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Practical Forging and
Art Smithing

THOMAS F. GOOGERTY

Milwaukee, Wis
The Bruce Publishing Company
Copyright, 1915
The Bruce Publishing Company
INTRODUCTION

THE present
industrial arts has
demand for school instruction
made it necessary for the
in the
teach-
have that knowledge of materials
ers of industries to
and methods which can only result from long and care-
ful experience with the materials of industry.
This book is the result of a life of such experience
by a man who is now recognized as a master craftsman
in wrought metal.
The author's work in wrought iron is comparable
in design and finish to the best work that has been pro-
duced in that material.
Some pieces of the best German work are before
me as Imake this statement and tho more intricate
they are no better in execution and far less suitable to
the material in design than the pieces illustrated in this
book which I have seen in process of execution and in
the finished form.
The author has moreover been a teacher of wrought
metal work for many years.
This experience is reflected in the sequence of dif-
ficulty presented by the exercises and the clear, simple
statement of the text.
With such clear and exact statement and with such
profuse illustration it is evident that the metal worker
can gather much from
of the author's long experience
thisbook and take many a short cut to success in an
accomplishment to which there can be no royal road.
But the effectiveness of an applied art is measured
best by its expression of purpose within the limitations
of the material used.
4 INTRODUCTION— Continued

The book lies in the evident


artistic success of this
fact that thework represented appears "Hand wrought
and fashioned to beauty and use."
I predict for it increasing usefulness in setting
right the practice of forging in school shops and as an
inspiration to teachers, craftsmen and tradesmen.
EDWARD J. LAKE.
——

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. Page
The Forge — — —
Forge Tools The Anvil Anvil Tools Making the Fire —
— —
Cleaning the Fire Welding Flux and Its Uses 7

CHAPTER II.
Electric — —
Welding Oxy-acetylene Gas Welding The Fagot Weld The
— — —

——

Separate Heat Weld Scarfing Upsetting Making the Weld Lap

Welding without Scarfing Jump Welding Butt Weld Split

Welding Corner Weld—T-Weld 22

CHAPTER III.
Corner Weld —Brazing—Fagot Weld—Fuming a Loose Eye—Hammock
—Finishing Wrought Iron—S-Link—Welded Eye Pin
Hook 36

CHAPTER IV.
Staples —Open Links—Welded Chain Lines—Punching—A Grab Hook 46

CHAPTER V.
Bolts —Cupping Tool—Gate Hook— Hay Hook —Welded Ring—Expan-
sion of Heated Iron 54

CHAPTER VI.
Making Tongs —PuddlingSteel
—Pig IronCrucible —The Bessemer Process—The Open
—The Cementation Process
Hearth Process —
Tempering 60

CHAPTER VII.
Making a Flat Cold Chisel —Spring — —Welding
Tempering Steel —Case
Hardening — ——
Coloring Steel Annealing Making a Scratch Awl
Making a Center Punch Making a Hand Punch High Speed —

Steel Annealing High Speed Steel 70

ART SMITHING
CHAPTER VIII.
Wrought Iron Work — Making a Wrought Iron Leaf—Making a Volute
Scroll—Grilles 83

CHAPTER IX.
Twisting —Braiding— Making a Fire Shovel 93

CHAPTER X.
Making a Door Latch —Making a Hinge—Making a Candle Stick 99

CHAPTER XI.
Making a Drawer Pull —Chasing— Making a Door Knocker—Repousse 107
Perforated Decoration

CHAPTER XII.
Making a Hat and Coat Hook —A Fuller —Jump Welding — Making a
Wall Hook 117

CHAPTER XIII.
Making a Toasting Fork— Inlaying 124

CHAPTER XIV.
Making a Lantern —Making a Wall Lamp 130

CHAPTER XV.
Making a Portable Lamp 139
PRACTICAL FORGING
CHAPTER I.

The Forge — Forge Tools—The Anvil—Anvil' Tools— Making the


Fire— Cleaning the Fire—Welding— Flux and Uses. Its

ONEshop of the most essential things in the school forge


a good forge and fire; half the work is
is

then mastered. A few years ago nearly all of the small


commercial shops running from one to six or more fires
were equipped with brick or iron forges. The blast was
furnished either with a bellows or fan which had to be
turned by hand. This method was a great drawback,
which resulted in much loss of time. It was impossible
to do much work without the aid of a helper. Work
that required two men in those days is being done now
by one. Modern invention has played an important
part in simplifying the labors of the workers in iron and
steel. At the present time there are various kinds of
forges in use that lessen the work of the smith. The
most successful factories are now equipped with modern
forges and appliances in order that they may be able
to do work quickly.
In our manual training schools, where the pupils
have such short periods in which to do work, it is neces-
sary that the shops be equipped with modern tools so
that they can produce work quickly. This will give the
individual pupil more practice in a shorter length of
time, which simply means more knowledge. Our
schools should not be hampered by using forges that have
been out-of-date for years.
The best forge for manual training and trade
schools is the down draft with power driven fans, thus
8 PRACTICAL FORGING

eliminating all pipes overhead and doing away with the


dust and dirt. A boy, working at this kind of a forge,
can use both hands in the handling of the work being
heated in the fire; this is a great advantage over the

Fig. 1. A Typical School Forge.

old way Another good feature of


of turning a crank.
the mechanical draft forge it teaches a boy early
is that
how to avoid over-heating or burning his iron. This is
the first thing one must learn in working at forging,
as one who cannot heat the metal properly cannot work
it. One must become acquainted with the material,
and the burning heat must be understood.
THE FORGE 9

Figure 1 shows an illustration of a down draft :

forge suitable for schools; it is made of cast iron. A


pressure fan furnishes the blast for the and an ex- fire

haust fan takes away the gas and smoke thru an opening
at the bottom of the hood, and thru a large pipe which
continues under the floor and out thru a flue. The hood

Fig. 2. Fire Tools.

represented at A, can be moved backward and forward


to catch the smoke. The hood is moved with a crank
and worm gear as shown at B. The hearth is shown at
C; a hole in the center is called the tuyere. This is
where the fire is built and is the outlet for the wind.
The amount of air needed for the fire is regulated by a
valve that is moved with a rod shown at D. The coal
box is always at the right hand of any forge and is shown
at E. The water box is represented at F. At G is
shown the pressure pipe and at H the exhaust pipe.
Notice the large opening under the forge at I. Thru
this opening any nut or screw under the tuyere can be
tightened with ease. Notice the slide-rod at J. This
rod, when pulled, dumps the cinders out of the tuyere,
and a bucket may be set under the hearth to catch them.
10 PRACTICAL FORGING

•In school shops these forges are generally set in pairs in


order to save room. Figure 2 shows three fire-tools
needed for the forge fire. These tools consist of a poker
made from f-inch round stock, 26 inches long with a
loose eye turned on one end for a handle a shovel with a
;

flat blade 4 by 6 by 1-16 inches with a handle riveted to


the blade, and a tool called a scraper. This scraper is

Fig. 3. Anvil.

made from the same stock as the poker and is made with
an eye at one end and a flat hook at the other. It is
used to scrape the coal and coke onto the fire, and to
move pieces of coke or coal, so that the iron may be seen
while heating.
The
anvil should be of wrought iron with a steel
face, weighing about 125 pounds. This is large enough
for any work being done in manual training schools.
In the school shop the anvils should all be of the same
size and weight so that any tool used with them will
fit into any square hole. In factories where anvils are
made, they are forged from wrought iron or soft steel,
with a carbon steel face welded on; some are cast steel
thruout and others are cast iron with a steel face. The
face is generally three-quarters inch thick, and is hardened
ARRANGEMENT OF FORGE AND ANVIL 11

-iQi *£t K-
12 PRACTICAL FORGING

r-Pein
Pein or Ball

Handle ^ x
Handle

B5T

Inner
Edae &=A-A
Face Face
Fig. 5. Hammer. Fig. 6. Sledge.

MrmnTip

Fig. 7. Hardie.

Fig. 9. Punch.

cz Fig. 8. Hand Punch.

cs 3
Fig. 10. Center Punch.
GENERAL FORGE TOOLS 13

Every anvil should have two ball hammers weighing


about 1| and 2 lbs. each. (See drawing of hammer,
Figure 5.) The hammers should be numbered cor-
responding with a number on the anvil. All the hammers
should be kept in a rack when not in use. When the
pupils come into the shop to work, they should be
assigned to a certain forge and held responsible for the
care of tools. A ten-pound sledge hammer should also
be included, perhaps one for every two forges; the
handle should be 26 inches long. (See Figure 6.)
A piece of tool steel fitted into the square hole of
the anvil and sharpened at the top, is called a hardie.

It used in cutting iron. A piece of iron is set on the


is

sharpened edge of the hardie and struck with the ham-


mer. The sharpened edge of the hardie cuts into the
iron, and in this manner it is cut deep enough so that it
may be broken. (See drawing of hardie, Figure 7.)
If a piece of steel is pointed on one end, it can be

hammered thru a flat piece of iron. This is one method


of punching holes in iron; a steel punch so made is called
a hand punch. Ordinarily hand punches are made out
of |-inch to f-inch hexagonal tool-steel bars about
eleven inches long. (See drawing Figure 8.) For heavy
punching, a short, thick punch with a hole thru it,

(called the eye) to receive a wooden handle, is used.


This kind of punch is struck on with a sledge hammer.
(See drawing Figure 9.)
A center punch is used to make depressions in
metal so that a drill may be started in a given place.
It is used also to mark places or distances on the surface
of metal when the metal is to be bent at a certain place.
Center punches are made from hexagonal tool steel
about 4 by 5-inch, drawn to a point and ground to a
short angle. (See Figure 10.)
14 PRACTICAL FORGING

Fig. '11. Flat Tongs.

Hot Chisel. Fig. 12. Cold Chisel.

pr\

) 6

Fig. 14. Set Hammer. Fig. 13. Flatter.


GENERAL ANVIL TOOLS 15

In heating and handling short pieces of stock,


tongs are used (see Figure 11) which are made from
Swedish iron or mild steel; they are made in various
sizes and shapes according to use. They are called
pick-ups, flat, round-nose, and bolt tongs according to
the shape of the lips. Tongs should always be made
to fit the piece being forged. One cannot hold a piece of
iron properly with tongs that do not fit the piece. They
may be heated and fitted to the stock when occasion
demands. One important reason why tongs should
fit the piece being hammered, is that when turning and

striking the piece there is danger of the piece being


knocked out of the tongs in a whirling motion and the
flying piece of hot iron is liable to strike someone; this
danger must be closely watched. Tongs should not be
heated red hot and cooled in water; this destroys them.
Hot and cold chisels are used in cutting stock.
The blade of the hot chisel is made very thin, while the
cold chisel is made blunt to stand the heavy strain in
cutting. They are generally made with a hole thru
them, called the eye, to receive a wooden handle. These
chisels are struck on with a sledge hammer. (See
Figure 12.)
Iron and steel are sometimes smoothed with a tool
called a flatter. This tool is struck on with a sledge,
and should not be used to stretch iron. Its purpose
is only to give the work a smooth finish. Figure 13
shows a flatter, and Figure 14 a set-hammer. The
set-hammer is always used to smooth and draw stock.
All of these tools are made from tool-steel.

A
heading tool is made from a flat piece of soft
steelwith a hole in one end. Sometimes a carbon steel
face is welded on. The heading tool is used mostly
16 PRACTICAL FORGING

in heading bolts. Heading tools are made with different


sized holes. (See Figure 15.)
Swages and fullers are used to smooth and form
iron into various shapes. The swages generally have •

half round depressions in them. They are made in

Fig. 15. Heading Tool.

pairs called top and frottom swage. The bottom one


fits the square hole of the anvil ; the top one has a hole
for a wooden handle. (See drawing Figure 16.) The
fullers are also made in pairs called top and bottom
fullers. They are used to make depressions in metal.
(See drawing Figure 17.) When referring to swages,
fullers, and other tools of this character, blacksmiths

up

Fig. 16. Top and Bottom Swages.

speak of anvil tools. Special anvil tools are used in


doing various kinds of forging, and are made when
needed. The anvil tools should be kept in a tool rack
next to the anvil. These tools should be made from
tool-steel of about 75-point carbon, or they may be
GENERAL ANVIL TOOLS 17

purchased from a dealer. Some tools, such as swages,


that do not require continuous service, are made of soft
steel.
The anvil tool should have a buggy-spoke for a
handle. The handle should stick thru the eye of the
hole about one inch and should never be wedged. If the
handle is wedged it is more liable to be broken when the
tool is struck a glancing blow with the sledge hammer.
This is very often the case. The reason the spoke
should stick thru the tool is that if it should begin to
work off the handle when struck with the sledge ham-
mer, the movement can be seen.

Fig. 17. Top and Bottom Fullers.

Figure 18 shows a wrought vise suitable for school


work. A cast iron machinists' vise should not be used
excepting, perhaps, for bench work. Figure 19 shows
a cast-iron swage block with various sized holes, and
depressions around the edge for forming iron.
The stock used in a forge shop should be kept in
a rack built for the purpose. The different kinds of
stock, such as soft and tool-steel, common and Swedish
iron, should be partly painted with a distinguishing
18 PRACTICAL FORGING

Fig. 19.
Cast Iron Swage Block.

color, so that there will be


no trouble finding what is
wanted. For instance, all
soft steel should be painted
white, tool-steel ' another
color, and so on. There
should also be in the shop
a shears to cut iron. One
Fig. 18. Vise.
of the ordinary hand-power
shears in use today would be suitable and may be
purchased from a dealer.
In lighting the fire in the forge all of the cinders
are cleaned out down to the tuyere. This is done by
scraping them to the sides of the fire-place with the
shovel. All clinkers should be picked out with the
hands and put under the forge. It is a good plan to
pick out some of the best pieces of coke and set them to
one side on the forge, to be used later on. The slide
rod that controls the ash dump at the bottom of the
tuyere, is now pulled to allow the cinders and ashes to
drop thru. Do not allow a boy to pull the valve after
the fire is started, as this wastes the coke and is a bad
habit to get into.
THE FORGE FIRE 19

When the tuyere is clean, some shavings are lighted


in the bottom and when well burned, the coke is raked
back on the fire. A little wind is then turned on. Wet
coal is banked around the sides and back of the fire.
When the fire is well started and loosened up in front
with the poker and most of the smoke burned, it is
ready for heating. The coal in the box should be
thoroly mixed with water before putting it on the fire,
for the reason that it cokes better, and packs in around
the sides of the fire, keeping it from breaking thru.
The coal box is always at the right of the worker when
he is facing the fire. The box on his left, and between
the down draft forges, is to hold water not coal. There —
should be a water cup of some sort hanging on a hook
so that when water is needed for fire or coal it may be
handled with the cup.
A fire, when not properly handled becomes hollow,
due to' the center burning out. If iron is heated in this
kind of a fire, it will become oxidized, that is to say, a
dirty scale will form over the metal. Iron cannot be
properly heated, and it is impossible to get the welding
heat with a fire in this condition. The reason a fire

becomes hollow is that it may be filled with clinkers,


or too much blast may have
been used, and when it
comes in contact being heated causes
with the' pieces

them to cool and oxidize. Sometimes the fire will not


be directly over the hole in the tuyere; which is one
cause of poor heating. This is a common fault with
boys working at the forge. Always have the fire over
the hole in the tuyere, and not to one side.
When the fire becomes hollow and dirty, clean it

by picking out the clinkers with the poker or scraper,


then move the sides of the fire towards the center of the
20 PRACTICAL FORGING

tuyere with the shovel, keeping the well-coked inner


sides near the center of the tuyere, and having the cen-
ter of fire over the hole in the tuyere. Wet coal is now
banked around the outer sides. Always have a thick
bed of coke under the piece being heated and regulate the
blast so as not to burn out the center of the fire at once.
See drawing of fire with piece about on the same plane
<\ with bottom of hearth; notice dotted
\*\ lines representing the wrong way to

*Vx put stock in the fire. (Fig. 20.)

Fig. 20. Section of Forge Fire.

If two pieces
of iron are placed in the fire and
heated, they become gradually softer until they
will
reach a state where the metal has become sticky. If
touched together the two pieces will stick. This is
what is known as welding heat. If they were taken to
the anvil and hammered while in this condition they
would unite and become one piece. This would be called
welding. All metals cannot be welded. Iron, soft
steel, low-carbon tool steel and spring steel can be welded.
WELDING 21

A flux is used in welding steel — this excludes the


air and forms a pasty surface on the metal which is
squeezed out from between the surfaces of the metal
when hammered. Borax and the many welding com-
pounds are used. Very seldom is it necessary to use a
flux on iron. Clean sand, which is good, is used by many.
Borax or welding compound is sometimes used on very
thin stock. For ordinary welding, such as is being done
in school shops, borax should never be used. It is poor
practice, unnecessary, and a useless waste.
In heating iron, brought beyond the welding
if it is

heat, it will becomeand softer until it will finally


softer
burn. This may be known by the great number of
little explosive sparks coming from the fire. These
little sparks are particles of iron separating from the

bar and burning. As the heat gradually rises, the


metal separates. If the bar were now placed on the
anvil and struck a hard blow with a hammer, it would
fly to pieces. Therefore, judgment must be used in
striking the first blow on any welding heat it should —
be The succeeding blows should be made gradu-
light.
ally harder. A hard blow at the start might make the
metal fly to pieces, or make the upper piece slip away
from the under piece. lighter blows were struck,
If
the weld might be made good shape.
in
The principal thing in welding is to have a clean
fire. All of the clinkers must be kept out. The fire
should be a well burned one, without much smoke or
gas, and never any green coal near the pieces being
heated. Well burned pieces of coke around the metal
should always be used in raising the welding heat. In
raising the welding heat very little blast should be used
at first. Heat the pieces slowly so as to get them hot
thruout.

CHAPTER II.

Electric —
Welding Oxy-acetylene Gas Welding The Fagot Weld —
— —
The Separate Heat Weld Scarfing Upsetting Making the —

Weld Lap Welding Without Scarfing Jump Welding Butt — —
Weld—Split Welding— Comer Weld—T Weld.

A RAPID blast
outer part of the metal
on the start,
first

but it also burns out the fire and makes it become


not only heats the
and not the center,

hollow before the metal has the welding heat. There is


a right and a wrong way of taking a welding heat from
the fire to the anvil. The pieces must be lifted clear up
out of the fire, and must not be dragged thru the dirt
and cinders on the inner edge of the fire. Iron will not
unite when dirty. It is very easy to get a clean heat if
one will pay attention to having the fire clean. Do not
attempt to get the welding heat in a dirty fire; this is
one thing that must be impressed upon the mind of
one working at the forge. The skillful worker in iron
always pays particular attention to the fire, for he knows
by experience that it must be clean, in order to do good
work.
Welding is also done with an electric welding ma-
chine. The pieces to be welded are clamped and held
in bronze clamps. The clamps are adjusted so that
the ends of the pieces to be welded touch. They can be
moved so as to bring the pieces into close contact or
separate them. When the pieces are in close contact,
the current is turned on. The pieces are then separated
a little so that the current jumps across the space be-
tween them, forming an electric arc. This heats the
22
THE FAGOT WELD 23

ends to a welding heat, and by forcing them together


they are welded.
is by the oxy-acetylene
Another form of welding
gas method. being used extensively at present, and
It is

has been found very valuable and economical in mak-


ing the lighter welds. It is possible to weld steel, iron,
cast-iron, copper, brass and aluminum by this process.
The apparatus consists of a specially designed blow
pipe, an acetylene tank and an oxygen tank under pres-
sure.
The method of welding is to heat the pieces to be
welded with the blow pipe until they reach the fusion
point. For instance, in welding cast-iron, the pieces are
clamped together, a V shape is cut nearly thru the joint,
the metal is heated to the fusion point, and a feeder,
which is a small cast-iron rod, is melted into it. In weld-
ing steel, the feeder is a steel rod; for copper or brass
welding, a rod of copper or brass is used. Nowadays
this method is extensively used in automobile work,
in repairing cracked cylinders.

Fig. 21.

A very simple weld to make by heating in the forge,


is what is known as the fagot weld. In doing this, two
or three pieces are welded by simply laying one piece on
top of the other, or a bundle of pieces of iron of various
sizesand shapes are bound together, heated and welded.
For example, if a bar of flat iron is heated and cut half
thru in several places, doubled over and over, one piece
24 PRACTICAL FORGING

on top of the other and then welded in order to make


a large piece of stock this would be called a fagot weld.

In Figure 21, the pieces are represented ready to


make a fagot weld.

The welding of two pieces of stock by scarfing and


lapping is known as a separate-heat-weld, so called be-

cause the pieces are detached while the heat is taken.


In making any kind of a weld there is more or less stock
wasted in the raising of the welding heat, therefore
the parts to be lapped and welded are always upset
or thickened and then scarfed. The word "scarfed"
means the shaping of the ends of the bars so that when
heated and lapped one on top of the other, they will fit
and make a splice, leaving the stock when hammered
about its original size.

The method is to heat the ends of the


of upsetting
bar, then set the hot end on the anvil with the bar .

vertical and hammer on the other end. This thickens


the heated end. If it is a long heavy bar, the worker
churns the bar up and down striking the hot end on the
anvil. A bar may also be heated on the end, then
fastened in a vise and the hot part hammered to thicken
it. In upsetting, the bar must be kept straight as
hammering will bend it where heated if not kept straight,
;

it will not thicken.

Fig. 22. Fig. 23.


SCARFING 25

When a piece is upset about one inch in diameter


for a three-quarter inch,round bar, it is scarfed by set-
ting the hot end on and near the outer edge of the anvil.
It is then driven back on a bevel by hammering. See
Figure 22. It is also turned on the side and beveled
on both sides to nearly a point. See Figure 23. The
scarf must not be hammered when the piece is held in
the center of the anvil, (Figure 24), for the reason that

ft
3P
Fig. 24. Fig. 25.

the edge of the hammer comes in contact with the anvil,


pecking dents in it or breaking out pieces from the
hammer.
Another method of scarfing is to hammer the end
partly back as previously explained, then set the piece
on the inner edge of the anvil and hammer it as shown
in Figure 25. After each blow, it is drawn away from

the edge of the anvil just a little; this tapers it with a

series of little not for the purpose of making


steps,
notches in the scarfs to fit together and hold while ham-
mering, but simply because the edge of the anvil leaves
it in this condition when tapered. It is also drawn
pointed by hammering on the outer edge of the anvil.
Theory teaches that the scarf should be made with
the beveled part convexed. However, in practice, it is
made to look like the drawing in Figure 26. Note the
raised parts at "D". This is forced up when the scarf
is first driven back with the hammer as shown at "B".
26 PRACTICAL FORGING

The reason that the high part should be on the scarf,


is, when lapped it gives an additional amount of
that
stock at this part of the laps to be hammered. If the
scarfs are made flat, when hammered, they are not liable
r-o

Fig. 26.

to finish up without having the pieces thin, or the point


of the lap exposed. If the scarfs are made concave,
it is claimed by some workers of iron that dirt will de-
posit thereand result in a poor weld. This is true to
some extent. However, dirt will deposit on any scarf

Fig. 27.

Fig. 28.

unless the fireclear.


is With a concaved scarf when
lapped, there not stock enough to be hammered with-
is

out leaving the pieces thin, or the lapping too long when
welded. Scarfs should not be made concave.
Notice in Figure 27, the incorrect way of scarfing
and in Figure 28, the correct way.
The scarfs must not be made too long; this is a
common fault with all beginners and one to avoid.
MAKING THE WELD 27

The scarfs should be made a little longer than the thick-


ness of the iron, perhaps lj times the thickness.
In raising the welding heat, the pieces must be placed
in the fire with the scarfs, or beveled part, down. The
fire must be a clean one. A well burned fire is best.
A new fire is not a good one to raise the welding heat
in, as there is too much smoke and green coal that comes
in contact with the metal. The hammer should be
placed on the anvil about over the square hole, so it will
be handy to reach when making the weld. The anvil
should also be clean. A heavy hammer should be used
in welding. The proper way to hold the hand hammer
is with the fingers around the handle and the thumb

protruding along the side and near the top. The


thumb should never grip around the handle, but lie
along the side to guide and direct the blows. When
using the sledge hammer, stand in front of the anvil
and not at its side, and let the first blow be a light one.

In heating a slow blast is maintained. When the


pieces begin to get about yellow, more blast is used.
The watched without removing them from
pieces can be
the They should be turned over occasionally,
fire.

moving them nearer to the surface of fire to see how the


heat is progressing, and then under the coke again. Care
must be taken to get both pieces heated alike. Ifone
piece should get hotter than the other, it can be moved
over in the fire a little, and the cool one put in its place.
Perhaps the fire is hotter in one spot than another.
If one piece is heating much faster than the other, lift
it clear up and out of the fire for a few seconds to cool
and give the other piece a chance to become hotter. If

the points of the scarf are heating too fast for the body,
the pieces must be pushed thru the fire a little farther.
28 PRACTICAL FORGING

It is a good plan sometimes, when the pieces are


about a yellow heat to shut off the wind for a moment,
to let the pieces and fire even up and give the heat a
chance to soak thru them. As the pieces become nearly-
white, the blast is increased. Welding heat is about

1900° 2000° Fahrenheit, and can only be determined
by experience. When the temperature of the pieces
reaches the welding heat, they are lifted up and out
of the fire and taken by the smith to the anvil, without
the aid of a helper. The smith raps them against one
another or against the anvil to dislodge any dirt that

Lrfr Hand

Fig. 29.

may be on the scarfs. The piece in the left hand is set


against the inner edge of the anvil. The piece in the
right hand is now moved across the anvil until it comes
under the top one. See Figure 29. The piece in the
left hand is then placed on the under one, by simply
raising the hand, teetering the piece on the edge of the
anvil, and holding it firmly by pressing down. This is
important. The smith lets go of the piece in his right
hand, and taking the hammer strikes lightly until the
two are stuck, after which he welds them together with
solid blows, first on one side, then on the other and
finally on the corners.
MAKING THE WELD 29

some practice to be able to take two


It requires
pieces from the
fire and place them in position on the

anvil to be welded. This should be practiced by the


pupil under the eye of the teacher, perhaps a dozen or
more times, with the cold pieces before he undertakes
to get the welding heat. If one cannot take the pieces
out and place them in position, he cannot make a weld
of this kind.

Two boys should not be allowed to work together


on this weld. One can do it much better than two. It
is a one-man job. There is nothing difficult about it,
after the method is learned by deliberate and persistent
practice with the cold iron. There is no need of hurry-
ing when taking the pieces out of the fire to the anvil.
If the scarfs are too long, they will over-lap one
another too far and cannot be welded down quickly
enough. If too short, they hammer down too quickly
to make a good job, and the weld will be thin.

If the scarfs are the right length and about the


same which is important, the weld will finish down
size,

in good shape and make a smooth job, providing the


ends are clean. When the pieces being heated, look as
tho they are covered with grease, you may be sure the
fire is dirty, or is too new.

Lap Welding Without Scarfing.


A lap weld is sometimes made without scarfing the
ends. For instance, pieces of 1 "x| " iron are to be welded
by the lap method. They are brought to a welding
heat without upsetting; taken to the anvil as previously
explained for the scarf weld, lapped about 5-16-inch,
as shown in Figure 30, and welded. This form of welding
is used in a hurry-up job where there is no great amount
30 PRACTICAL FORGING

of strain on the work. It is impossible to make a


strong weld this way. Very thin stock, either iron or
steel, can be welded to advantage in this manner by

hammering on the fiat sides. The edges, instead of

Anvi!

Fig. 30.

being hammered, are cut off with a chisel, then ground


or filed smooth. In welding very thin stock, a little
flux is used. Always weld by separate heats, and do
not rivet or split the stock to hold both ends in place.
This is not necessary. Try to make the weld with one
heat. All good welds are made in one heat.

Jump Welding.
For example, a piece like the one shown in Figure
31, is to be made by welding. The pieces should be
prepared as shown in Figure 32. The square piece is
1" by 1" by 6", the fiat

one \\" by \" by 8". The


square piece is heated di-
rectly on one end. If the heat

Fig. 31.
^ >,

Fig. 32.
JUMP WELDING 31

cannot be taken short enough, it may be cooled in water


so as to upset it with a lip or projection, as shown.
This lip can be worked out afterwards with a fuller,
or it may be driven into a heading tool which has the
top corners of the hole rounded. This will leave the cor-
ners of the lip round as shown. The bar at the end should
also be made slightly convex, so that the center part
comes in contact with the flat piece first. The flat piece
is also upset in the center.
In welding, separate heats are taken. With the
square bar, handled with the right hand, the pieces are
brought to the anvil by the smith. The square bar is
set on top of the flat one, and a helper strikes the top
piece with the sledge, driving it down into the bottom
one. The edge of the lip is then welded fast with a
hand-hammer; or a fuller or set hammer is used, the
helper striking with a sledge.

Butt Weld.
Iron may be welded by butting the ends together.
In doing this, the bars must be long enough so that they
can be handled without tongs. For instance, two bars

Anvil
j

Fig. 33.

of one-inch round stock, one five feet long and the other
shorter are to be welded. This size isabout as light as
can be welded with this method. The ends are heated
and upset a little making them a little high in the center
so that when they are placed together, the contact is in
32 PRACTICAL FORGING

the center. A short heat is taken on the end of each


bar. The smith takes out the long bar and the helper
the short one, butting the ends together on the anvil,
as shown in Figure 33. The helper hammers on the end
of the short piece with a heavy hammer while the smith
holds the long one firmly, and hammers on the joint, at
the same time turning the bar so as to the hammer
joint all around. In welding heavier stock, a sledge
should be used requiring more helpers. This method
makes a good weld, providing the heats are clean.

Split Welding.

Figure 34 shows a drawing of round stock prepared


for a split weld. In making this weld, one piece is
heated on the end, caught in a vise and split with a
thin chisel. See Figure 35.
These prongs are then spread and scarfed on the
inside with the ball of the hammer letting them become
fan shape and as wide as possible. See Figure 36. The
other piece is upset and both pieces are caught in the
vise. The scarf is then hammered tight and the ends
are cut so as not to have them too long. See Figure 37.
The cutting of the scarf, and partly into the bar, helps
to bind the pieces firmly while the heat is being taken
See drawing of piece ready to be welded, Figure 38.
A heat is now taken, using a little sand or welding
flux, if the stock is very small. In welding, the first

blow is struck on the end of the split piece to drive it

down tight and weld it in the center. See Figure 39.


The sides are next hammered to weld the laps. It is
then finished. On heavy work, the heats are taken
and placed on the anvil by the smith, in the
separately
same manner as described for a jump weld. Another
SPLIT WELDING 33

A
Fig. 34. Fig. 35.

Fig 38. Fig. 39


34 PRACTICAL FORGING

form of split welding is shown in Figure 40. This method


is used in welding heavy iron and steel, such as picks and
drills. Notice the little beards cut with a chisel to help
hold the pieces in position when heating. Heavy tool
steel is also welded with this form of splitting. The
firstblow struck with the hammer on this weld, is on
the end, forcing the pieces together; then on the flat part.

Corner Weld.
In Figure 41 is shown an angle made by welding
on the corner; this is called a corner weld. It is generally
made by using square or fiat stock. Figure 42 shows the

I L.

Fig. 41. Fig 42.

scarfs prepared for a corner weld, using 1" by \" stock.


The piece at "A" is scarfed with the ball of the hammer.
The one at B, with the face of the hammer. Separate
heats are taken and the pieces lapped and welded.

T-Weld.
The scarfs for T- welds are made in just the same
manner as for the corner weld, excepting that one scarf
is in the center of the bar.
See Figure 43.
In taking the pieces from the fire to the anvil, the
one scarfed in the center is handled with the tongs in
CORNER WELDING 35

the left hand. The one scarfed on the end is handled


with the right hand, letting it under the other, and then

Fig. 43.
o .

hammered. Notice how wide the scarf is made on the


end piece at "A". This is done to cover the other
scarf. All flat "T" scarfs are made in this manner.

CHAPTER III.

Corner Weld —Brazing—Fagot Weld —Turning a Loose Eye


Hammock Hook—Finishing Wrought Iron— S —
Link Welded
Eye Pin.

A CORNER weld made by using heavy stock, for


example, one and one-fourth inch square, is to
have a square corner by welding. See Figure 44. With
the dimensions six inches from one end, the bar is

heated and cut about half thru from one side with a hot
chisel. The bar is then heated and bent to about a

FIG-** rfj.

D
Fig. 44-45.

right angle, as shown in Figure 45. A piece of f-in.


square stock is shown in Figure 46.
cut on four sides as
This piece is welded into the corner as shown in Figure
47. The heat is separate, and the smith takes both
pieces to the anvil when hot. He places them in posi-
tion as shown in the drawing, the helper doing the weld-
ing. The long part of the bar is then broken off, another
heat is taken and the corner is finished up by the smith.

Brazing.
Iron and steel can be fastened together by brazing.
In doing this, the ends are tapered or dove-tailed to-
36

CORNER WELDING 37

gether and bound with wire or a rivet to hold them in


position. They are then placed in the fire and brought
to a red heat. Some borax and spelter are put on and
the heat is raised until the brass flows. The work is
then taken out of the fire and let cool; then it is finished
with a file, or by grinding. Spelter is an alloy of copper
and zinc, and may be purchased from dealers. Brass
wire may also be used in brazing, and sometimes copper.
In teaching boys forging, the writer feels that it is
a waste of time to give a beginner little pieces to make,
such as staples, hooks, etc. A boy cannot learn to

a
Anvil

*>!?

Fig. 46-47.

handle his hammer, or to heat a piece of stock by mak-


ing small things. What the beginner in forging needs
is some work that he can swing a hammer on without

danger of spoiling it. Very few boys on entering a shop


can handle a hammer, and they certainly do not learn
about heating metal in a forge, by working at staples,
etc. The first exercise should be a fagot weld.

Exercise No. 1. Fagot Weld.


In doing this, two pieces of iron \ in. square and
6 in. long are used. The instructor demonstrates the
welding of these two pieces before theclass. In making
the weld, one piece on top of the other and both
is laid
are caught at one end with a pair of tongs. The tongs
38 PRACTICAL FORGING

should fit the pieces nicely; a ring is placed over the

ends of handles to bind the jaws firmly on to the pieces.


A heat is then taken on about one-half of the length of
the stock; the pieces are welded and at the same time
drawn to \ in. square. The pieces are now turned
around in the tongs and the balance is heated and
welded. While drawing stock always have the bar at
right angles with the long side of the anvil. If the bar

In position to weld

kinch square

Ends Beveled

Ring Formed
Fig. 48.

is not so held, it will twist on the slightly rounded face


of the anvil.
There will be more or less iron burned by the boys
in making this fagot weld; but this is necessary, for a
boy can never learn how to work iron until he can heat
it properly. He must over-heat and burn iron in order
to understand the heat limitations of the metal.
After the weld is made and the bar is drawn to
the original size, the ends must be squared by upset-
WELDING A RING 39

ting them. The bar when finished should be § in.


square thruout its length, and straight with the ends
squared.
It is then formed into a loose ring by hammer-

ing it over the horn of the anvil and not on a ring man-

rig. 49.

drel. In forming the ring, the ends are upset on an


angle, so that when bent into ring form, they,, will fit
together nicely. See Figure 48.
40 PRACTICAL FORGING

Exercise No. 2. •

This exercise will be made in the same manner as


number one, excepting that the bar is finished to 7-16
in. square, and a ring is turned on each end. See
Figure 49.

%,'Jtock

-7i-

Fig. 50.

The eye is formed by heating and hammering it


over the horn of the anvil, giving it the shape as shown
at B. It is then re-heated, set on the horn of the anvil
and hammered shown at C, which
close to the eye as
bends it shank as shown at D.
central with the
In turning loose eyes of any size stock or dimen-
sions, on the end of a bar, the ring is first turned into
a circle of the desired size. It is then sprung central
MAKING A HAMMOCK HOOK 41

with the shank. With this method, no figuring of


stock is required.
Exercise No. 3.
In making a hammock hook, the stock should be
soft steel, which may be purchased for about the same

Fig. 51. Fig. 52.

price as iron. It will stand the bending strains better


than iron. The by f in.
size of the stock is 7J in.
round. The end is heated and a loose eye formed.
The other end is drawn to a taper with J in. of the end

^ C

Fig. 53.

turned up as shown.
^ Fig. 54.

See drawing of hook, Figure 50,


^)
and the different steps in forming the eye at A, B and
C. The hook is formed over the horn of the anvil as
shown in Figure 51. Figure 52 shows the finished hook
with a dotted line drawn thru the center, indicating
where the pull should come. In Figure 53 is shown a
common fault when turning a loose ring at the end of

42 PRACTICAL FORGING

a bar, in not bending the extreme end first. Notice


Figure 54, where the end is bent as it should be.
The expert worker in iron is very careful not to
hammer mark and destroy the section of a bar. One
should remember that bending a ring or iron hook is
simply holding the bar on the horn of the anvil and
striking the part that protrudes past it. Never strike
the bar when it is directly over the horn. This does
not bend it, but makes a dent in the stock.

Finishing.
To finish wrought iron, all of the scale and dirt
should be scraped off with an old file while the piece is

hot. When the iron is cooled, linseed or machine oil is

rubbed on. If the work is held over the smoke of the


fire and then take on a darker color. Never
oiled, it will
paint iron work. This destroys the texture of the metal.
Do not file work bright. It should be dark filing is —
not forging.
Exercise No. 4. S-Link.
Figure 55 shows a drawing of an S-Link, which is
used to splice broken chains. In Figure 56 is shown

\ m v i
WELDED EYE PIN 43

one-half of the
bar. This is a sim-
ple link to make.
The only thing to
be careful about
is to not destroy

the section of the


bar with hammer
Fig. 57. marks. This may
be avoided if one
does not strike the hook directly over the horn of the
anvil, but to one side of the horn. See in Figure 57,
the correct blow.
Exercise No. 5.

Figure 58 shows a drawing for a welded Eye Pin.


The eye may be made any size for practice. In mak-
ing the ring, the bar is heated in the center and ham-

Fig. 58.
<§)
mered over the outer edge of the anvil, as shown in
Figure 59. The piece is now turned end and
for end,
jogged down again with the ball of the hammer. See
Figure 60. The piece should now look like the drawing
in Figure 61. The center of the piece is heated and
hammered over the horn of the anvil to make the ring
round and to bring the shanks together. See Figure 62.
In welding, the piece is caught by the ring with a
flat pair of tongs. See Figure 63. It is now placed in
44 PRACTICAL FORGING

the fire so as to get the heat close to the ring. The


tongs are then removed, until the piece reaches a white
heat; the piece is again caught with the tongs, and the
heat is raised. It is taken out and set on the edge of

Fig. 59 (above). Fig. 60 (below).

Fig. 61 (above). Fig. 62 (right). Fig. 63 (left, below).

the anvil and hammered as shown in Figure 64. The


first blow struck is close to the ring in order to weld
that partfirst. If it cannot be all welded in one heat, it
should be re-heated at once. Do not hammer unless
WELDED EYE PIN 45

Fig. 64. Fig. 65.

the heat a welding heat, as the stock will become too


is

thin before it is welded. Do not heat the tongs red as


this destroys them and the piece cannot be held with
hot tongs. When the ring is welded, the end is drawn
to a square point. See Figure 65.
CHAPTER IV.

Staples —Open Links—Welded Chain Links —Punching—A Grab


Hook.

Exercise No. 6.

STAPLES are used for hasps, gate hooks, and for var-
ious other purposes. They are made from all sizes

of stock, depending on the use to which they are put.


On account of its pliability, soft steel is the best stock
to use in making staples.

The length to cut stock is shown in the drawing

of the staple in Figure 66. The stock is caught at one

end with a pair of light tongs. The piece is then heated


and drawn out to a point; it is reversed in the tongs
and the other end is drawn out. The center of the piece
is then reheated and bent into shape over the horn of

the anvil.
In drawing any piece of stock to a tapered point,
the taper should not be hamraered on one side con-
tinuously and, when turned over, 'hammered back again.
To have a taper on all four sides" alike, the barmust be
40
WELDED CHAIN LINK 47

Fig. 68.

raised the proper distance and not laid flat on the anvil.
Figure 67 illustrates the wrong way and Figure 68, the
correct way.

Exercise No. 7.

In Figure 69 is shown a drawing of an open link.


Open links are used in the splicing of broken chains.
In splicing a chain, the link is opened by driving a
chiselbetween the laps, or it is opened when made.
These laps are hooked into links of broken chain and

l*i
® y k

k

48 PRACTICAL FORGING

See Figure 72. Notice in


the drawing that the hooks
at the open end of the
link are not very long.
They should not be made
longer than shown.

Exercise No. 8. Welding a


Fig. 72.
Chain Link.
The form and length of the stock for this exercise
is shown in Figure 73. The link may be made from
iron or soft steel. After the stock is cut, it is heated
in the center and bent over the horn of the anvil into a

Fig. 73. Fig. 74

"U" shape. See Figure 74. The ends are now heated
and scarfed by setting them on the anvil as shown in
Figure 75. The iron is then struck on top with the
hand hammer. After each blow, it is moved away from
the anvil just a little, giving the end a bevel, so that,
when finished, the scarf consists of a series of slanting
notches.
In scarfing, both ends of the links are set on the
anvil. The end of the one on the right hand side must
not be moved when scarfing the other. After each
WELDED CHAIN LINK 49

blow of the hammer, the piece is moved just a little.


If it is moved too far and the other end of the link is
fixed it will describe an arc. See Figure 76. This is

the method used in scarfing links. Sometimes they are


welded without scarfing, but it is not good practice.

Scarf here

Fig. 75.

Tig. 76.

Figure 77 shows the link scarfed, lapped and ready


to be welded. In welding, the heat is taken directly
on the end of the lap and not on the sides, so as not to
burn the stock above the laps. When the link has the
welding heat, it is taken to the anvil and hammered on
the flat sides, then set on the horn of the anvil, and
hammered on the corners. See Figure 78. The shape
of the link at the weld should be just a little pointed for
a strong link.
50 PRACTICAL FORGING

^ In making chains,
do not weld two single
links and then one be-
tween them. Weld a
link on the end of the
chain and keep re-

w Fig. 77.
w peating until finished.

Exercise No.
Punching holes thru
9.

hot iron is not a diffi-

cult exercise. For instance: A f-in. hole is to be punched


thru a flat piece of iron or steel. The piece is heated, taken
to the anvil and a punch set on the spot to be punched.

Fig. 78.

The punch is struck three or four blows with the hand


hammer driving it into the metal as shown in Figure
79. The piece is then turned over and the punch is
set over the dark spot which
is caused by the former

blows, and is drivenSee Figure 80. Square


thru.
and other shaped holes are punched in the same manner.
Thin stock is punched cold. In doing this, the piece
PUNCHING 51

to be punched is set on the punch block and the punch


driven thru the metal into the hole of the block. A
punch-block is a round or square block of steel with one

or more tapered holes thru it. See Figure 81.

Fig. 80. Left. Fig. 79. Center. Fig. 81. Right

Figure 82 shows some holes that could be punched


while the metal is hot A hole like the one shown at A,
ismade with a punch of that shape; the next hole is

made with the same punch. Afterwards the hole is

Fig. 82.

upset or shortened by heating and cooling each side of


the hole. The bar is then hammered on the end. This
shortens and spreads the metal. The hole is made true
by driving a round punch thru it. The stock used for
this exercise should be soft steel.

52 PRACTICAL FORGING

Exercise No. 10. A Grab Hook for a Log Chain.


Figure 83 shows a drawing of the hook with size of
stock to be used. The stock should be mild steel,

1 1
GRAB HOOK 53

Fig. 86.

point next drawn out and then the hook is heated in


is

the center. It is cooled each side of the center and


hammered over the horn to bend, then on the anvil as
shown at Figure 86. A piece of f-in. flat iron is set on
the inside of the hook and the hook hammered to fit

the iron. This leaves the opening of the hook uniform


and just the size required. See Figure 87.

&
o
Fig. 87.
CHAPTER V.

Bolts —Capping — —
Tool Gate Hook Hay Hook- -Welded Ring-
Expansion of Heated Iron.

Exercise No. 11.

BOLTS may be made


in one piece by upsetting the
end a bar, then squaring the head by driving the
of
piece into a heading tool. A bolt may also be made
by welding a collar around the end of a bar after which
the head is squared.

Figure 88 shows a welded bolt head. After the


stock is cut to proper length, the collar for the head

is made. heated and hammered over the horn of


It is
the anvil to make
it round. The end of the collar is
now cut off on the hardie, cutting clear thru from one
side and giving it a bevel. The other end is cut from
the opposite side giving it a bevel also. See drawing
at A. The collar is driven on the end of the bar while

BOLTS 55

the collar is cold and the bar is hot. When the collar is

hammered on the end of the bar, there should be about


§-in. crack. See drawing at B. The reason is that,
in welding, the collar is lengthened: Hammering
stretches the metal, and it must have end room. When
the collar is ready the bar is' heated on the end and up-

c^ ^
Fig. 89.

set just a little. A heat is then taken, and the collar is


welded by striking it on four sides, letting the opening
form one of the corners. The bolt is then inserted into
a |-in. hole in a heading tool to smooth the end of the
head with a hammer. A cupping tool is next set on
to the head and given a few
good blows with the hammer.
This bevels the top corners of
the square head. A cupping
tool is a piece of tool steel

,, ir ,
i(l
with a half round depression
in one end. See Figure 89.
The heads of bolts can be beveled with the ham-
mer, instead of with a cupping tool. Figure 90 shows
a tool to be used in the vise to make heads on light
rods. The rod is heated and inserted into the hole;
then the vise is tightened after which the ends are
hammered down.

Exercise No. 12 Forging a Gate Hook.


Figure 91 shows the length and size of stock which
should be of soft steel. One and one-half inches from
each end of the bar is marked with a center punch.
56 PRACTICAL FORGING

One end is drawn round to a point. The other is ham-


mered round for the eye. See Figure 92. In the draw-
ing Figure 93, the eye and the hook are shown turned.

K—

HAY HOOK 57

piece of lf-in. round soft steel is used in making it, by


drawing the end square to fit the hole in the anvil. It
is afterwards bent over and the taper drawn as shown.

Exercise No. 13 Making a Hay Hook.


Figure 96 shows the stock which should be soft
steel,to be used in making a Hay Hook. The eye is
58 PRACTICAL FORGING

isheated red at one time and then formed into shape


by hammering it over the horn as shown in Figure 98.
The ends are now heated and scarfed in the same manner
as described for the welded link. When they are lapped
and ready for welding, they should look like Figure 99.
Notice that the ring is made egg shape so that a heat
may be taken directly on the ends of the scarfs and not
at the sides. The ring when welded is formed round.
Another method of welding rings is to upset the
ends and then form the rings. It is scarfed as explained
above. This is seldom done in practical work because
it is too slow, and the other method is about as strong.

Fig. 98. Fig. 99.

In welding the ring, it is handled in the same


manner as in welding links. To find the amount of
stock for rings, the inside diameter plus the thickness
of stock is multiplied by 3.1416 or 3 1-7. To this is
added enough stock for the lap of the weld. For ex-
ample a ring is required of one-inch stock. The inside
measure is 10 inches. Solution: (10 + 1) x 3 1-7 =
11 x 3 1-7 = 34 4-7 i \ inch for welding.
In heating a piece of iron to be formed into a ring,
it should never be heated to the welding heat. A
welding heat on any piece of work that is not to be
WELDED RING 59

hammered destroys the texture of the metal. Any


piece of work to be formed, should be heated evenly
and not too hot.
Iron when heated expands. For example, if a piece
of stock 12 by 1 by 5-19 in. is heated red its entire length
and then measured, it will be about 12J in. long. When
the piece is cooled it will go back to. its original length
of twelve inches.
In making bands or tires for wagons, they are made
a littleshort, then heated and put on, letting them
shrink to their original size, which makes them tight.

Wrought Iron Lantern.


CHAPTER VI.

— — —
Marking Tongs Pig Iron Puddling The Bessemer Process
— —
The Open Hearth Process Crucible Steel The Cementation
Process —Tempering.
Exercise No. 16.
forging tongs, stock f-in. square of Norway or
INSwedish iron may
be used, as it is much easier for
a beginner in welding the handle on to the jaws. Soft
steel may be used later on if desired. Figure 100 shows

Fig. 100. Blacksmith's Tongs.

the drawing of a finished pair of flat tongs. Figure 101


shows the size of stock used and the dimensions of the
rough forgings. It is not intended that the dimen-
sions given are to be accurately followed, but they are
given as an idea of what may be forged from this size of
stock. In forging the jaws, no helper is required to
handle a sledge hammer after the piece is cut from the
bar for the reason that it is time lost for the one who
handles it, besides one man can do it.
In forging the jaws a heavy hand hammer is used,
and the bar is heated to the welding heat, or near it.
One and one-eighth inch of the bar is set on the inner
edge of the anvil and the lip is hammered as shown in
Figure 102. The lip must not be turned and ham-
BLACKSMITH'S TONGS 61

mered on its edge. Let it get as wide as it will, and do


not hammer it too thin. After the shoulder has been
started for the length of the must not be moved.
lip, it

A common fault is and then to


to start the shoulder
find that the lip is not long enough and proceed to

*-/£-H
62 PRACTICAL FORGING

This pulls the on an angle with the bar and when it


lip

is straightened, another crack is formed in the corner.

See Figure 104. The bar must be on the same plane


with the anvil face at all times. When the lip is made,
the bar is turned to the left, setting it on the outer edge

Fig. 104. Fig. 105.

of the anvil and hammering to form the shoulder for


the eye. See Figure 105. It is then turned again to
the left hand and hammered down for the last shoulder.
At this time the stock required for the eye is beyond
the outer edge of the anvil. See Figure 106.
The rough forging should always be made a little
larger than the finished tongs; finishing it to size when
the handle is welded on. When both jaws are forged,

Fig. 106. Fig. 107.

they are cut in the center and the handles are welded
on. When the handles are well upset and scarfed, the
shanks of the jaws are drawn to equal size. Care must
be taken in having the scarfed ends equal in size or a
BLACKSMITH'S TONGS • 63

poor weld will result. The handles at the weld are


drawn square with the corners tapered off. The jaws
are now drawn and fitted to size. Notice that the lip
tapers on the edge, also on the flat part. A small
flute is fullered lengthways on the inside of the lip so that
round as well as flat iron may be held. The hole is next
punched thru the eye with a hand punch. A piece of
f-in. rod of soft steel is cut to the proper length and used
for a rivet. It is heated and inserted into the holes in
the jaws and hammered on both sides with hard blows.
The jaws of the tongs are now heated red and worked
back and forth to loosen the rivet in the eye. The jaws
are fitted to the size of the stock they are to handle as
in Figure 107. The regular stock rivets should not be
used in tongs. The f-in. round piece headed from both
sides fits the holes thru the eye best.

Anv/i

Fig. 108.

In making tongs to hold a larger piece of stock,


the square bar should have an offset. The jaws should
then be forged as in Figure 108. Notice where the ham-
mer strikes the bar to offset it.

In forging tongs, the handles should be welded to


the jaws to give practice in welding.
64 PRACTICAL FORGING

Pig Iron.
Pig iron ismade by smelting the iron ore in a
blast furnace. The ore is charged in a furnace mixed
with lime stone as a flux, and melted by using coke
or coal as fuel. The resulting metal is called pig iron.
It contains from three to two
five per cent of carbon,
to four per cent of silicon and various small amounts
of sulphur, phosphorus and manganese.

Puddling.
Wrought iron is made by melting the pig iron in
a puddling furnace; about one-half ton is charged at

a time. After it is softened, it is stirred with large


iron hooks by the puddler and his helper. It is kept
kneaded to expose every part to the action of the flame,
so as to burn out all of the carbon. All the other im-
purities separate from the iron and form what is known
as the puddle clinker.
Pig iron melts at about 2100°F., steel at 2500° F.,
and wrought iron at 2800° F., so the temperature of
the puddling furnace is kept high enough to melt pig
iron but not hot enough to keep wrought iron in a
liquid state. Consequently, as soon as the iron becomes
pure it forms a spongy mass. This mass of sponge is
divided into lumps of about 100 or 150 pounds which
are taken to a squeezer and formed into blocks. In
the operation of squeezing the greater proportion of
impurities left in the iron after the puddling, are re-
moved. While these blocks are hot they are rolled
still

into flat musk bars. The bars now


cut and heated
are
to white heat in a furnace, taken to the rolls, welded
and rolled into merchant bars. In the welding and roll-
ing the cinder coated globules of iron are forced close
STEEL 65

together as the iron is welded. This gives the iron a


fibrous structure increasing its strength.

Bessemer Process.
In making steel by the Bessemer process, the pig
iron is put into a large pear shaped vessel called the con-

verter. The bottom is double; the inner casing is per-


forated with holes called tuyeres, to admit air forced
under pressure. From ten to fifteen tons of molten
iron at one time are poured into the converter while
it is lying on its side. The compressed air is now turned
into the double bottom as the converter rises to a
vertical position. The air has sufficient pressure to
prevent the metal from entering the tuyeres, and it
passes up and thru the metal, burning out the carbon.
After the blast which lasts about ten minutes, the
metal is practically liquid wrought iron. The converter
is now laid on its side and the blast is shut off. A cer-
tain amount of molten spiegeleisen (white cast iron con-
taining much carbon or ferromanganese is added so as to
give the steel the proper amount of carbon and man-
ganese to make it suitable for its purpose. The steel
is then poured into ingots and rolled into rails, girders,
etc. Carbon is pure charcoal; manganese is a chemical
element very difficult to fuse, but easily oxidized.

Open Hearth Process.


The open hearth process of steel manufacturing
is similar to the puddling process. The carbon is re-
moved by the action of an oxidizing flame of burning
gas. The furnace has a capacity of forty or fifty tons
and is heated with gas or oil. The gas and air needed
for its combustion are heated to a temperature of over
66 PRACTICAL FORGING

1000° F. before entering the combustion chamber,


by passing thru so-called regenerative chambers. Ow-
ing to the preheating of the gas and air a very high
temperature can be maintained in the furnace so as to
keep the iron liquid after it has parted with the carbon.
The stirring up of the metal is not done with hooks
as in puddling furnace but by adding certain propor-
tions of iron scales or other oxides the chemical
reaction of which keeps the metal in a state of agitation.
With the open hearth process the metal can be tested
from time to time. When it contains the proper amount
of carbon it is drawn off thru the tapping hole at the
bottom of the hearth, leaving the slag at the top. As
steel is produced in a liquid form, from which impuri-
ties have been removed in the form of slag that rises
and floats at the top, the metal is homogeneous and
practically without grain. Wrought iron will outlast
steel when exposed to the weather.
Crucible steel, or tool steel, also called cast steel,
is made by using high grade, Swedish, wrought iron and
adding carbon which low in phosporus content. The
is

oldest method is "Cementation Process." The


called the
iron bars were packed in air-tight retorts with powdered
charcoal between them. They were put in a cementa-
tion furnace, heated red and kept at this temperature
for several days. The bars, in this way, absorbed the car-
bon from the charcoal. The carbonized bars (called
"blister steel") were then cut into small pieces, remelted
in a crucible, poured in ingots and rolled into bars.
The newer method is to melt small pieces of Nor-
way or Swedish iron base with charcoal in a graphite
or clay crucible. It is then poured into moulds and
made into ingots, after which it is forged or rolled into
bars.
STEEL 67

The
crucible process enables the manufacture of
steel to almost exact analysis and insures a clean and
pure material. It also absorbs the carbon much faster
than steel made the old way.
In the school forge shop, the tool steel used should
be of an inexpensive kind. High priced steel should
not be used as more or less is wasted by the pupils in

working. A carbon steel should be used for all forge


shop tools. About 75 to 95 point is suitable. High-
speed tool steel should be used only to give the pupils
instruction in its handling and use, and to familiarize
them with the different kinds of steel and their
treatment.
To the steel maker, temper means the percentage of
carbon in the steel. The word point means one-hun-
dredth of one per cent, thus 10 point carbon means ten
one-hundredths of one per cent. One hundred and
fifty point carbon contains one and one-half per cent.
This is about as high as is generally made. One hundred
and fifty point is known as high temper; low temper is
about 40 point. Steel containing less than 40 point
does not harden to advantage and is classed with ma-
chinery steel. There is a range of tempers between
high and low point which are used for different kinds of
tools.
In the forge shop the term temper means the de-
gree of hardness given to a piece of tool steel. As an
example, a piece of steel is heated to a dark red color
and cooled in water or oil. This is called hardening.
If this piece is too hard for the purpose intended, it is
then tempered to reduce some of its hardness, and to
give the steel elasticity and strength. In doing this,
it is subjected to heat, (the more heat the softer the piece
68 PRACTICAL FORGING

becomes). In the forge shop, in tempering steel, the


metal is polished bright after hardening. a If it is

small piece, then held on or near a piece of hot


it is

iron. As the piece becomes heated, the steel heated


in the air assumes colors; at first a very faint yellow
and gradually darker, until all of the color has dis-

appeared leaving the steel without any trace of hardness.


These different colors as they appear on the sur-
face of hardened steel represent different degrees of
hardness. The following simple list of colors applies
to the different tools and carbon to use:
—430° F. Lathe — 130 point
Light straw tools car-
bon.
Dark straw—470° F. Taps and — 120 pointdies
carbon.
Purple gray — 530° F. Chisels and blacksmiths'
tools,75 to 95 point carbon.
Of course there are other colors than these. As the
heat advances every few degrees the color keeps chang-
ing to a darker which indicates the tool is becoming
softer.

The hardening heat about 1300 to 1400 degrees


is

Fahrenheit, or a cherry red. About 400 degrees Fah-


renheit relieves the strain in a hardened piece of steel;
600 degrees leaves a trace of hardness and is about right
for springs.
In order to know the results of heating and cooling
steelone should take a small bar and cut nicks in it
with a chisel every half inch. The bar is then heated
from a white heat at the end to a very dark red some
inches back. It is then cooled in water, the pieces
broken and the grain noted. The heat that leaves the
steel file hard and a very fine grain is the hardening
STEEL 69

heat of that steel.The hardening heat is a dark red.


The hotter was when cooled the coarser the grain
it

shows on the end of the broken pieces.


In further demonstrating hardening and tempering
of tool steel, the making of a flat cold chisel will be
considered. The principles involved are about the same
in all hardening and tempering.

CHAPTER VII.

Making a Flat Cold Chisel— Spring Tempering—Welding Steel-


Case Hardening —
Coloring Steel Annealing— Making a —
Scratch Awl— Making a Center Punch— Making a Hand Punch
—High Speed Steel—Annealing High Speed Steel.

Exercise No. 17 Flat Cold Chisel.

A GOOD
shop,
cold chisel
and one that
is

is very
fore, it should be made with the greatest care.
much
in a
an indispensable tool
There-
abused.
In
the forging of a good chisel a piece of f-in. octagonal
tool steel, from 75 to 95 point carbon, is used. The
piece is cut six inches long. In doing this the bar may

Fig. 109.

be nicked with a chisel. The nicked part is then set


over the outer edge of the anvil. A chisel with a handle
is set on the nicks and given a good blow with a sledge

hammer, shearing the piece from the bar. See Figure


70
COLD FLAT CHISEL 71

109. This method of cutting is quite dangerous, so


care must be taken. Perhaps, a less dangerous method,
tho not so practical, is to heat the bar redand cut the
piece off with a hot chisel and sledge, or on the hardie,
if one has no helper. The end is then hammered.
See Figure No. 110.

Fig. 110.

When cut off and hammered round on one end, the


piece caught with a fluted-lip pair of tongs that will
is

hold it firmly and a ring is placed on the ends of the


reins to bind them. The end is now heated in a well
burned fire, letting the heat soak in slowly, and not forc-
ing it with too much blast.
If the fire is lively hardly
any blast is used on the start.
The piece is brought to a
heat somewhat beyond what
is commonly called cherry
Fig. 111. heat. It is then taken to the
and drawn out square
anvil
with hard blows of the hammer, to a long taper, and
nearly to a point. This taper should be about If inches
long. See Figure No. 111.
_

72 PRACTICAL FORGING

Hammering must cease before the red heat has


left the steel. It is again heated and hammered on two
sides; in drawing the chisel bends edgewise. Do not
strike it on the edge; it will fracture the grain of the steel.
To straighten the blade, it should be hammered on the
__ flat side near the con-
Cj *~— T~~""~")
cave e ^ e- ^ ee Figure
Hammer her fO '
No. 112. This
F '£- 112 -
stretches metal
the
and straightens the
C3 '^ T". II
blade. Care must be
Fig. ii3. taken in hammering
not to make the chisel
wider in one place than in another.
When finishing the chisel, it is hammered lightly
until the red is nearly but not quite gone. This ham-
mering packs the grain and makes it fine. The end
of the chisel is set on a hardie and cut half thru, so that
when it is hardened and tempered it may be broken
to note its grain and also require less grinding in sharpen-
ing. See Figure No. 113. The chisel is now heated
very slowly to a dark red and set in a dry place on the
forge to anneal. This annealing relieves the strain in
the tool due to hammering.
When the chisel is cold it is reheated to harden and
temper. Over-heating does not make the tool harder
when cooled in water, but increases its brittleness, so
caremust be taken when heating. The heating must be
very slow, and to a dark red, 2\ inches long. The chisel
should be cooled as the heat is going up. A common
practice of heating the steel more than a cherry red and
holding it out of the forge until the heat goes down,
before dipping, is wrong. When properly heated the
TEMPERING 73

chisel is held in a vertical position and dipped about


1§ inches into 16 gallons of salt and water, heated from
60° to 70° F. See Figure 114. The tool is kept in
motion when dipped. When cooled it is removed, and
the hardened part is rubbed bright with an emery stick
or sand paper. This is done so
that the temper colors may be seen.

f^tv
"
^ Tempering increases the tool's elas-
ticity and strength, and -reduces
the brittleness. The temper color
will show just a faint yellow
against the edge of the remaining
I heat that was left in the tool after
hardening.
In hardening the tool, it is
heated 2 J inches of its length and
1| inches is cooled in water to
harden. The remaining heat grad-
ually runs thruout the whole chisel
and may be noted by the faint yel-
low color on the bright part of
the tool traveling towards the cut-
ting end. This faint yellow temper
color, due to the heat and air, is

followed with darker colors; if let

Fig. 114. run too much all of the hardness


would be taken out of the tool.
Four hundred and thirty degrees Fahrenheit would
be about a light straw color, leaving the steel very
hard. About 600° F. would be the darkest color,
nearly black. This is as hot as steel can be made and
still leave a trace of hardness. This temper is too soft
for a chisel but about right for springs; therefore, when
74 PRACTICAL FORGING

the very dark purple temper color covers the whole


bright part of the chisel the point is dipped in water.

The chisel then


is set in a dry place on the forge to cool
slowly. The temper color must run to the end of the
chisel very slowly. The reason for this is that if the
temper color comes slow, the chisel is tempered farther
back from the point. The temper colors on the surface
of the bright steel are obtained by different degrees of
heat, as it from the remaining heat left in the
travels
tool when the piece was hardened. The less heat al-
lowed to travel toward the end of chisel, the paler the
temper color and the harder the chisel; therefore, the
faint yellow color indicates that the steel is very hard.
The darker the temper color becomes the softer the tool.
The best chisels are those that are file proof. If,
after hardening and tempering a chisel, it cannot be
cut with a file, it is too hard and the temper must be
run out more. If the grain of steel is very fine when
broken the chisel had the proper heat when quenched,
but if it looks coarse the tool was too hot when cooled
and must be annealed, rehardened and tempered. A
little judgment will enable one to determine the proper

hardness for all tools of this character by noting these


temper colors. The above explanation in a general
way applies to the working of all carbon steel tools.

Spring Tempering.

There are many kinds of springs that are hardened


and tempered. The methods of handling are about
the same with all. As an example, a piece of spring steel
5 by 1 by 1-16 inches is to be tempered. In doing this,
the piece is caught at one end with a pair of light tongs.
The steel is heated to a dark red and dipped into a can
TEMPERING STEEL 75

of sperm oil, or equal parts of lard and tallow. When


cool it is held over the fire until the surplus oil takes
fireand blazes off. It is redipped in the oil, and the oil
is burned three times in all. It is then partly cooled
in the oil and set on the forge until cool, when it is ready
for use. Steel is manufactured especially for springs.
It is called spring steel. It is made in a different way
from tool steel, by the open hearth process. It differs
in quality and cannot be absolutely guaranteed. The
steel is never free from all foreign elements which might
be detrimental to its quality.

Tempering Thin Pieces of Steel.


In hardening thin pieces of steel such as knives,
very thin milling cutters, etc., there is always difficulty
in preventing warping after hardening. Two heavy
surface plates, planed on one side, are used. On one
of these plates equal parts of tallow and lard are spread
\ inch thick.The knife is heated in a steam pipe with
one end plugged and having fire under and over it.
When an even red heat is reached, the knife is brought
out and set on the oil and at the same time the top
plate is set onto the knife until cool. This hardens the
blade and keeps it from springing. The knife is bright-
ened and the temper is drawn to a dark straw color by
holding it on a hot iron.
Very small pieces packed into an iron
of steel are
pipe or box surrounded with charcoal. The whole is
then heated red and the pieces are dumped out and
cooled in water. To draw temper, they are put in an
iron ladle filled with lard oil that is heated on the fire.
76 PRACTICAL FORGING

Welding Steel.

All small pieces of tool and spring steel should be


welded with separate heats. A little practice and a
clean fire, with some good welding compound, are
necessary. In separate heat welding of flat steel, the flat
sides of the scarfs are put together instead of the beveled

Anvil

Fig. 115. Welding Thin Steel.

ones. The scarfs are shown in Figure No. 115. The


method of riveting and splitting small pieces of fiat
steel to hold them together while taking the heat is not
to be recommended because after they are put together
in this manner the lap is double thick, and in raising
the heat there is always danger of over-heating each
side of the lap. Separate heats and a cleanfire is the

best method to use to make a good weld, unless the steel


is heavy. In this case, it is split and forked as previously
explained.
Case Hardening.
The difference between wrought iron and tool
steel lies in theabsence of carbon in the iron. Tool
steel can be hardened because it contains carbon, and
when heated and suddenly cooled becomes hard thru-
out. The surface of wrought iron or mild steel can be
carbonized and then made very hard. This is called
case hardening because about 1-16 inch or less of the
COLORING AND ANNEALING 77

outside of the bar is made hard while the center is soft.

There are several methods. One is to place the articles


in a tight cast iron box and surrounded with ground
bone before placing in a furnace. The box is then
brought to a high heat of about 1700 degrees Fahren-
heit. It is held at this heat for several hours and then
let cool. When cool, the pieces are reheated and dipped
in salt water to harden them or they may be cooled with
the first heating. By another method the pieces are
placed in an iron ladle with cyanide of potassium and
heated. Iron may be heated red and rolled in the
cyanide, then reheated and plunged into water. Care
must be taken in handling cyanide as even the fumes
are poisonous.
Coloring Steel.
Very bright pieces of soft steel can be case hard-
ened and colored at the same time. In doing this,
cyanide is heated in an iron box, and the steel articles
are put into it. When heated they are removed and
dipped into a solution of water and salt peter to cool
and harden them. This gives them a mottled effect
with many colors. A pint of salt peter to about four
gallons of water makes a solution strong enough. This
bath becomes poisoned from the cyanide. It should
be kept clean and labeled "Poison."

Annealing.
A piece of metal of any kind is said to be "an-
nealed" when made very soft. Steel should be annealed
before it is filed, drilled, or machined, as it is a very
hard metal to work when cold. The method of an-
nealing is first to heat the piece to a red heat. It is
then covered with warm, slacked lime so that the air will

78 PRACTICAL FORGING

not come in contact with it until cool. A simple way


to anneal, when in a hurry, is to heat the steel red, set-
ting it in a dry place on the forge until black. It is
then plunged into water quickly and brought out. This
operation repeated until the piece is cool. Steel
is is

also annealed by heating the piece red and setting it

stock /f -S
/#-

2£ :m:

-<?*"-

Fig. 116 (above). Fig. 117 (below).

on the forge until cool. The slower steel is cooled,


the softer becomes. Wrought iron and mild steel
it

forgings should always be annealed when used in work


where there is danger of breaking them.


Fig. 118. Scratch Awl.

Exercise No. 18 Scratch-Awl.


This tool used to scratch holes on the surface of
is

metal, and also to lay out shapes on metal. Figure


116 shows the dimensions of stock. The piece should
be carbon steel. One and one-half inches from one end,
the bar is drawn out until it measures 2\ inches in
length, as shown in Figure 117. It is then bent on an
angle as shown in Figure 118. This part is now heated
and hammered over the horn of the anvil to form the

HAND PUNCHES 79

Fig. 119. Scratch Awl Complete.

eye or ring. It is then twisted by catching one end


in the vise and twisting to the right. The point is next
drawn out as shown in Figure 119. The point is then
ground or filed and the awl tempered hard.

Exercise No. 19 Center-Punch.


Figure 120 shows the size of stock and Figure 121
shows the center-punch completed. The top part is
first made, then the bottom is drawn out to a taper.

Fig. 120 (above). Center Punch. Fig. 121 (below).

In doing this, it is first drawn square, then eight sided


and finally rounded. The point is ground and the
punch is tempered to a purple color. For heavy center-
ing a larger size steel should be used.

Exercise No. 20 Hand- Punch.


Hand-punches are made of various sizes of stock,
f in., f in. and f in., and are used for hot punching.
80 PRACTICAL FORGING

Figure 122 shows the size of stock for a punch that will
be useful in the school shop, and Figure 123 shows
the completed punch. It is made in the same manner
as described for the center-punch. This punch must not
be tempered. For punching square holes the punch
is drawn square, and the ends of all hand-punches are

made smaller than the hole to be punched.

k#4 6" j/4'


Fig. 122. Stock for Punch. Fig. 123. Completed Punch

High speed steels, due to their hardness and dura-


bility, retain their edge when cutting at extremely
high speeds.
been of recent years that high speed
It has only
steels came Before this time self-hardening
into use.
steels were made by Jessop and Mushet which were in
general use. They were tempered by heating to a dark
red and left to cool in the air. The high speed steels
of today are heated to 2,000° or 2,200° Fahr., or a
white heat bordering on a welding heat.
The chemical composition of these new steels are
only known by their makers. However, it is
said that
they contain carbon, tungsten, chromium, manganese
and other elements.
The great advantage in using high speed steel, is

that a machine can be run three times as fast as one


HIGH SPEED STEEL 81

using carbon steel, without destroying the edge of the


tool. The output is therefore greater. Of course, in
order to force this steel to do a great amount of work
the machine tools should be constructed to stand heavy
strains. All kinds of tools are now being made from
high speed steel.

For light lathe work, high speed steel is used in


the adjustable tool holder. The most common tool for
doing heavy work is the round nose which is made from
various size steel.

High speed tool steel is sold under many brands.


The method of handling is about the same for all. How-
ever each manufacturer will give the method which is
best for his particular make of steel. In forging high
speed lathe tools, a furnace or clean fire with plenty of
coke is used. The steel is heated to a bright red heat,
holding the steel at this heat as nearly as possible when
hammering. Forging at a low heat is liable to cause
the steel to burst. When the tool is forged, it is laid
in a dry place on the forge to cool. When hardening,
the point of the tool is brought to a white welding heat,
about 2,100° Fahr., and this is noticeable by the appear-
ance of melted borax, forming on the nose. The tool is
now held in a compressed air blast, or dipped into
sperm, linseed or lard oil until cool.

Annealing High Speed Steel.

The process is the same as the one used for carbon


steel, heating to a red heat and covering the piece with
slacked lime until cold.
In cutting high speed tool steel, the bar may be
nicked with the emery wheel, then broken.
82 PRACTICAL FORGING

In working tool steel or iron of any weight the


blows of the hammer must be heavy. Light blows
stretch the outer part of the metal and not the center.
This is liable to fracture it. The blow must be heavy
so as to penetrate thru the bar. A trip hammer of
ordinary size run by a belt is a very economical tool for
the school shop. It is inexpensive and can be used to
advantage in drawing out large pieces of stock, especially
tool steel.
Every pupil should have more or less practice in
hammer.
the handling of a trip or steam
II—ART SMITHING
CHAPTER VIII.

Wrought Iron Work — Making a Wrought Iron Leaf —Making a


Volute Scroll— Grilles.

XT the present time great interest is being taken


j^\ in the teaching of art work in our public schools.
Every school is doing something in the
of importance
way knowledge of art. One work-
of giving the pupils a
ing in the school crafts should study art. There is no
craft work that one can do well without this training.
With art training one can see defects in his work much
quicker than without such training. In fact, it opens
up a new world of possibilities to the workman. The
more one is convinced of the value of thoro acquaint-
ance with the medium in which he is working, the
higher the class of work he produces.
All fine workmen in any craft have more or less

ability to draw. This not only gives them power to


transfer their conceptions to paper, but it also helps
them in the execution of the work. The iron- worker
in particular should practice free-hand drawing. It
enables him to form his material into proper shape. As
a general thing, forge work is fashioned into shape by
eye.
Wrought iron-work is one of the oldest of the
handicrafts. It was extensively practiced by the an-
cients and carried to a high degree of excellence, both
in execution and design. During the Middle Ages
83
84 ART SMITHING

and up to the seventeenth century some of the finest


examples were produced. A study of the older forms,
especially those of Medieval German production, shows
iron fashioned in keeping with its properties and with
the spirit of the craftsman. It is impossible to utilize

Fig. 1. Forged Leaf.

natural forms in wrought iron without convention.


Realistic iron flowers are inconsistent with the material
in which they are executed. They kill the strength
and destroy the character of the metal. This should
be learned early by one working in iron. When the
iron-worker of the past imitated nature too closely in
leaf and flower, he failed as a designer and his work dete-
riorated. Iron as a crude metal must be fashioned into
shapes that are suitable and practical for the material.
For instance, it readily allows itself to be worked into
graceful curved forms which can be used to advantage
FORGING A LEAF 85

in grille work. may be surface-decorated by using


It
chasing tools. may be done on hot or cold metal,
This
depending upon the depth wanted. Iron may also be
punctured with openings thru the metal which give
the play of light and shadow that is very pleasing.

Fig. 2.

Grotesque figures and an endless variety of leaf forms


may also be worked in iron. These should be conven-
tionalized. Embossed or repousse work may be done
to advantage. In doing this the metal while hot is
hammered on the end grain of elm wood and on forms
made from iron. When cold it is hammered on lead,
and steel tools are used to sharpen up the detail.
In Figure 1 is shown a leaf made from Number 16
sheet steel and Figure 2 shows a pattern of the same
86 ART SMITHING

leaf. In making a leaf of this kind, a full-size drawing


is made just as it should look when modeled. From
this drawing a pattern is developed as the leaf would
look when in the flat. It is impossible to lay it out
accurately. The method used is to find the stretch
out of the leaf by measuring along its greatest length.

Fig. 3. Cutting Tool.

This can be done by using a pair of dividers. The


length foundis then laid off on the metal. The widest
parts of the leaf are then measured and laid on the
metal. Having the length and width, the rest can be
sketched in. The leaf is now cut out with a narrow
made to follow the curved line.
cold chisel that can be
This cutting should be done while the metal is cold.

Fig. 4. Modeling Hammer.

The leaf shown in the illustration has been fluted with


a steel hand-tool. In doing this a tool as shown in
Figure 3 is used. This tool is made smooth, rounded
at the base like an ordinary fuller and then hardened.
The fluting is also done while the metal is cold. Lines
WELDING LEAVES 87

are marked on the metal with a slate pencil and then


sunken with the tool and hammer. In modeling the
leaf a hammer one shown in Figure 4 is used.
like the
It is called the modeling hammer. This hammer has
a ball on one end and a pein on the other, both of which
are made very smooth and without sharp corners.
These hammers are made in various sizes. In model-
ling the leaf it is heated and hammered on the back side

Fig. 5. Grille with Leaf.

with the ball of the hammer, using the elm block to


hammer on. The ends of the lobes are then formed
to give the whole a decorative effect. These leaves
are generally used in grille work and are welded into
position. In Figure 5 is shown part of a grille with a
similar leaf welded on. In welding leaves to the mem-
bers of grille work the bottom part of the leaf is formed
around the bar; caught with a pair of tongs, it is heated,
using a flux when hot. It is then taken to the
ART SMITHING

anvil and welded. A small collar is finally welded in


front of the leaf as shown in the illustration.

The leaves shown in the illustrations are made to


cover the grille on but one side. If a grille is to be seen
from both sides when in place, the leaves are cut out
symmetrically and then bent and modeled to fit over
the top and sides of the bars
so that they appear fin-
ished from both sides. Fig-
ure 6 shows the pattern of
such a leaf.

The following exercises


will be of a simple nature
to give the beginner an
idea of the tools and pro-
cesses used in producing
this kind of work by hand.
The writer does not claim
that the following method
is the only one to be used
in doing this work. There
are many other ways to
execute these exercises and
one should use his own in-
genuity in designing and
executing individual pieces.
Fig. 6. Pattern of Leaf. It is hoped that pupils will
be encouraged to originate
designs of their own to work out in this interest-
ing metal.
The making these exercises will be
tools used in
the ordinary forge shop tools that can be made, and
will be described later on, as they are needed.
VOLUTE SCROLLS 89

Exercise No. 1.

Volute Scroll. This exercise is given in order to


familiarize one with the bending of curved forms and
hand and eye in doing freehand work.
also to train the
No metal lends itself more readily to the bending of

ABC
curves than wrought iron.
Fig. 7. Volute Scrolls.

The scroll is an important


element in the designing of iron doors, window grilles,
etc. In bending, the scroll must not have kinks or
flat places, but a gradual curve. If it is desired to sug-
gest strength, the scroll is coiled tightly; or if lightness
of effect is desired, it is coiled loosely. In making a scroll
to fit some particular place a drawing is made with
chalk on a surface plate. The scroll is then measured
along the line with a string to find itslength. In
Figure 7 are shown drawings of typical scrolls. The
one at A shows too much space between the coils. The
scroll at B is top-heavy owing to the coils being equal
in size. The one at C has a continuous curve with
90 ART SMITHING

unequal coils which balance better. In bending a


scrollfrom a flat piece of stock, as shown in Figure 8,
the end is heated and hammered on the corners to make
it round at one end. It is then bent over the outer

t . ,. edge of the anvil, as

I 7^ shown in Figure 9A
JO" and B, to form the
eye. It is then heated
for a considerable
part of its length and

rolled up as shown at
Fig. 8. C. If any kinks get

into the bar they can


be rectified by hammering on the horn. This is the
method used in forming a scroll with the hammer. In
heating the bar to be rolled into scroll form, it must not
be heated to a white heat. Scrolls are also bent over

Fig. 9.

forms when a great number are wanted. Heavy scrolls


are formed by bending in a bending fork that fits
into a square hole in the anvil. (See fork in Figure
10.) A monkey wrench is used to bend the bar when
in the fork.
GRILLES 91

In Figure 1 1 and Fig-

ure .12 are shown grilles


which are made from
flat stock. The scrolls
in this case were made
after the bars had been
welded in place. They
could be made first and
Fig. 10. Bending Fork. then riveted or fast-
ened with iron bands,
but welding of course makes a better job.

In Figure 13 is shown a drawing for a welded scroll.


Notice the dotted line at A. This is where the weld
is made. At B, the pieces are shown in position to be

Fig. 11. Grille.

welded by the separate heat method. In doing this


the length measured on the drawing with a string,
is

and the three pieces cut. The two short ones are
upset; and one is laid on top of the other; then heated
and welded at the same time they are scarfed. The
92 ART SMITHING

Fig. 13.

long piece is upset and welded to the short one. They


are then formed.

Fig. 12. Grille.


CHAPTER IX.
Twisting—Braiding— Making a Fire Shovel.
Exercise No. 2.

WISTING. A
T nine inches long,
piece of one-half inch square stock,
is heated its entire length, one end

caught in a vise and with a monkey wrench or heavy


pair of tongs on the other, it is twisted to the right.
If the heat is an even one and not too hot, the spacing
of the twist will be uniform. In case one part twists
faster than another, a little water is used to cool that
part. The beauty of twisted work depends on having
the spacing uniform between the turns. (See Figure 14.)

Fig. 14.

Flat stock can also be twisted in this manner. To


straighten twisted work, heated red, set on the end
it is

grain of elm wood and hammered with a wooden mallet.


The mallet used in this work should be made from
hickory. For heavy striking a little band of iron can be
put on the mallet a half-inch from one end, so that
the mallet will not split. The block on which to
straighten the iron should be about ten inches in diam-
eter and three feet high. A short block about eight
93
94 ART SMITHING

inches wide and twelve inches long may be set into the
coal box, having coal underand around it to hold it in
place. This makes a very handy block on which to
bump up light pieces of metal or to straighten metal.
Exercise No. 3.

Figure 15 shows the dimensions of stock for a twisted


poker-handle. The four i-inch rods are upset on one end
until they measure six inches. They are then welded

~1 ->>|C0 Z32I
f~_

22"

**f 6'£

Fig, 15.

together on this end. This is done by first twisting


a strong binding wire around the rods to keep them in
place while taking the heat. (See Figure 16.) In

Fig. 16.

welding, they are welded directly on the ends and


scarfed as shown in Figure 15.
TWISTED HANDLES 95

Notice that the scarf is made so that the point of


the scarf on the other piece will come onto a one-quarter
inch rod and not between the two. The scarf must
not be hammered farther back from the ends than 4-inch.

0- AVNWSVM

X
Fig. 17. Poker Handles.

The f-inch bar is now upset on one end and scarfed.


The two parts are then welded, smoothing the weld
with the hand hammer. The end of the handle is
welded directly at the ends of the rods. The entire
handle is heated uniformly, caught in a vise and twisted
96 ART SMITHING

to the right. If any part twists faster than another,


that part is cooled with water dropped from a hole in
the bottom of a tin cup. In twisting the handle, the
| bar caught in the vise. A strong pair of tongs are
is

used on the end of the handle to twist it, or the end of

Fig. 18. Shovel.

the handle can be caught with a monkey wrench. The


point of the poker drawn to a square point and then
is

flattened. In making pokers or shovels, the stock may


be either round or square. In Figure 17 are shown
some handles that are suitable for pokers or shovels.

ctun cf ftoac/le

Fig. 19. Shovel Handle.

A method of braiding the last handle shown in the il-

lustration is to weld four 3-16-in. rods of either round


or square stock to a piece of f-inch round stock. Two
of the rods arethen bent over at right angles to the one-
half inch piece. The others are bent over them, and
SHOVEL 97

so on The four rods are then welded


until finished.
at the top and a ring turned. The last illustration
shows the method of bending the rods.

Exercise No. 4.
Shovel. —Figure 18 shows the dimensions and form
of the exercise. In making the handle, f-in. square
stock is used. The piece is cut 25 inches long. On
one end the piece is upset considerably in order to get
a good sized head. Five inches from the end of the head
a line is cut on four sides with a chisel. This part is

Fig. 20.

then hammered with a ball hammer while hot to give


it a rough texture as shown in Figure 19. The other
end of the handle is upset a little, bent on an angle and
flattened, letting it get as wide as it will.
98 ART SMITHING

The development of the pattern for the shovel


blade is shown in Figure 20. At the top is shown a
side and end elevation of the shovel. The dimensions
should be drawn full size. The shapes of the sides
and of the ends are found by measuring from the eleva-
tion. The pattern should be made from sheet iron and
kept for future use.

In forming the shovel, the sides are first bent up


by using the vise and heel of the anvil. This forming
must be done while the metal is cold. The end of the
shovel may be bent by hammering it over a heavy,
flat piece of iron. The corners are hammered around
the sides by catching the shovel in the vise. They
are fastened by drilling holes thru both pieces and rivet-
ing them, using a rivet set to finish the rivets. In
fastening the handle to the blade or shovel, three Num-
ber 10 round-head rivets are used. If desired, the
handle can be made from larger stock, also increasing
the size and the thickness of the shovel.

Fig. 21. Door Latch.


CHAPTER X.
Making a Door-latch —Making a Hinge —Making a Candle-stick.

Exercise No. 5.

DOOR LATCH.—In Figure 21


double In Figure 22
door.
shown a latch for a
is

shown the dimen-


are
sions of the two plates and the bar latch. In making
the plates, a piece of soft steel, 2 in. wide and §-in.
thick is used. The design is sketched on the metal
and five 9-32-in. holes are drilled in each plate where

q n.o

Fig. 22.

the square holes come in the design. The plates are


then heated and a square punch is used to drift out the
holes. The outside edges are then cut. The plate is
heated and with a square punch the metal is set down
to give it the interlaced effect as shown in Figure 23.

The plates are now filed to straighten the square


holes, and the holes on the corners for screws are drilled.
100 ART SMITHING

Figure 24 represents the catch, which can be made as


shown, and the knob which is worked out on the end of
a rod, as shown in Figure 25. It is hammered on the
Jfommer

Fig. 23.

outer edge of the anvil. After each blow it is turned


Then it is cut off and the tenon is
until finished. filed.

The guard shown in Figure 26 is cut from a flat piece

f"
DOOR LATCH 101

as represented. The bar is made from \ by 3-16-in.


stock, drilled, and a slot is sawed for the spring. The
spring is about \ by 3-32-in. and can be made from spring
steel.

Fig. 25.

Figure 27 represents a hinge that can be made from


f-in. soft steel. After the design is sketched with a
slate pencil on the metal, the open parts are drilled
and cut out. The outside is next cut with a chisel and

r 1

L
102 ART SMITHING

the latch. A great variety of designs of this kind can


be made to advantage in iron. A drawing of a simple
strap hinge is shown in Figure 28. The part of the strap
at A on the drawing is made greater in length than width
for appearance. This gives the strap apparent strength
and emphasizes its length.
3W

Fig. 27.

The hinge can be made any length desired but should


be carefully proportioned; the eye can be made loose
or welded. In welding a hinge-eye the lap should al-
ways be on the back. Note the drawing of the eye

Fig. 28.

ready for welding in Figure 29. In making hinges,


the making of the eye is always the first operation. A
welded eye makes the strongest hinge; but it can be
HINGE 103

made with a loose eye if desired. In bending and


finishing; the eye, an eye-pin should be used to true the
hole. An eye-pin is a piece of round steel of the desired
sizedrawn tapering on each end so that it can be driven
thru a hole. The projections that form the joint for
a loose eye hinge should be cut out before the eye is

^b
C30i] ~Z2

fteadyto we/d,
Fig. 2!)

made. If the stock is light, the joint in either a. loose or


a welded hinge can be filed or sawed after the eye is
turned. In a heavy eye the projections are laid off
ami marked on the metal while flat. The bar is then
heated and split lengthwise from one side, starting

Fig. 3D. Candle-stick.


104 ART SMITHING

|-inch from the end, and cutting long enough to make


the eye. then formed and welded, and pieces
The eye is

are cut out leaving alternating projections which can


be filed to fit.

Exercise No. 6.

Exercise No. 6 is a candle-stick.


• The reproduc-
tion, Figure 30, shows the finished piece. The drawing,

—*^-t—
?#"
,-t
ile-^-J
.

0 Fig. 31.
D.

Candle Stick

Figure 31, at A, gives the dimensions; at B, is shown

the pattern of the bottom in the flat. The bottom is


cut from a sheet of soft steel, using a narrow cold chisel.
The edge is then filed and bent up about one-quarter of
CANDLE STICK 105

an inch. In doing so, it is hammered over a round


block or iron which fits into the square hole of the an-
vil. See Figure 32. The handle
is formed by heating

it,and hammering it over the horn of the anvil. In


making the socket to hold the candle as shown at C,
Figure 31, the piece is cut from number 20 soft steel.
At D, is illustrated the stock cut ready for forming.

Fig. 32.

In cutting this piece, the shape is sketched with a


slate pencilon the metal. Five holes are now drilled,
the center hole, 5-32 in. in diameter and four 3-16-in.
holes at the base of leaves. A narrow cold chisel is
then used which will cut on a curved line. The edges
of the pieces are then filed; the piece is heated and ham-
mered on the elm block to raise it. In raising the socket,
it is heated in the center, set over a depression in the

block and hammered. This brings the wings or leaves


up. They are brought up until they overlap one another,
106 ART SMITHING

the leaves forming a square box. The whole piece is


then heated, placed on the end of a f-in. round bar,
setting the whole into a swage, and the leaves are
fitted around the bar by hammering. The socket is
then riveted in place. A rivet is put in the end of the
handle to hold it inplace. The candle-stick is now
smoothed with a file and smoked over the fire, then oiled.

Wrought Iron Lantern.


CHAPTER XI.
Making a Drawei Pull — Chasing — Making a Door-knocker
Repousse — Perforated Decoration.
Exercise No. 7.

DRAWER pulls can be of one part,


the handle
being fastened directly to the drawer, or they
may be of two parts, the handle and plate. The handle
can be made stationary on the plate or movable. In
Figure 33 are shown some hinges, drawer pulls and

Fig. 33.

key escutcheons. The open work is cut out while the


stock is hot, or if light stock is used, it may be drilled,
cut and filed while the plate is cold.
107
108 ART SMITHING

The stock used in making a plate for a pull, some-


what like those illustrated, is represented in Figure
34. After the plate is cut to size, which is done cold
with a hand chisel, the outside surface is hammered
while hot with a ball hammer, drawing the plate a

Fig. 34. Fig. 35.

little thinner near the edge. This hammering gives


the surface a rough texture. The edges are now ground
or filed to shape and the holes are drilled as shown in
the drawing. The round
holes are for screws to fasten
the pull, and the square holes are to fasten lugs, on
which the handle is to swing. The lugs are shown in
Figure 35. The tenon can be filed, the top rounded,

Drawer Jfcmalie,

Fig. 3fi. Fig. 37,

the holes drilled, and the lugs riveted into the plate.
When riveting the lugs, they are caught in a vise, the
plate set on and the tenons are riveted tight into the
DRAWER PULL 109

holes. The square holes in the plate should be counter-


sunk a on the back before the lugs are riveted.
little

The handle is a movable one, and the drawing is


shown in Figure 36. The different steps in making the
handle are represented in Figure 37. When the stock,
which should be soft steel, is cut, the ends are heated
and drawn out tapering to 3-16 inch at the end. One-
and-a-half inches from each end of the bar is marked
with a center punch. The ends are now bent over
j inch, then the bar is bent at the center marks. When
the handle is formed to fit the plate it is smoothed with a
file. If desired, a line can be chased on the handle and

fihasin o.

Fig. 38.

around the edge of plate. In doing this a short, light


chisel is used. After lines are traced on the plate with
a slate pencil the chisel is set on the line and struck with
a light hammer; at the same time it is drawn towards-
the worker with the lead corner of the cutting edge
directly on and above the line.
The should receive rapid, light blows and
chisel
be continually moved toward the workman. The lead
corner of the chisel should be guided onto the line
while the other corner is doing the cutting. See Figure
38, a rather large sized drawing of the cutting edge of
the'chisel. When the lines are chased with the chisel,
110 ART SMITHING

they should be gone over again with quite hard blows


of the hammer, forcing the chisel down to make the
pronounced.
lines quite
To put
the handle in place on the plate, it is heated
and sprung into the holes of the lugs. The last thing
to do in finishing all work of this kind is to heat it to
a dark red. All scale and dirt is then scraped off;
when cool, some oil is put on. For this kind of work,
machine oil is good The reason it is heated to a dark,
even red heat is that when cool the handle and the
plate will have the same color and texture.

Fi K . 39.

Exercise No. 8.

In Figure 39 are shown some hinges, latches and


door knockers. Figure 40 is a drawing of a simple
DOOR KNOCKER 111

knocker. The plate is cut out and the line around the
edge is chased with a tool. The chasing tool is simply
a cold chisel ground to a short bevel and rounded some-
what like a fuller, as shown in Figure 41. A short

>%

<0

Chased. Jme

D HammerA

*-/#-.

£>'£- —*J Door Knocker?


Fig. 40.

chisel is used for cold work and a longer one for hot
work. The chasing can be done while the metal is cold.
If it is to be very deep or wide the plate is heated and
a longer chisel is used. The lug at Figure 42 is made
and riveted into the plate. The top of the hammer is
filed to straddle it. A hole is then drilled and a rivet
put thru. Holes are drilled around the edge of the plate
for screws or nails.
112 ART SMITHING

In making the hammer a piece of f-inch square,


soft steel is used. It is upset on one end to get the
stock large enough for the bottom of the hammer. The

fTS
tiHok

-.-*--

ir-ft-i %
Fig. 41. Fig 42.

bar then drawn out on the horn as shown at Figure


is

43. The top part is formed as shown at Figure 44.


Lines are chased on the front of hammer as shown in
the drawing; this can be done after it is formed. If
the lines are to be very deep it should be done while
the' piece is straight and heated.

Fig. 43. Fig. 44.

There is ample room for design in the making of


door knockers, both for outside and inside doors of
dwellings. Knocker plates for doorson the inside of
dwellings can be elaborated by a combination of re-
pousse, chasing and perforated decoration which give
DOOR KNOCKER 113

a variety of light and shadow. Perforated plates can


be backed up with colored leather or cloth which g ives
a very pleasing contrast to the metal.

In Figure 45 is

shown an interior
door knocker. It
is backed up with
colored leather.
The plates are
made of |-in. thick,
soft steel. After the
plates are cut out,
the openings are
marked with a slate
pencil and gone
over with a short
cold chisel to mark
them. The plate is

then heated, and


the part enclosed
by the chisel line
is cut out. A very
narrow chisel, 12
in. long, is used to
do the cutting. The
cutting is all done
from the outside.
This gives the edge
a slight bevel. The
edges of open
places are trued up
with a The openings must not be filed too
file.

exact and smooth. The most essential thing to look


114 ART SMITHING

after form; the work looks best


is when it shows
handwork and is not mechanical.

Fig. 46.

Handwork is most in keeping with the design and the


material. The lines on the plate are chased with a
narrow chisel and the foliated form bumped out from
DOOR KNOCKER 115

the back by hammering on the end grain of the elm


block. The hammer that does the knocking is hinged
on the top plate so that the bottom part moves out and
in when knocking. Very thin red leather is glued on
the back of the plate with fish glue. The diameter of
the top plate is 4|-in., the bottom 2j-in., and the hammer
is 6|-in. long.

A good method of working out ideas for pieces of


this character is to make numerous rough sketches on
paper with a lead pencil, making one line over another
without erasing. When one gets what he thinks is good
it is redrawn and perfected. It may then be worked
in the material.

Fig. 47.

At Figure 46 is shown a door knocker hinged at


the top. The plate is one piece. At Figure 47 are
shown the dimensions of the plate. After the shape of
the plate is sketched on the metal, the lines are traced
with a chisel. The open work is then cut out,, and the
outside of the plate is cut and filed. The center leaf
at the top of the plate is indicated by forcing the metal
down along the top edge of the leaf with a punch, also
116 ART SMITHING

at the bottom to form the


interlace. The plate should
be hot when this is The hammer shown in Figure
done.
48 should be forged from |-in. square, soft steel. The

lug shown on the drawing is to^be made and riveted

into the top'of the plate. The hammer is then placed


over the lug, and the lug is drilled to conform to the
drilled holes in the hammer.
The chasing on the plate and hammer is done with
a chisel as previously explained. A gauge should be
made from a piece of steel to scratch the guide lines on
the plate for the chasing as shown in Figure 48. These
lines are then cut with the chisel.
CHAPTER XII.
Making a Hat and Coat Hook — A Fuller—Jump Welding— Making
a Wall Hook.

Exercise No. 9.

FIGURE 49 represents a hat-and-coat hook. In the


making of this piece, the plate should be made from
No. 14 soft steel. The dimensions are shown in Figure

I it:, -li). Hat and Cunt Hook.


117
118 ART SMITHING

50. The shape of the plate can be drawn on heavy paper,


which is afterward cut out and used as a pattern when
making the plate from metal. After the plate is cut
out with a cold chisel, it is ground or filed on the edges.
The holes are next drilled, and the lines are cut on the
surface as shown in the drawing. In cutting the lines,

OOZZZiSZZZZZfflZ.

jjh^Z^- jf Section of leaf


©
k
Fig. 50.

a short, narrow cold chisel is used for chasing in the


same manner as. previously described. The lines
on the leaf should be made quite deep. A fuller is
shown in Figure 50, which is used to make the lines
still deeper. The fuller should have the edge smooth,
and without sharp corners. The plate should be
clamped on to a surface plate while making the lines.
HAT AND COAT HOOK 119

The fuller is then set on the cut lines and struck with
the hand hammer, chasing the tool to the ends of the
lines. This work can, also, be done to advantage by

c -m. *w I

H- to

-9
*r

U -8' <?%-

Fig. 51.

heating the plate and having a helper hold it on the an-


vil while fullering the lines. When all the lines are
made, the leaf is heated, set on the elm block and ham-

<i

Fig. 52.

mered on the back to raise the end of the lobes as shown


in the illustration.
120 ART SMITHING

The hook is made from iron. Figure 51 represents


the dimensions of stock for the hook. The lug is welded
on, and the ends of the bar are rounded ready to be
formed. After the stock is cut, it is upset six inches from

Fig. 53.

one end to enlarge it so that the lug can be welded on.


The stock from which the lug is made is cut 3| inches
long, upset on end, and split in the vise J inch deep as
shown at Figure 52. The split end should be formed

4 1
Fig. 54.

as shown. In welding, separate heats are taken, and


the lug is jumped onto the bar as shown in Figure 53.
The first blows are struck directly on the end of the lug,
then the lips are welded. Figure 51 shows the length
WALL HOOK 121

of the piece before the knobs are formed. In making


the knobs at the end, they should be upset as shown in
Figure 54. They are then hammered as shown, and

Fig. 55.

finally rounded. The lug is next cut the proper length,


and a shoulder is filed at the end. The chased lines
are now cut on the front side. In forming the piece,
it is heated and hammered over the horn of the anvil,

Fig. 56.
122 ART SMITHING

starting to first, and working toward


bend at the end
the center. In bending anything of this kind, always
start at one end, and finish as you work toward the other
end. See the drawing of the bent hook at Figure 55.

3 C w 3-%
U- 13-

&6 /fo/es.
Fig. 57.

The end of the lug is next heated and caught in a vise,


the plate is set on and riveted tightly. The work is

smoothed with a file, heated to darken it, and oiled.

Exercise No. 10.


A wall hook, suitable to hang a bird cage or fern
dish, is shown in Figure 56. In Figure 57 are shown the
length and size of stock, and the piece ready to form.
In making the ball, the piece is shouldered at one end
by hammering it on the outer edge of the anvil as shown

Fig. 58.
WALL HOOK 123

in Figure 58. then hammered on the corner, to


It is
make it round.The other end is drawn to a square
point, and is then flattened as shown in Figure 59,
letting it become as wide as it will. This flat end is then
veined suggesting a leaf form. In doing this, a long

Fig. 59.

chisel, made round somewhat like a fuller, is used.


The piece is made with the
heated, and a sunken line is

chisel, as shown by the drawing of the leaf end. The


piece is then heated, and the leaf end is formed. The
holes should now be drilled. The balance of the hook
is heated and formed by hammering it over the horn of
the anvil.

Hall Lanterns.
CHAPTER XIII.

Making a Toasting-fork —Inlaying.


Exercise No. 11.

AVERY interesting and useful article to make


is a toasting fork. The stock used can be spring
steel. A disadvantage in using this steel is that it is

too hard to work out a design on the handle. one If


can weld quite well, the fork should have the handle
made of soft steel and the balance of carbon steel. In
doing this, the weld is the first thing to do while the stock
is straight and full size. If one without much welding
experience is to make the fork, it should' be made of

\~ Stock doftSteef.
'
// fx%" |

Fig. 60. Stock for Toasting Fork.

soft steel, and when finished the prongs should be case


hardened. In making a fork of this kind, a piece of
soft steel as shown in the drawing in Figure 60 is used.
On one end, the stock is enlarged a little, by upsetting
for a distance of five or six inches. This end is to be used
for the handle. The other end of the bar is then heated,
and a hole is punched lf-in. from the end. The piece
TOASTING FORK 125

should then look somewhat like the drawing at A, Fig-


ure 61. In drawing out, the shoulder is hammered
as shown at B, Figure 61. The shank (the part between
the handle and the shoulder) is next drawn out. It
should be a scant j-in. thick so as to finish to the di-
mensions given in Figure 60. Care must be taken to
avoid getting too much stock in the shank. It is a very

~
Upset JjHZ of*

c oc: &'+-#-*

Fig. 61.

easy matter to get too much stock between the handle


and the shoulder which, when drawn out, is too long.
The prongs are roughly made by cutting the stock out
as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 61. When this
is done the prongs are hammered out to the correct

size, allowing for finishing.


In Figure 62 are shown reproductions of similar
forks. The line shown running around the rectangular
open parts is inlaid copper. A channel is sunken and
the copper driven into In making the handle, the
it.

three oblong holes are punched while hot with a punch


about 3-16 in. by | in. at the end, making a series of
punchings to cut out the holes. The holes should be
small enough so that they may be finished to size with
a file. Notice that the openings are not of the same
size; but two short ones, with a longer one in the center,
give variety. Notice, also, that the shape of the
handle is in keeping with the long, slim shank and the
slender, two-tine fork at the end.
126 ART SMITHING

\ I

Fig. 62.
Toasting Forks, Spoon and Cake Turner.
INLAYING 127

After the handle is shaped, and the holes are punched,


including the one at the top' to hang the fork by, the line
to receive the copper is marked. (See Figure 63.)
The marking should be done with a scratch awl. The
line isthen cut with a small chisel. This cutting should
be quite deep and exact. This is important if the work
is to be true and straight. All of the marking should
be done while the handle is cold. It is now heated and
taken to the anvil. A small punch, as represented in

Fig. 63.

Figure 63, is then set onto the cut line and given a blow
with the hammer, sinking the punch about 1-16 of an
inch. One-half of the punch is now raised up and out
of the channel. While it is directly on the chased line,
it is given another blow with the hammer and so on

until the end is reached. The particular thing to watch


is to have the lead corner of punch directly on the chased
guide line, while the other edge of the punch is in the

channel in order to keep the finished line straight. Keep


the punch in good order, straight and square at the end.
The punch should not have much taper and should not
be used after the red heat leaves the metal. After
the entire line has been sunken 1-16 in. deep, the handle
is reheated and the line is sunken perhaps f in. deep.
128 ART SMITHING

A wider punch is now used in the long channel to


straighten and make it deeper. The wide punch
it

should have no taper and should be a scant 3-32 in.


thick so that the line will be about 3-32 in. wide. If

any part of the channel should be too wide, the handle


should be hammered on the edge with a light hammer
to close the channel a little. When the channel is

Fig. 64. File.

finished, the handle should be filed fiat on the channel


side. This will give one a better view of the straight-
ness of the channel.
In case the channel is not as straight as it should
be, a small flatfile is heated and bent at the end and

rehardened. (See Figure 64.) This file is used to


straighten up the edges of the channel. A small cold

~c***e4£mc

Fig. 65. Cross Section of Fork Handle

chisel can also be used for this purpose. The channel


must be straight along the top edge. When the channel
is well straightened, strips of copper are filed to fit the
channel, letting them project above the channel about
INLAYING 129

3-32 of an inch and also having each piece a little short


in length. When the pieces are all in place, the handle
is set on the anvil and with a heavy hammer they are
driven down forcing the copper to fill the whole of the
channel. The entire handle is filed to the dimensions
given in Figure 63.
Notice Figure 65 which shows a sectional drawing
of the handle, with the copper in place and a chased line
running along between copper and steel. A channel
without copper is shown at the right of the illustration.

Wrought Iron Lamp.


CHAPTER XIV.
Making a Lantern — Making a Wall-lamp.
Exercise No. 12.

THE sides
lantern shown in Figure 66 consists of four
which are fastened together with angles and
rivets. The top is made from four pieces, with angles

Fig. 66. Lantern.

also riveted to them. The stock is cut with a pair


of snip shears, No. 06§. (See Figure 67.) The sides
LANTERN 131

must be cut to the same size or there will be trouble


in putting them together. After they are cut, the open
work is marked with a slate pencil. Holes are drilled
in the corners of each opening, and they are cut out

3nijO -Shears 06%.

Fig. 67.

with a sharp chisel. The edges are filed and all holes
are drilled for No. 12 rivets. At Figure 68 is a drawing,
with dimensions of one of the sides as it should be in
the flat. Notice the section of the sheet bent at the

Fig. 68.

top for the roof and at the bottom to hold the glass.
The glass is held in position at the top with a little strip
of copper, with a rivet to hold it. The glass is set into
132 ART SMITHING

the groove at the bottom, and the copper cleat is bent


over the top of the glass. The copper cleat should be
l by f in., made from No, 26 soft copper. The bottom
of the sheet is first bent at right angles, then a flat piece
f

ASSEMBLING LANTERN 133

In fastening the angles to the sides, the heads of


the rivets areon the outside, and the inside is smooth.

lantern top.

Pattern

Fig. 71.

In doing the heads of the rivets are held in a rivet


this,

set while hammering on the inside.


The rivet set is caught in a vise as shown in Figure
70. A rivet set is a piece of steel with the shape of a
rivet head sunken into one end. In making this, a

iffi \l i-yftp ca t °ff or hole,

Fig. 72.
134 ART SMITHING

punch is filed the shape of a rivet head and is then driven


into the end of a hot piece of steel. In Figure 71 is
shown a simple method of developing a pattern of one
section for the top of a lantern. A-B of the pattern is
first drawn. The length of X-B of the elevation is the
length of C-D of the pattern. Lines are then drawn
from C to A and B. The point of each section at the
top is cut off so that when the four pieces are riveted
to the angles there will be a 7-16-in. hole thru the top.

JtocZ. %x!fe
Length. 6"

Fig. 73.

(See Figure 72.) In this hole is put a piece of |-in.


steam pipe with a lock nut on the top and another on
the bottom to hold it in place. (See Figure 73.) The
pipe is for the socket to screw onto under the top, and
also for the wire to come thru. The loop at the top is
to suspend the lantern by. It ismade of f by |-in.
stock, 6 inches long. Two No. 10 rivets are put in each
end to fasten it to the roof. The lamp is to hang by a
chain suspended from the ceiling. In doing this a ceil-
LANTERN FITTINGS 135

Caattron Crowfoot"

*3team7ty)e.
TAread for '/£
ste-am pipe.

Fig. 74. Fig. 75.

==^5
*^ ZX'ak « cut SHi'Dia,
^s? Cast-iron,

Fig. 76. Fig. 77.


136 ART SMITHING

ing cap is necessary. This may be a piece of -|-in. steam


pipe threaded on one end and a hook made on the other.

Fig. 78

(See drawing, Figure 74.) A cast iron piece is screwed on


the end of the pipe and then fastened to the ceiling by
is

three screws, which supports the chain and lamp. The


FINISHING LAMP 137

wires go thru the pipe and connect with other wires in


the ceiling. (See drawing of the casting, Figure 75.)
When the lamp is wired and the casting is fastened to

the ceiling, it must be covered with something to hide


the wires and its rough appearance. In Figure 76 is

shown a drawing for a cap to cover the casting and wir-


ing. The cap has a hole in the center for the pipe to
pass thru, leaving it movable on the pipe. A collar of
cast iron, with a set screw in the side, is to go under
the cap and the screw tightened when the cap is against
the ceiling. (See drawing of the collar, Figure 77.)
In making the cap, it is heated and hammered over a
hole in the swage block. A hammer with a large-sized,
rounded face is used. The disk is driven into the hole
until it becomes bowl-shaped and the right height.

J%"SZea.mJDip<

'."" v -

Fig. 79.

At Figure 78 is represented a lamp that is to be


fastened to the side of the wall, instead of hanging from
the ceiling with a chain. The light is inverted, the lamp
being open at the top and closed at the bottom.
The stock used in the construction of the lamp is
very heavy, No. 14 soft steel being used. The angle
plates on the corners are made from No. 20 soft steel.
The plate that is on the back of the lamp has a cup-
shaped pocket hammered into it to cover the wiring
when the lamp is in place, and on which the light socket
is fastened.
138 ART SMITHING

In Figure 79 is shown a cross-section of the back

plate, with the depression and socket in place.


This kind of lamp is very simple to make and can
be made in various shapes and sizes. The back of the
lamp can be made of wood instead of metal, if desired.

Wrought Iron Table Lamps.


CHAPTER XV.
Making a Portable Lamp.

Figure 80 is represented a portable lamp. This


IN kind lamp can be made in various sizes with one
of
light. The lamp shown in the illustration, consists of
two parts; the standard, and the shade, which can be

Fig. 80.

removed. The standard consists of a box-shaped


bottom, with a pipe screwed into it for the upright
piece. The arms that the shade rests on, are separate
139
140 ART SMITHING

and are held in position by the lamp socket, which is


screwed down on them. The strips running over the
bottom of the base and up the pipe are riveted in place

Fig. 81. Fig. 82.

to support the pipe. This gives the whole standard a


more substantial appearance, and relieves the plain
round pipe.

Fig. 83. Fig. 84.

In making a very simple lamp of this character,


we may eliminate the strips running up the pipe, and
make the bottom with a round pipe screwed into it.

Of course a square standard would be more in keeping


MAKING LAMP BASE 141

with the square base and shade. In making the


box-shaped base, soft steel should be used. Figure 81
shows the dimensions of the fiat stock. The plate is
heated and an inch of the edge is bent over the outer
edge of the anvil, as shown in Figure 82. The outer
edges of the plate can be bent over the end of the anvil
as shown in Figure 83. When all the edges are bent

\5^37zc?a7-e? "2$- Steetmjoijoe.


:o

^£f %Wpe. I11SMI-®


U/^-J
Bushm'f
Fig. 85.

the piece will look somewhat as in Figure 84, The cor-


ners are now ground off, and the bottom is made level.
A hole is drilled in the center and threaded for a f-in.
steam pipe. Two inches from the center hole, another
hole is drilled and tapped for a J-in. or f-in. rubber
bushing. In wiring the lamp, the cord should enter
thru the bushing from the outside, and under and up thru
the pipe to the socket. The drawing for the pipe is
shown at Figure 85, also a bushing which is brazed into
the top of the pipe and threaded for a f-in. pipe. The
f-in. steam pipe and bushing are shown in position in
the illustration at one end of the pipe. This small pipe
142 ART SMITHING

is for the lamp socket to be screwed onto. The other


end of the large pipe is to be threaded and screwed into

the base. The pipe should be screwed into the base


far enough, so that the threads will not be exposed to the
outside and the surplus cut off. The pipe when screwed
tight should be brazed to the base. In doing this, the

Fig. 86. Fig. 87.

borax and spelter should be applied to the under side,


after the baseis well heated, as the brass will discolor

the iron on the top side. When the pipe is brazed it

should be made to stand vertical.

In Figure 86 is shown the lamp standard with the


shade support in position. The support has a hole in
the center to fit the |-in. steam pipe at the top of the
standard. When the support is in place another f-in.
hole is drilled thru it into the pipe. A pin is driven into
MAKING SHADE 143

the hole so that the support cannot be moved around.


The lamp socket when screwed down makes the support
tight. In making the support the center part is cut
from a plate 3-16 in. by 4 by 4 in. and 3-16 in. round

soft steel bars are welded on for the arms. In Figure

jLamp
ip s da
ftada
•ska

dtoc/t "20
JitVet^lZ.

Fig. 88. Fig. 89.

87 shown the drawing which does not need explanation.


is

The drawing for the pattern is shown at Figure 88 and the


pattern for one section at Figure 89. In developing
the pattern which very simple the top drawing, Figure
is

88, represents the shade which should be drawn full size.


The length from A to B is then laid off on the center line
which in this case measures 1\ in. The
of the pattern,
top and bottom of shade shows a return of f in. which
144 ART SMITHING

should be added to the length of the pattern. The


width top and bottom of the shade is then drawn,
of the
also diagonal lines which will complete the pattern.
The edge view of the pattern is shown at C. The
|-in. bend at the top is made so that the cap can be
riveted on. The one at the bottom is to receive the
glass. This was explained on a previous page in de-
scribing the making of a hall lantern. In assembling
the shade, corner angles are used to fasten the sections
together, which was also explained for the hall lantern.
The top cap is put on last and fastened with rivets.
INDEX
Annealing, 77 Hammock hook, making of, 41
Annealing high speed steel, 81 Handle, twisted poker, 94
Anvil, construction of, 10 Hardening cold chisel, 72
how to fasten, 11 Hardie, 13
tools. 13 Hat and coat hook, making of, 117
Awl, scratch, 78 Hay hook, making of, 57
Ball hammer, 13 Heading tool, 15
Bessemer process, 65 Heating, method of, 22, 27
Blast, control of, 27 Hinge, making of, 101
Bolts, heading, 55 Horn, 56
making of, 54 Hot chisel, 15
Bottom fuller, 17 Inlaying, 125
Bottom swage, 16 Jump welding, 30, 120
Braiding, 96 Lamp, portable, making of, 139
Brazing, 36 wall, making of, 137
Butt welding, 31 Lamp ceiling cap, 137
Candle-stick, making of, 104 Lamp shade, making of, 143
Case hardening, 76 Lantern, assembling, 133
Cementation process, 66 fittings of, 135
Center punch, use of, 13 making of, 130
Chain links, welding of, 48 Links, open, 47
Chasing, 109 S, 42
Chisels, hot and cold, 15 Open hearth process, 65
making of cold, 70 Perforated decoration, 112
Coal, method of handling, 19 Pig iron, making of, 64
Cold Chisel, use of, 15 Puddling, 64
Coloring steel, 77 Punch block, 51
Crucible steel, making of, 66 Punch, hand, 13, 79
Cupping tool, 55 used for inlaying, 127
Door knocker, making of, 110, 113 Punching, method of, 50
Door latch, making of, 99 Repousse, 112
Drawer pull, making of, 107 Scarf, correct and incorrect, 26
Expansion of iron, 59 theory of, 25
Eye-pin, use of, 103 Scarfing, meaning of, 24
welding of, 43 Scraper, 10
Eyes, welding of hinge, 102 Scroll,, volute, 89
Fagot welding, 23, 37 Separate heat weld, the, 24
File, used for inlaying, 128 Shovel handle, making of, 96
Fire, making of forge, 18 Shears, kinds of, 18
cleaning of, 19 Snip shears, 131
Fire shovel, making of, 97 Spring tempering, 74
Flatter, use of, 15 Staples, 46
Fluting tool, 86 Steel, annealing of, 77, 81
Flux and its uses, 21 Bessemer process, 65
Forge, the, 7 case hardening, 76
tools, 10 cementation, 66
Forging a cold chisel, 70 crucible, 66
Forming a loose eye, 40 high speed, 80
Fuller, 16, 118 Steel, making of, 65
Gate hook, forging of, 55 open hearth process, 65
Grab hook, making of, 52 temper colors of, 68
Grilles, making of, 87, 91 tempering of, 67, 75
Hammer, ball, 13 welding of, 76
danger 25of, Stock, storage of, 17
modeling, 87 Swages, 16
proper way to hold, 27 Swage block, 17
round-faced modeling, 137 Tempering thin steel, 75
set, 15 Toasting fork, making of, 124
sledge, 13 Tongs, danger in-handling, 15
sledge, danger, 71 making of, 60
INDEX—Continued
Tools, anvil, 13 Wall hook, making of, 122
center punch, 79 Welding, bolt heads, 54
cupping, 55 butt, 31
eye-pin, 103 chain links, 48
flatter, 15 corner, 34, 36
forging, 10 electric, 22
fuller, for deepening lines, 16, 118 eye-pins, 43
hand punch, for heavy punching, 79 fagot, 23, 37
hardie, 13 heat, determining, 28
heading, 15 hooks, 41
horn, 56 jump, 30, 120
punch for inlaying, 127 lap, 29
punch block, for cutting holes, 51 making the, 27
round-faced hammer, 137 method of, 20
scraper, 10 oxy-acetylene gas, 23
scratch-awl, 78 ring, 39, 57
snip shears, 131 scarf, 24
swages, 16 91
scroll,
Tongs, danger in handling, 15 separate heat, 24
Top fuller, 16 split, 32
Top swage, 16 steel, 76
Tuyere, 9 T, 34
Twisting, 93 Wrought iron, finish of, 42
handles, 94 manufacture of, 64
Upsetting, 24 Wrought iron leaf, making of, 85
Vise, 17 Wrought iron work, 83
Volute scroll, making of, 89

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