Mechanick Exercises, or the Doctrine of Handy-Works

These are the most essential tools used in the blacksmith's trade; but some specific tasks original: "accidental work" may require specific tools, which, as they may be needed original: "fall in", I shall give you an account of in the appropriate place.

Of Forging in General.

I think it unnecessary original: "needless" to tell you how to make your fire or blow it, because those are both tasks for a laborer; nor how small or large it needs to be, for your own common sense original: "Reason" will teach you that by the size of your work. However, let me tell you that the phrase smiths use for "make the fire" is blow up the fire, or sometimes, blow up the coals.

When the fire is burning with the iron in it, you must use the slice a fire shovel or flat tool used to manage coals to pat original: "clap" the coals together on the outside to keep the heat in the center of the fire. Every time you find the fire beginning to break out, pat them close again. Use the washer a brush or bundle of straw used for wetting the fire dipped in water to wet the outside of the fire to dampen the exterior; this both saves coals and forces the power of the fire into the inside, so that your work may heat more quickly.

But you ought to frequently draw your work a little way out of the fire to see how it is taking its heat, and quickly thrust it in again if it is not hot enough. Each purpose your work is designed for requires a proper heat suitable to that purpose, as I shall show you in the section on the several heats of iron. For if it is too cold, it will not "feel the weight of the hammer" (as smiths say when the iron will not deform original: "batter" under the hammer); and if it is too hot, it will red-sear—that is, break or crack under the hammer while it is being worked at a temperature between hot and cold.

Of the Several Heats Smiths Use for Their Iron.

There are several degrees of heats smiths use for their iron, each according to the purpose of their work: First, a blood-red heat. Second, a white flame heat.