MECHANIC EXERCISES,

OR,

The Doctrine of Handy-works.

Of Smithing in general.

Definition.

Smithing is a manual art original: "Art-Manual." A craft or trade performed by hand. by which an irregular lump (or several lumps) of iron is worked into an intended shape. This definition needs no explanation; therefore, I shall proceed to give you an account of the tools a blacksmith uses. I assume you already know them, as they are so common, but I include them partly because they may require some precaution to set them up most suitably for your use, and partly because it is necessary for you to know the names blacksmiths call their various parts. This way, when I use blacksmiths' terminology original: "Smiths Language."—as I shall often have occasion to do in these exercises—you may understand them more easily as you read.

Of setting up a Blacksmith's Forge.

The hearth or fireplace of the forge original: "Fogre." Likely a typographical error in the original text for "Forge." marked A (in Plate 1) is to be built up from your floor with brick to about two and a half feet, or sometimes two feet nine inches high, depending on the purpose you design your forge for. If your forge is intended for heavy work, your hearth must lie lower than it needs to be for light work for ease of management, and as broad as you think convenient. It may be built with hollow arches underneath to store several things out of the way. The back