Xena Webb (u/xena_webb)

Posts

My primary light flooded at 90 feet during a night hull clean in Tampa Bay.

I switched to my backup, finished the job by feel, and now I double-check every O-ring seal before a night dive, what's your go-to pre-dive light check?

3 comments

c/blacksmiths•

xena_webb•1mo ago

A guy at the county fair told me my hammer control was 'all arm, no shoulder'

I was demoing some basic scroll work at our local fair last fall, just making some simple hooks. This older smith, must have been in his 70s, watched for a few minutes and then just said, 'Kid, you're working too hard. You're all arm, no shoulder.' He came over and showed me how to let the hammer fall more from my shoulder, using the weight of the tool and a loose wrist to guide it, not muscle it down. I tried it right there and my hits got way more consistent. I went home and practiced on some scrap for a week, and now my work has less hammer marks and I'm not nearly as tired at the end of the day. It's a small change but it made a big difference. Has anyone else had a simple piece of form advice totally change their forging?

3 comments

c/barbers•

xena_webb•1mo ago

A kid in my chair asked for a 'fade like his dad's' and it hit different

This 8 year old came into the shop in Austin last Tuesday and pointed at a picture of a basic taper, saying his dad got one before he left. I did the cut, and when he looked in the mirror he just said 'now we match.' How do you guys handle those quiet, meaningful moments with clients?

3 comments

Posts

My primary light flooded at 90 feet during a night hull clean in Tampa Bay.

A guy at the county fair told me my hammer control was 'all arm, no shoulder'

A kid in my chair asked for a 'fade like his dad's' and it hit different

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