PREFACE.

...[only gained through practice and exercise] in the blacksmith’s work; then the rules and various circumstances of forging until your work comes to the file. Then I will discuss the several sorts of iron that are commonly used, and what sort is best suited for each purpose. Afterward, I will cover filing in general and the rules to be observed in it, as applied to the making of jacks original: "Jacks." These were mechanical devices, most commonly "roasting jacks" used to turn meat on a spit over a fire., hinges, screws, clocks, watches, etc. In these examples, you will find all other sorts of forging or filing work whatsoever included. And lastly, as a conclusion to smithing, I shall provide exercises on steel and its several types: how to prepare and temper it for its various uses, and what type is best for each particular purpose—such as which is fittest for edge-tools, which for springs, which for punches, and so on.

Some perhaps would have thought it more proper to have introduced these exercises with a more sophisticated original: "Curious." In this period, "curious" meant intricate, highly skilled, or expertly made. and less common original: "Vulgar." Meaning ordinary or widely practiced, rather than offensive. art than that of smithing; but I am not of their opinion. Smithing is (in all its parts) as sophisticated a manual craft original: "Handy-craft." as any that exists. Besides, it is a great introduction to most other manual crafts, such as joinery, turning Shaping wood or metal on a lathe., founding The melting and casting of metal into molds., printing, etc. All of these (along with the smith) work upon the straight line, the square, or the circle, though with different tools upon different materials. Furthermore, they all depend upon the smith's trade, while the smith does not depend upon them. Having finished with smithing, I shall, God willing, proceed to those and all other manual crafts whatsoever that work by geometrical principles.