Subject: Forge and Anvil Video

From: "David C. Hufford" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 07:33:57 -0500 (EST)

I've just viewed the first six episodes of the Forge and Anvil video 
series produced by the Georgia Center for Continuing Education.  My 
inital impression is that it's pretty well done, but quite `sketchy'; 
but I believe it was intended to be an overview of blacksmithing and not 
an indepth study.  It's also touted as a `how to' video with 
demonstrations of several projects.  However, the project demonstrations 
are too brief and severely edited to be of any value to a neophyte 
trying to learn from them.  My main criticism is the lack of safety 
practices.  The host, Alan Rogers, demonstrates forging without any eye 
protection; indeed, in his early discussions of forging directed at 
newcomers, safety practices are not mentioned.  I believe this is a 
serious flaw in this series.  A worst case scenario would be the neophyte 
who uses this video series as instructional, attempts to duplicate 
the projects, is blinded, and sues the producers (and everyone else 
connected with the series) for negligence.  Has anyone else seen this 
series?  If so, what are your thoughts?  I purchased the series with the 
intention of donating it to the local library, but the safety issue 
concerns me.

David C. Hufford

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From: Ralph Snel <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 13:55:59 MET

[...]
>                               A worst case scenario would be the neophyte 
> connected with the series) for negligence.
Maybe I'm just from the wrong country. I live in Sweden, am originally from
Holland and have never seen warnings on plastics bags big enough for a hand
with the text that you shouldn't put your head in it, untill I visited the
States. When I unpacked my computer monitor many years ago I was surprised
by the warning in the manual: put the monitor on a stable platform, so it
won't drop on somebodies head and hurt them!
Is it really necessary to state and restate the obvious at every possible
occasion? Don't burn yourself on the hot metal. Don't hit yourself with
the hammer. Don't drop the anvil on your foot. Anyone who has hit something
with a hammer knows that it can jump away at high speed. Just like anyone
who has put a piece of iron in a white hot fire knows that the metal is
hot.

Ralph Snel
[email-masked]
Sweden

PS. Nothing wrong with safety precautions. I use them too.

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From: "Joe B. McGlynn (415) 855-5707" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 07:49:06 -0800 (PST)

Regarding safety precautions:

A friend recently told me that "Common Sense" isn't all that common...

Personally I think it is better to err on the side of restating the obvious
when it comes to safety.