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Practical blacksmithing
PRACTICAL BLACKSMITHING
A collection of articles contributed at different times by skilled workmen to the columns of "the blacksmith and wheelwright" and covering nearly the whole range of blacksmithing from the simplest job of work to some of the most complex forgings.
Compiled and Edited by M. T. RICHARDSON,
THE BEN FRANKLIN PRESS, NEW YORK, 1889.
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PREFACE.
Although there are numerous legendary accounts of the important position occupied by the blacksmith, and the honors accorded him even at a period as remote in the world's history as the time of King Solomon, strange to relate there is no single work in the language devoted solely to the practice of the blacksmith's art. Occasional chapters on the subject may be found, however, in mechanical books, as well as brief essays in encyclopedias. While fragmentary allusions to this important trade have from time to time appeared in newspapers and magazines, no one has ever attempted anything like an exhaustive work on the subject ; perhaps none is possible. This paucity of literature concerning a branch of the mechanic arts, without which other trades would cease to exist from lack of proper tools, cannot be attributed to a want of intelligence on the part of the disciples of Vulcan. It is perfectly safe to assert, that in this respect blacksmiths can hold their own with mechanics in any other branch of industry. From their ranks have sprung many distinguished men.
Exactly why no attempt has ever been made to write a book on blacksmithing, it would be difficult to explain. It is not contended that in the following pages anything like a complete consideration of the subject will be undertaken. For the most part the matter has been taken from the columns of The Blacksmith and Wheelwright, to which it was contributed by practical men from all parts of the American continent. The Blacksmith and Wheel- wright, it may be observed, is at present the only journal in the world which makes the art of blacksmithing an essential feature.
In the nature of things, the most that can be done by the editor and compiler of these fragmentary articles, is to group the different subjects together and present them with as much system as possible. The editor does not hold himself responsible for the subject matter, or the treatment which each topic receives at the hands of its author. There may be, sometimes, a better way of doing a job of work than the one described herein, but it is believed that the average blacksmith may obtain much information from these pages, even if occasionally some of the methods given are inferior to those with which he is familiar. The editor has endeavored, so far as possible, to preserve the exact language of each contributor.
While a skilful blacksmith of extended experience, with a turn for literature, might be able to write a book arranged more systematically, and possibly treating of more subjects, certain it is that no one up to the present time has ever made the attempt, and it is doubtful if such a work would contain the same variety of practical information that will be found in these pages, formed of contributions from hundreds of able workmen scattered over a wide area.
Exactly why no attempt has ever been made to write a book on blacksmithing, it would be difficult to explain. It is not contended that in the following pages anything like a complete consideration of the subject will be undertaken. For the most part the matter has been taken from the columns of The Blacksmith and Wheelwright, to which it was contributed by practical men from all parts of the American continent. The Blacksmith and Wheel- wright, it may be observed, is at present the only journal in the world which makes the art of blacksmithing an essential feature.
In the nature of things, the most that can be done by the editor and compiler of these fragmentary articles, is to group the different subjects together and present them with as much system as possible. The editor does not hold himself responsible for the subject matter, or the treatment which each topic receives at the hands of its author. There may be, sometimes, a better way of doing a job of work than the one described herein, but it is believed that the average blacksmith may obtain much information from these pages, even if occasionally some of the methods given are inferior to those with which he is familiar. The editor has endeavored, so far as possible, to preserve the exact language of each contributor.
While a skilful blacksmith of extended experience, with a turn for literature, might be able to write a book arranged more systematically, and possibly treating of more subjects, certain it is that no one up to the present time has ever made the attempt, and it is doubtful if such a work would contain the same variety of practical information that will be found in these pages, formed of contributions from hundreds of able workmen scattered over a wide area.
THE EDITOR.
CHAPTER IV - ANVILS AND ANVIL TOOLS
HOW ANVILS ARE MADE
"So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil."
This is the first and only mention of the anvil found in the Bible. But it is of more remote origin even than the prophet Isaiah, as we read of Vulcan forging the thunderbolts of Jupiter, and he must, of course, have had an anvil of some sort for that style of blacksmithing; probably, however, nothing better than a convenient boulder.
The anvil and the anchor are two of the oldest implements known, and for thousands of years about the only ones that have not changed in general form.
The modern "vulcan" now has a hardened steel face provided with the necessary holes for his swedges, which with the round projection at the other end terminating in a point, called the "horn," is sufficient for every kind of work.
Except those made in the United States, every manufacturer of anvils has a body of wrought iron under the steel face. The horn also is simply of wrought iron. With slight modification, the method of making these has not changed for hundreds of years.
The body is roughly shaped out under tilt hammers. In the better grades this is in one piece, and called "patent," while in the German and most English works the four corners and the horn are " jumped" on in separate pieces. Though called "wrought" this is of the lowest grade of iron, adopted both on account of cheapness, and because the subsequent process of welding the steel face to it is easier than with the more refined of these materials.
The common grade of English anvils and all those of German make weld the steel on in two or three pieces according to the size of the anvil; the best English brand, however, of late years, has the face in a single piece of shear steel.
For this the wrought iron mass is brought to a welding heat, as also the steel plate, the welding of which begins at one end.
Four strikers swinging heavy sledge hammers together, do this welding in portions of about five inches of its length at a time, and this process is continued by successive heatings until the whole length of the face is finished.
The cutter hole and the small round hole in the tail are then punched out, the iron horn rounded off, and the whole dressed up into its finished shape at a subsequent heating. By long years of experience at this work a symmetrical, good-looking job is made.
Any inequalities or imperfections in the face are taken out by grinding crosswise on a large stone, and the anvil is then ready for the final process of hardening.
This is done by reheating the upper portion to a red heat, and a stream of water is let down upon it under a ten-foot head. The temper will be more or less uniform according to the quality of the steel which has been used, and the greater or less care in the heating at the previous stages. The soft spots so much complained of by blacksmiths are due to these inequalities of the material and workmanship. The thickness of the steel used varies from three-eighths to three-quarters of an inch, according to the size of the anvil.
The whole process is almost entirely one of manual labor and judgment. Extreme care must be used not to burn some portions of the steel during the welding operation, resulting in cracked faces and crumbling edges, which the blacksmith frequently finds to his sorrow developed in his anvil, apparently of the best when new.
There are no wrought iron anvils made in the United States. As it is almost entirely a question of skilled manual labor, and as there has never been any but a nominal duty imposed (it is the same as on spikes, nuts, and washers), all the wrought anvils used in this country are imported from Europe.
Nearly every metal trade has its special form of anvil, and differing from that of the blacksmith such as saw, axe, razor, silversmith, coppersmith, shovel, hoe, plough, and many others, which are simple blocks of iron with steel faces, made by one or the other of the two above-described distinct and opposite methods and materials.
The annual importations of anvils from England and Germany into the United States exceeds one and a half million pounds.
DOWNLOAD FREE BLACKSMITH BOOKS:
Practical blacksmithing - Volume 1
Practical blacksmithing - Volume 2
Practical blacksmithing - Volume 3
Practical blacksmithing - Volume 4
This is the first and only mention of the anvil found in the Bible. But it is of more remote origin even than the prophet Isaiah, as we read of Vulcan forging the thunderbolts of Jupiter, and he must, of course, have had an anvil of some sort for that style of blacksmithing; probably, however, nothing better than a convenient boulder.
The anvil and the anchor are two of the oldest implements known, and for thousands of years about the only ones that have not changed in general form.
The modern "vulcan" now has a hardened steel face provided with the necessary holes for his swedges, which with the round projection at the other end terminating in a point, called the "horn," is sufficient for every kind of work.
Except those made in the United States, every manufacturer of anvils has a body of wrought iron under the steel face. The horn also is simply of wrought iron. With slight modification, the method of making these has not changed for hundreds of years.
The body is roughly shaped out under tilt hammers. In the better grades this is in one piece, and called "patent," while in the German and most English works the four corners and the horn are " jumped" on in separate pieces. Though called "wrought" this is of the lowest grade of iron, adopted both on account of cheapness, and because the subsequent process of welding the steel face to it is easier than with the more refined of these materials.
The common grade of English anvils and all those of German make weld the steel on in two or three pieces according to the size of the anvil; the best English brand, however, of late years, has the face in a single piece of shear steel.
For this the wrought iron mass is brought to a welding heat, as also the steel plate, the welding of which begins at one end.
Four strikers swinging heavy sledge hammers together, do this welding in portions of about five inches of its length at a time, and this process is continued by successive heatings until the whole length of the face is finished.
The cutter hole and the small round hole in the tail are then punched out, the iron horn rounded off, and the whole dressed up into its finished shape at a subsequent heating. By long years of experience at this work a symmetrical, good-looking job is made.
Any inequalities or imperfections in the face are taken out by grinding crosswise on a large stone, and the anvil is then ready for the final process of hardening.
This is done by reheating the upper portion to a red heat, and a stream of water is let down upon it under a ten-foot head. The temper will be more or less uniform according to the quality of the steel which has been used, and the greater or less care in the heating at the previous stages. The soft spots so much complained of by blacksmiths are due to these inequalities of the material and workmanship. The thickness of the steel used varies from three-eighths to three-quarters of an inch, according to the size of the anvil.
The whole process is almost entirely one of manual labor and judgment. Extreme care must be used not to burn some portions of the steel during the welding operation, resulting in cracked faces and crumbling edges, which the blacksmith frequently finds to his sorrow developed in his anvil, apparently of the best when new.
There are no wrought iron anvils made in the United States. As it is almost entirely a question of skilled manual labor, and as there has never been any but a nominal duty imposed (it is the same as on spikes, nuts, and washers), all the wrought anvils used in this country are imported from Europe.
Nearly every metal trade has its special form of anvil, and differing from that of the blacksmith such as saw, axe, razor, silversmith, coppersmith, shovel, hoe, plough, and many others, which are simple blocks of iron with steel faces, made by one or the other of the two above-described distinct and opposite methods and materials.
The annual importations of anvils from England and Germany into the United States exceeds one and a half million pounds.
DOWNLOAD FREE BLACKSMITH BOOKS:
Practical blacksmithing - Volume 1
Practical blacksmithing - Volume 2
Practical blacksmithing - Volume 3
Practical blacksmithing - Volume 4
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