Blacksmith preparing stock for swaging.
For more experienced blacksmiths and metalsmiths, producing a repetitive shape or final form on wrought iron with a swage (pronounced "swedge") can save hours of hand work. A swage is a small, heat-tempered block of metal with a concave depression used to true a piece of metal that has been partially shaped with other tools. They may come in sets or large blocks containing multiple swages. Depending upon the type of swage, a blacksmith may need the assistance of another person to hold the swage, freeing the smithy's hammer hand. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Choose a set of swages according to the finished shape desired. Swage shapes can be plain such as balls, blocks, twists and leaf veins. Other swages are used for ornate patterns like acorns, arrows and animal heads. Swage blocks are large, tempered steel blocks that can weigh several hundred pounds. They contain various shapes in multiple sizes and are frequently used for making spoons, ladles, bowls or specialty parts.
2. Place the bottom die of the swage in the hardy hole of the anvil, or remove the bottom flat die of the power hammer and replace it with an appropriate fitting bottom swage die. If unable to secure the bottom die properly on the anvil, have a striker or assistant hold the bottom die on the anvil with tongs that fit the die. If using a power hammer, never hold the dies with your hands. Dies can be mounted to springs or made to completely replace the hammer's bottom die.
3. Yellow stock ready for shaping.
Heat stock in forge until it's yellow and shape it to roughly fit the die's indention using a cross peen hammer.
4. Reheat the stock in the forge until yellow.
5. Blacksmith at a power hammer.
Open the spring swage with one hand and place the hot stock onto the bottom die with the other hand. Release spring and strike the top die with the sledge hammer or power hammer several times quickly to ensure that the top and bottom dies have come together.
6. Place the bottom die in the hardy hole of the anvil or have a striker hold the die firmly with tongs if spring swages are not used. Lay the hot stock on the bottom die and have the striker hold the top die over the top of the hot stock. With dies held firmly, hit the top die with the sledge hammer several times quickly to ensure closure.
7. Open the dies and check for the desired finished shape. The stock may be reheated and placed back into dies if necessary to achieve the finished shape desired.
Tags: power hammer, finished shape, have striker, anvil have, anvil have striker
