This page is still heavily under construction. I am adding to the list of terms as I have time, and as I think of a term that needs to be on the list. If you have any suggestions for additions, or questions about a particular term (questions will help in determining what needs to be on this list) send me an e-mail at:
pauls1@bellsouth.net
Please use "Blacksmithing terms" as the subject heading of your e-mail.

Some terms may be listed without a definition. That just means that I put it on the page when I was short of time, and will add the definition later. Sorry for the delay.

Alloy:
A mixture of two different metals, melted together, to form a new material.

Annealing:
Heating a piece of steel, then allowing it to cool very slowly. This leaves the steel as soft as possible.

Clinker:
Impurities that melt out of burning coal and collect in the bottom of the fire. The clinker must be removed, to keep the fire clean burning.

Coke:
Coal that has been processed to remove the impurities. In a coal forge, the coal must be partially burned (to produce coke) before the fire will burn cleanly. Coke can be purchased (in some locations) to make a hotter, cleaner fire than can usually be made with coal.

Cone mandrel:
Larger versions are often called floor cones. A large cone shaped piece of metal that allows several different sizes of rings to be formed on it. The ring is driven down on to the cone until it is forced into a perfect circle.

Cutting Saddle:
A band of soft metal shaped to fit over the anvil's work face. It is used when chiseling, to prevent damage to the anvil's hardened face (from the chisel or other cutting tools).

Hardy:
A tool that is made to fit into the square hole (hardy hole) of an anvil. It can be a cutting tool (like a hot-cut) or a shaping tool (like a swage).

Normalizing:

Points of Carbon:
A reference to the carbon content of a particular steel. When the steel is identified by a four digit number (1008, 1040, 4130, etc.), the last two digits indicate the carbon content of that steel. 1008 is a plain steel with 0.08% carbon. 1040 is a plain steel with 0.40% carbon. 4130 is a chromemoly steel alloy with 0.30% carbon.

Pritchel hole:
A round hole in the anvil's face, used when punching holes through a piece of metal.

Quench:
The process of rapidly cooling a hot piece of steel, by immersing it in a quenching medium - usually water or oil. This process is used in hardening of steel.

Scarf:
An edge of the material that has been shaped (getting thinner as it gets closer to the edge) to provide a larger surface area for forge welding that edge.

Spring fuller:

Swage block:
A large block with numerous hollows in various shapes and sizes. It is used to form bowls, spoons, etc.

Swage tool:
A tool used to shape the cross-section of a piece of steel. The hot steel is hammered into the hollow of the swage tool, or squeezed between a top swage and bottom swage.

Tempering:
A process of controlled heating of a hardened (hard quenched) piece of steel. The hardness of the piece is reduced by some amount, in order to reduce the brittleness of the metal.

Top tool:
A tool used in conjunction with a bottom tool (such as a swage tool used in the hardy hole). A piece of steel can be placed between a top swage and a bottom swage (hardy) and be shaped (by striking the top swage) on the top and bottom at the same time.

Upsetting:
A technique for increasing the diameter of a rod by heating it then striking the end or slamming the rod down on one end against the anvil face.

Thanks to everyone who has helped with suggestions for this list!

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My Forge Page

A little information about coal

Some books about blacksmithing

A few links

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