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Hand Forging by Thomas F. Googerty
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40 HAND-FORGING
place gradually becomes lower, and finally there is a slight hollow where it receives the most blows. In drawing out stock these high and low places in anvils must be considered; for instance, in drawing a piece that must be kept straight and square, it must be placed on the anvil straight across its face, or at right angles to the length. If held at an angle the piece will become winding. (See Fig. 11, the wrong way; then see Fig. 12, the correct way in drawing.) This will be readily understood when you consider that the anvil is high or low. That part of the anvil nearest the horn, not being used so much in forging, is generally a good place to smooth up a piece with a flatter when giving it a final finish.
When drawing iron, always raise the piece to a welding heat. This welds any fracture that may be in the piece and also refines the iron, while drawing without a welding heat is liable to fracture the grain so it will split open. Then, too, a large piece of iron must receive heavy blows in order to draw it in the center of the piece. Light blows have a tendency to draw on the outer edge and not throughout the piece as they should. Therefore it must be brought to a welding heat when drawing. It must also be kept in shape while drawing and not allowed to become twisted.
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Hand Forging by Thomas F. Googerty