Chapter I: Introduction

The present demand for school instruction in the industrial arts has made it necessary for the teachers of industries to have that knowledge of materials and methods which can only result from long and careful 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 produced in that material.

Some pieces of the best German work are before me as I make 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 difficulty 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 of the author’s long experience from this book 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.

The artistic success of this book lies in the evident fact that the work 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

Page

CHAPTER I.

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
Hook—Finishing Wrought Iron—S-Link—Welded Eye Pin 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—Expansion
of Heated Iron 54

CHAPTER VI.

Making Tongs—Pig Iron—Puddling—The Bessemer Process—The Open
Hearth Process—Crucible Steel—The Cementation Process—Tempering 60

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 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—Perforated Decoration 107

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