Tag: iron

Back to Basics: The Sledgehammer

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When it comes to the bare-knuckle basics of metal-working machinery, nothing says “old school” quite like the sledgehammer. This is “grassroots” machinery at its finest. Although they were and still are commonly used by blacksmiths to shape heavy sections of iron, the uses for a sledgehammer are practically unlimited. With this in mind, it only makes sense that in addition to her nail file and wallet, every woman should keep a sledgehammer in her purse at all times.

First of all, the name alone conjures up near-mythical images of wanton, gratuitous destruction. This is a good thing. Sometimes, all you have to do is casually mention the word, and people around you might feel more inclined to “do the right thing” when it comes to whatever that may be. So in that sense, the mere mention of the word “sledgehammer” might be enough to inspire your associates to work a little more quickly and efficiently. I’m probably preaching to the choir here since this is Management 101, but it does bear mentioning since this fundamental technique is so essential to good, effective leadership.

Secondly, it is a truly practical tool, and certainly its uses are not limited solely to ridiculously crude forms of metalworking. If you have a sudden need to bash something, a sledgehammer can be your best friend. Although acoustically there are few sounds more satisfying than sledgehammer-on-metal, it can also be used to bash a variety of objects or solids, from glass to concrete. I have personally witnessed an excellent instance of Man vs. Television, which took place in a neighbor’s front yard years ago, in which the sledgehammer being wielded by the Man was the deciding factor in winning that round. And yes, it was one of those neighborhoods that Bravo will never select for a season of Real Housewives.

Finally, the therapeutic benefits of using a sledgehammer cannot be ignored. If you aren’t willing or able to spend a day at a full-service spa (for either financial reasons or because you males are worried about getting your Man-cards revoked if you do), then consider the sledgehammer as an excellent alternative for your stress-relief needs. Not only is work with a sledgehammer excellent exercise, you will also find yourself extremely relaxed (if not completely passed out on the floor) by the time you have finished your sledgehammer workout. According to Wikipedia, “sledgehammers usually require two hands and a swinging motion involving the entire torso”, which makes it a comparable physical activity to Pilates. A note of caution, however: it pays to be slightly choosy about what object or surface you plan on sledgehammering. As effective as it is, it is difficult to rebuild something after it has been subjected to a sledgehammer workout session.

If you run out of ideas for your sledgehammer, you do what I did and Google “uses for sledgehammer”. You’ll be amazed. From driving fenceposts into the ground, to using them for both burglaries and for police-force raids to gain entry by force, the list of possibilities for a sledgehammer is nearly endless. With that said, my all-time personal favorite use for a sledgehammer can be found at WikiAnswers.com. The question being asked was, ““How do you take apart an upright piano?” One reader answered with the following gem (the typos aren’t mine):

“There are many ways if u dont want to be able to reassemble it afterwards take a hammer or better yet a sledgehammer or if u want it to be able to reassemble try using a screwdriver on the screws.

If u really want to take it apart to small pieces use some explosives.

Having had experience with a sledgehammer and an upright piano, I hope you are strong and in good physical condition – it will take all day. My husband suggests a catapult a la “Northern Exposure” and I tend to agree.”

If I could choose my own neighbors, I’d pick the couple that mentions sledgehammers and catapults as viable solutions for taking apart a piano.( read how to select best digital piano 2017 online) I really respect the fact that the wife’s recommendations for using a sledgehammer on a piano are actually backed by her own experience in the matter. I imagine that going over to their house for a beer would be highly entertaining. I’d just make sure to stay on their good side, and to not pick a home not located anywhere near the projectile path of their catapult.

-Anja Wulf

Gold: the original “Chick Magnet”

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Yummy, delightful gold

Gold has been making headlines again recently, due mainly to the fact that as the rest of the economy crashes and burns, the value of gold just keeps going higher. At over $1800 per troy ounce, gold is once again proving that when things go south, gold goes north.

But why is it that gold is so precious? Although it has plenty of uses, on a purely practical level, iron, copper or aluminum are far more practical. If you were stuck on a desert island with only one type of of metal to rely on for your survival, chances are you wouldn’t pick gold.

Of course, the fact that gold is rare plays greatly into its role as a “precious” metal. The world’s holdings of gold accumulated through all recorded history only amount to around 120,000 metric tons. Compare this to the fact that in 1995, the average hourly output of steel was 10,500 tons. Whereas the average increase in the world’s gold supply is only around 2000 tons a year, American steel increases by around 10,500 tons per hour. Another way to look at this is that the totality of all available gold would fit inside a cube measuring 60 cubic feet. Its value would be more than $1.4 trillion.

It makes sense then that gold became the first form of actual money. But this still does not fully explain why it has always been considered to be so very precious. Independent of location, culture or time, gold has always been revered by every culture that had any access to it as an extremely coveted commodity.

This could have something to do with the inherent properties of gold. Gold is the most malleable and ductile of all metals. One ounce of gold can be drawn into a wire 50 miles long, or hammered into a thin translucent sheet 1000 times thinner than a piece of paper. Gold does not tarnish or corrode. Gold also occurs in a virtually pure state, whereas most other metals need to be extracted from ore-bodies. Gold has been found nearly everywhere in the world. Because it was first found in streams and rivers, the Egyptians thought it was a particularly dense combination of water and sunlight. The Incas called it “tears of the sun”. It is generally understood to be the first metal ever collected or used by humans. Its association with gods, immortality, power and wealth are common throughout history and to this day.

But this still does not explain why, in every place that gold was found, the humans decided it was very valuable. On a purely practical level, gold is not strong enough to use for weapons or utensils. Culturally speaking, this is in fact baffling, since the perceived value of nearly everything throughout history can be traced to its practical uses. With that in mind, why wasn’t iron or bronze the first form of money? After all, the discovery and use of iron helped create a quantum leap in human civilization, literally taking us out of the Stone Age.

The earliest texts and archaeological evidence prove that gold was not used for tools. In fact they prove the opposite: the first uses of gold were very similar to its predominant modern use: gold was used for ornamentation; or, in other words, jewelry. This makes sense, since both its properties and its appearance lend itself to such a thing. If I was a Stone Age Babe, I would definitely prefer a gold pendant over one made out of bones or teeth.

Historically and archaeologically, the common denominator of the uses of gold in human cultures has always come down to one simple concept: aesthetics. Gold is beautiful. Above its properties or its scarcity, this is the predominant fact that helps to explain its consistent role as a truly precious commodity. Turning it into money or a standard for world currencies came as an afterthought. Its original allure was the same that it has always been since: gold is really pretty. This also helps to explain why the concept of gold has also been equated with vanity and with greed: the concept of beauty has also been confused with these traits.

So call it vanity, or call it art appreciation. What is interesting here is that the role of gold throughout human civilization shows there is more at work in the human psyche than simply practical considerations. While it could be argued that the irreducible minimum of an appreciation for the “finer things in life” still aids our basest survival needs such as mating and procreation, this simply doesn’t jive with the subjective reality of our ongoing love affair with beauty. And while concepts of beauty have changed and varied through time and different cultures, gold seems to be one of those things that every human group has found to be very lovely indeed.

It could then be argued that the most valuable things throughout civilization, and indeed the human experience, are not the weapons and materials of war and “progress”, but rather those things that inspire us, even “for no good reason”.

It is nice to acknowledge this, as it proves that there is more that drives us than just our base animal instincts, as some would have us believe.

-Anja Wulf

Iron: “Metal of Heaven”

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Iron is the most-used metal on this planet. It is also the most common element on this planet. It forms much of the earth’s inner and outer core as well as its crust. Iron is a prevalent and necessary element for life on this planet, including human life. Ironically (no pun intended by use of this word), iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency known to humans. Iron deficiencies can cause anemia, slowed motor and mental function, slow physical growth and development in children, and premature births in pregnant mothers.

The prevalence of iron is not limited to Planet Earth. It is, in fact, the sixth most abundant element in the entire universe. Don’t ask me how they figured that out; but according to the Powers That Be, this is a scientifically proven fact.

The earliest archaeological evidence of man-made iron items go back over 6000 years. Iron tools and beaded jewelry daring back to 4000 BC have been found in the tombs of ancient Egyptians. Iron was also a preferred choice of metal for ancient weaponry.

Most interestingly, the first source of iron did not come from this planet. It came from outer space.

That’s right: it’s called meteoric iron. In fact, in spite of the abundance of iron on this planet, humans first worked meteoric iron before they ever realized that an abundance of more “locally grown” supplies was also available. In fact, because they observed the meteorites falling from the sky, the Egyptian name for iron is ba-na-pe, meaning “metal of heaven”.

Iron comes to our planet from the heavens in the form of highly recognizable meteorites. Iron meteorites are thought to be the fragments of the cores of larger ancient asteroids that have been shattered by impacts. Because iron meteorites are very distinctive and easy to recognize, they can be readily identified even if they are not a hugely abundant item on this planet. It would take humans quite a few more years before they realized that the same element which came down from the heavens already existed in significant, if less easily identifiable quantities all over Planet Earth.

The fact that the first iron used by humans came from the sky is accurately reflected in a number of well-known myths and legends. Probably the most famous of all is the tale of Excalibur’s brother sword, Clarent – more commonly known as the Sword in the Stone. According to this legend, a meteor, in the shape of a red dragon’s head, fell to earth, conveniently landing at the precise moment when Uther, Arthur’s father, was given command of an army after its last commander had fallen. A red dragon’s head also happens to be the symbol of Briton, which may help to explain why witnesses present thought it looked a lot like a dragon’s head. The meteor’s appearance was taken by Merlin as a sign that Uther’s destiny was to become King of All the Britons. Merlin had the meteoric metal forged into Clarent, the magic Sword in the Stone, and gave Uther the surname Pendragon, which is Welsh for “dragon’s head”.

Let’s not forget about Zeus’ thunderbolt, which was made by our good old friend Hephaestus (see last week’s blog article, “Hephaestus: the original Man of Steel”). Hephaestus made everything out of iron, including Zeus’ super-powered thunderbolt. Considering that Zeus’ power was attributed to come directly from the Heavens, meteoric iron would be the most fitting material for the earthly symbol of his power.

In the sense that our entire way of life would be threatened if not destroyed if we didn’t have iron, this humble and abundant metal really should be viewed as the most precious of all on this planet. And – who knows – based on its abundance throughout the known universe, maybe there’s some other intergalactic blogger out there who’s writing the same thing right now.

-Anja Wulf