10 Oct.. 191 '•] Farm Black S7mt king. 687 



to a welding heat, and quicklv hammered. To know when the iron has 

 been raised to the temperature fitting it to be welded is in itself an ac- 

 complishment ; until one learns how to manipulate the fire and correctly 

 judge the proper heat, it would be almost useless to attempt to do any- 

 thing, because welding plays such an important part in so many things 

 made by blacksmiths. 



Whene\-er the sectional area of a l)ar of iron requires to be reduced 

 to anv great extent, as in pointing, a welding heat is essential, because 

 if iron be hammered at a lower temperature, with sufficient force to reduce 

 it to a sharp point, separation of the fibres will take place long before the 

 object is attained ; in other words, the bar will split. Once splitting com- 

 mences at the end of the l)ar, persistent ham.mering will cause the split 

 fragments to break off. so that failure and disappointment will be the 

 result. 



The imi)ortance. therefore, of learning how to obtain the wekUng heat 

 cannot be emphasized too much, for success depends upon it. This know- 

 ledge can only be acquired by close observation and assiduous practice. 

 If. in the attempt tO' forge the point on the end of the poker, the end should 

 split, then the cause can in most cases be attributed to the want of a 

 sufficiently high temperature. Certainly, if after obtaining the welding 

 heat, delay occurs in reaching the anvil, so that the terrxperature has fallen 

 too low before the hammering begins, the result will be the same as 

 if the welding ])oint had never been reached. If the blows are not struck 

 with sufficient force and rapiditv to compress the fibres of the bar, the 

 same thing will happen. 



Three important points then to be remembered are : — 



The correct degree of temperature must be attained. 



On removal from the fire to the anvil, hammering must commence 



immediately. 

 I'he blows must be struck ({uickly and hard enough to be felt 



throughout the heated mass. 



.Assuming that these points are recognized, and the end of the ]X)ker is 

 JK^ati'd. ii should then be (|uickly removed to the anvil and held in 

 such a ])()Niti(!n with one hand, that the end is level with the outer edge 

 of it and the bar is inclined to the face of the anvil, so that the angle 

 formed is slightly greater than the angle of the point required. It i.- 

 struck v.wv blow directly on the end; then the bar is turned a quarter of 

 a revolution to recci\r the ne.\t l)low, and so on, alternately turning and 

 striking. 'l"he n-suli is that the point so formed will ha\e a .square sec- 

 tion. \\'hen a round point is desired, first make it square. Then hammc-' 

 the corners off, striking lighter blows as the operation is nearing comple- 

 tion. 



I'ORGiNG A Wedge. 



In ni.ikiiig a wetlge for a hammer or axe, fulkiw much \.\\v same pro- 

 reduri' as that described in connexion with the forging of a poker. The 

 \v«'dgf is, however, l)etter made from a flat bar. In this ca.se more iilows 

 must Ik- struck on the flat sidr than on the filgc. but the first IjIows should 

 Ik- struck on the t-dge in such a manner as to narrow the end to .ibout half 

 its former breadth. It is ihm iiuiird ,ind heavier blows struck on the 

 flat until a sharp edge has been t)l>l.iine(l. In making a wedge, a good plan 

 is to barb the edges with a .sharp chisel. This prevents the wedge from 

 loosenin-f and tallinu out ;is soon as it otherwise would. 



