Forgework

Forgework is metalworking that relies on a forge to heat metal to forging temperatures before shaping it by deformation. The term covers both traditional blacksmithing and other processes that use heating and hammering to form metal, including artistic ironwork, toolmaking, and industrial forging.

In traditional forgework, iron and steel are heated in a coal- or charcoal-fired forge or, more recently, in gas-forges. A heated billet or bar is placed on an anvil and shaped with hand hammers or power hammers, with occasional forging to join pieces.

Key techniques include forging (upsetting, drawing out, bending), forge welding (joining heated pieces), and heat treatment such as quenching and tempering to achieve desired hardness and toughness.

Common tools include forges, anvils, hammers, tongs, swage blocks, and chisels. Modern forgework may employ gas forges, coal forges, or electric induction heating, and in industrial settings, open-die and closed-die forging presses.

Applications range from blades, tools, and hardware to decorative ironwork. In industrial contexts, forgework yields large components such as shafts, gears, and fittings. Safety considerations include burns, fumes, and exposure to intense heat; training and personal protective equipment are standard requirements.