Autonopedia

A

HOLDING THE HAMMER

It needs practice to hit the metal in the right place.

Holding the hammer properly helps, so grip it like this near the end of the haft and swing the blow freely from the elbow not from the shoulder.

Don't 'choke' the hammer by gripping it right under the head.

B

CHISEL END

Take a NEAR WELDING heat on the piece.

Hold it on the anvil face at a slight angle.
Hammer it at a steeper angle towards the tongs. This will thin and spread the end.

Don't try to push the metal with the hammer, hit it fair and square.

C

After one or two blows turn the piece on its side, hold it flat on the anvil and correct the spreading.

Keep on forging first on the flat and then on the side, beginning at the tip and working backwards until it is finished.

D

SQUARE POINT

The vital thing in forging a square point is a quick and accurate right angle turn of the wrist between blows.

Look at the hand holding the tongs, first this way-

E

Then like this-

Notice the quarter turn of the wrist.

Take a LIGHT WELDING heat each time the metal is re-heated so that any tendency to split is counteracted by the subsequent blows.

F

Draw to an abrupt point first, then work it backwards until the point is 3" long.

Note: When drawing heavy sections, work over the top of the bick, as this gives a fullering action, and draws the metal faster. (See Lesson 9 C.)

Then finish the point on the flat of the anvil like this -

G

ROUND POINT

To make a round point from either round or square bars, it is necessary to make a square point first.

Then hammer in each corner to make the point eight-sided as shown here-

Next, round up the point.