Blacksmithing on Homestead |
Blacksmithing dates from the earliest iron age, which started about 1500 BC in central Asia. Many of the tools and techniques date from earlier times. The metal worked by the blacksmith is either the old ductile wrought iron or the modern steel. Wrought iron is the product of early iron furnaces called bloomeries. It has no carbon and cannot be hardened. Steel is iron with a small amount of carbon (0.1 to 1.5%) that makes it hardenable. Early steel was an expensive product made in small quantities. Modern low carbon steel has almost entirely replaced Wrought Iron. Modern steel has been available in bulk since the 1860's. Cast iron is iron with 2 to 3 percent carbon or more. It is brittle and can only be shaped only by casting in a mold or by machining. It is not forged. Cast iron has many uses because it is inexpensive to produce items from it. Cast iron is also better for things like the body of machine tools or engine blocks because it is stiff and is vibration dampening. |
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Power hammer and forging machine information and links |
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Blacksmithing is the art of shaping heated iron and steel with hand hammers and anvil or powerful forging machines. The Blacksmith is the person who does this work either by hand or machine. "Black" comes from the color of the metal after being heated and cooled. "Smith" comes from the word, "smite" or "to strike". Therefore the blacksmith is one who strikes black metal. |
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Blacksmiths are often confused with Horseshoers or Farriers. This is because of the American frontier general blacksmith shop where smiths did everything from making hardware, wagons and repairing machinery as well as making horese shoes and shoeing horses. Most of those that call themselves blacksmiths are not horseshoers and most horseshoers do no more blacksmithing than making shoes. |