Forge Work

by William L. Ilgen

Fig. 52.—Steps in Making a Gate Hook.

Bend the straight, round end from the side e to a right angle, proceeding as follows: When placing the work on the anvil, have the side e uppermost and the shoulder projecting over the edge of the anvil the thickness of the round, or ⁵⁄₁₆ inch; then when the metal is bent, the inside corner will be formed at the proper place and the shoulder will readily form into a right angle on the outer side. Light upright and backing-up blows will aid in forming the right angle after it has been bent, provided the piece is held with the round end vertical and resting on the face of the anvil. If such blows are used while it is being held over the edge of the anvil, they will reduce the sectional dimensions and not materially aid in forming the angle. Sketch d shows this angle in solid lines. Now form the round portion of this angle into a circular eye, making the inside diameter ¹⁄₂ inch, with the center on a line with the center of the main stem. Sketch d shows this eye in broken lines.

Bend the pointed end in the same manner and in the same direction as the eye, having the distance between the eye and the angle 4 inches, as shown in sketch F. Now heat this end and cool the extreme corner of the angle to prevent its straightening, then form the hook to the dimensions given in the sketch.

Heat the central portion of the square metal to an even cherry red; hold the hook and 1 inch of the square portion securely in the vise; then grasp the other end with the tongs or wrench 2 inches from the vise, and revolve it once, thus forming a twist of the proper length. Before cooling this work, see that the eye and hook are parallel and the body of the hook is perfectly straight.

73. Door Hasp.—[Fig. 53]. Drawing, forging, punching, cutting, and bending. Material required: 7 inches of 1 × ³⁄₁₆-inch mild steel.

Mark lightly with the hardy on the edges 1 inch and 3¹⁄₄ inches from one end, as at a. Form shoulders at these marks with edge-to-edge blows, as shown at b, so that the metal between them may be drawn to smaller dimensions. The shoulders should be formed not deeper than ¹⁄₈ inch at first, and the metal between them should be drawn to a corresponding dimension. Then forge the 1-inch end into a round eye, as at c, and punch a ⁵⁄₁₆-inch hole in its center, as shown at d. Now draw the metal between the eye and the shoulders to exact dimensions, 3 inches long, ⁵⁄₈ inch wide, and ³⁄₁₆ inch thick, as shown at d.

Fig. 53.—Steps in Making a Door Hasp.

Mark the other end in the same manner 2¹⁄₂ inches from the shoulders, and form new shoulders at these marks with edge-to-edge blows. Draw the metal to a length of 2¹⁄₈ inches, making it ⁵⁄₈ × ³⁄₁₆ inch at the shoulders and ¹⁄₂ × ¹⁄₈ inch at the end; the extreme end should be forged round. Sketch E shows these operations completed.