THE BLACKSMITH.
FORGE.
FORGE.
In the building and fitting of the house a large portion of the iron work will have to be furnished by the Smith, and as we have already given some description of iron founding, it will be necessary to say something about the Blacksmith,or the worker in iron or black metal, whose business is different from that of the whitesmith, which has to do more particularly with white or yellow metal.
The way in which malleable iron, that is, iron fit for the hammer, is produced has been mentioned in connexion with the trade of the iron founder, who in fact supplies the Blacksmith with the raw material. It is not very easy to tell you much about the way in which the Blacksmith makes the great variety of articles which his trade furnishes, for there is no business the success of which depends more upon personal skill. As the trade of the Smith, or at all events the worker in metal, is one of the most ancient, and existed in times when there were few tools,—as, in fact, it is the Smith who has to make tools,—so at the present day, he has to depend chiefly on his own ability in the use of the hammer and a few other simple instruments to fashion the articles that come out of his workshop.
It is he who supplies the various articles of wrought iron work used in a building; as pileshoes, straps, screw bolts, dog-irons, chimney-bars, gratings, and wrought-iron railings and balustrades for staircases. Wrought iron was formerly much used for many purposes for which cast iron is now generally employed; the improvements made in casting during the present century having caused a great alteration in this respect. It is not only for building purposes that the Blacksmith is employed, however, since there is scarcely anything constructed of iron in which his aid is not required, from important portions of machinery to the rough horse-shoes which have to be finished and fitted by the farrier. In the forge, where the great bellows suspended to the ceiling make the furnace roar, and the sparks fly, the clinking of hammers is heard all day long.
Hammer. Sledge Hammer. Set Hammers. Vice. Anvil. Tongs. File.
Hammer. Sledge Hammer. Set Hammers. Vice. Anvil. Tongs. File.
Theanvil, on which the iron is beaten into shape, the bench, fitted with avicefor holding such portions of thework as require thefile, thetongs, with which the red hot metal is held, thesledge hammer, and theset hammers, are the principal tools.
Callipers. Compasses. Heading Tools. Gauges. Square. Bottom Tool.
Callipers. Compasses. Heading Tools. Gauges. Square. Bottom Tool.
The sledge hammer is used for beating the metal until it is tempered and easily formed into shape, and it is in the tempering of the metal by beating that the great skill of the Smith is often displayed. The set hammers are used for setting out the work, and have heads of different shapes, according to the form which the metal is required to assume. The variousgaugesare placed upon the anvil forthe similar purpose of shaping the work, and thecallipers,compasses, andsquare, measuring and adjusting it. Theheading toolsconsist of cutting, punching, and stamping instruments, and are probably so called, because they are furnished with heads to receive the blows of the heavy hammer, by which they are forced into the hot metal on the anvil.
Double Hooks. Punch. Slice. Fire Irons.
Double Hooks. Punch. Slice. Fire Irons.
These heading tools are held, not by handles of their own, which would break off with the concussion of the hammer, but by a sort of withe of birch, or some other tree fastened loosely round them at their heads, and bound by a ring to keep them from parting. Thepunchis used in making bolts or rivets, thesliceandfire ironsfor arranging the fuel in the furnace, and removing small articles after they are heated, thedouble hooksfor removing or suspending bars, and for some other purposes.