Chalk it up to Experience

[Rick Marchand]

I can't be the only one. How many of you use climbing/gym chalk while you forge? Long days forging usually ended with a hotspot or two. I found the culprit to be moisture from sweat and slack tub water. It would either leave me with poor grip(white-knuckling) or the opposite(parts of my hand sticking and causing blisters). I discovered my solution in chalk. I keep a container on my anvil stand and reach in every once in a while to make my hands silky smooth and moisture free. I use it, as a drummer, too. You can get a climber's chalk bag pretty cheap, online.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Very interesting.

 

[weo]

Very interesting.

That's what I was thinking, but for different reasons, probably. I was thinking about how 30-ish years ago, when I was into climbing, one had to purchase gymnastic chalk bricks, as there was no such thing as "climbers chalk".

 

[A.McPherson]

That's a good idea! I've got a bag left over from my climbing days... I'm too fat now to manage it! Lol!

 

[Michael Black]

Yeah I do the same. One of the benefits of having my shop share a space with my home gym.

 

[Rick Marchand]

To be clear... I don't use chalk every time I forge... just when I feel I need it.

 

[Lorien]

so, Rick Marchand , you put the chalk on your hands, right?

 

[Rick Marchand]

so, Rick Marchand , you put the chalk on your hands, right?

Wherever I’m chafing, buddy!

 

[weo]

..... tmi??????

 

[Lorien]

good advice for other trades as well- for example boat builders. In that case you'd just have to be a little more careful with getting too much chalk on your caulk

 

[David Mary]

Armpits chafe during pushups, and some other presses, bad enough to quit. I never thought to try chalk, but coconut oil worked nicely. Probably not quite as effective for the purposes of the OP though.

 

[Lorien]

chalk them coconuts!

 

[David Mary]

You can't help yourself can you

 

[Lorien]

You can't help yourself can you

I most certainly cannot

 

[Rick Marchand]

You can't help yourself can you

Lorien, is sick... he's currently taking punicillin... we'll have to up the dosage.

 

[Lorien]

Lorien, is sick... he's currently taking punicillin... we'll have to up the dosage.

you can needle me all you like, but there is no cure

 

[A.McPherson]

you can needle me all you like, but there is no cure

Man, that's bad...
Gonna have to rename you... The PUNisher!!! Bawhahaha!