FARM SHOP WORK 59 



theory is a delusion and a snare, as every farm boy can 

 testify. 



Bolts are not manufactured in quantities in the farm 

 blacksmith shop. They can be made by machinery 

 cheaper, but so many times a bolt is needed on short 

 notice that the farm shop should have the necessary 

 tools and materials to supply the need quickly. 



Forging Iron and Steel. Iron and steel are com- 

 posed of the same properties, but differ chemically. 

 Steel also is finer grained than iron and it requires 

 different treatment. Iron should be forged at a light- 

 red or white heat. If forged at a dark-red heat the 

 iron generally will granulate or crack open and weaken 

 the metal. For a smooth finish the last forging may 

 be done at a dark-red heat, but the hammer must be 

 used lightly. The weight of the hammer as well as the 

 blows also must differ with the different size of iron 

 under heat. Small sizes should be treated with ham- 

 mer blows that are rather light, while for large sizes 

 the blows should be correspondingly heavy. If light 

 blows be given with a light hammer in forging heavy 

 iron the outside alone will be affected, thus causing 

 itneven tension and contrarywise strain in the iron. 



Steel should never be heated above a yellow heat. If 

 heated to a white heat the steel will be burned. Steel 

 should never be forged at a dark-red heat. If this is 

 done it will cause considerable strain between the inner 

 and outer portions, which may cause it to crack while 

 forging. The weight of the hammer and the hammer 

 blows in forging of steel is vastly of more importance 

 than in forging iron. If the blow or the hammer is not 

 heavy enough to exert its force throughout the thick- 

 ness of the steel it will probably crack in the process of 

 hardening or tempering. If steel be properly forged it 



