Twisting Metal

Forgework

1. Care should be taken when carrying hot metals (particularly metals at black heat that may not appear hot)

2. Clay bricks should not be heated as they can disintegrate violently.

3. Ceramic chips remain hot for a considerable time after the heat source has been removed.

4. Foreign materials present in the forge can cause fumes. Stones can explode.

5. Quenching of hot materials, particularly tubular components can cause risk of scalding.

6. Fuel combustion can produce dangerous gasses.

Pupils should be aware of the following hazards

Conditions of use.Appropriate safety equipment must be worn: Goggles, Leather gloves. (Leather apron where appropriate)

The Forge

The Forge

Hearth

Canopy

Fire Bricks

On / Off Switch

Isolating Switch

Ceramic ChipsSpark Ignition

switch

Brazing Torch

Spark

Blacksmiths Tongs

Stage 1

Use a Hacksaw to cut your piece of steel bar to length

Stage 2

File both ends of the bar square.

Stage 3

Use a Centre Punch to mark the beginning and end of the area to be twisted

Stage 4

Put on safety equipment

Leather Apron

Goggles

Leather Gloves

Stage 5

Get you teacher to switch on the forge. (wait about 10 min for ceramic chips to heat up)

Stage 6

Push the steel bar into the hot chips and let the bar heat up.

(This should take about 1 min)

! Remember to keep a close eye on the steel if you let it overheat it will melt

Stage 7

Using Blacksmiths Tongs lift the hot steel and grip it in the Leg Vice

Twisting

Wrench

Fit the twisting wrench over the hot bar and twist (note the centre punch marks)

Stage 8

The bar can be twisted ¼, ½, ¾, 1,2 turns etc

If you want to obtain similar twists on 2 or more items care must be taken to heat each piece to a similar temperature.

Stage 9

Stage 10 Use Blacksmiths Tongs to carry the hot bar to the sink and quench the steel.

The End