able to work whenever you want without waiting on a person to show up or coordinate schedules. And a power hammer doesn't get tired halfway through a long day or lose focus on the last heat.

adam_lewis27d ago

Oh man, that really resonates with me. I spent years working with a striker before I got my power hammer, and there's something special about that human connection in the rhythm. You can't beat the ability to just stop and check a heat without killing your workflow.

the_john27d agoMost Upvoted

Wait, you had a striker for years before getting a power hammer? Honestly that blows my mind a little. Ive only ever worked solo with a gas forge and a tired arm, I cant imagine coordinating with another person like that for every heat. You mustve built up some crazy muscle memory and trust with that guy. Ngl the idea of pausing mid swing to check the steel sounds almost too good to be true.