I finally stopped using a 3 pound hammer for everything after a guy at the Tucson forge told me my work looked 'clumsy'. | Blacksmiths - Freelance Forum - The Community for Independent Professionals
Honest, heavy handed work" can just be a nice way to say you lack control. Swapping to a lighter hammer for detail work isn't about being delicate, it's about having the right tool to be precise. @ray_burns60 is right that you can do a lot with one hammer, but that often means forcing it and the work suffers. The old stuff with big marks usually came from a lack of options, not some pure choice.
Oh come on, a 3 pound hammer builds character! That "clumsy" look is just honest, heavy handed work. Some of the best old ironwork has those big, bold marks from using the right tool for every single job, not switching for delicate stuff.