The Forge
Blacksmithing is the art of crafting crude metal into usable items and has been around for a long time. Working with a fire, a hammer and an anvil the artist Blacksmith forges iron and steel into shapes imparting it with a special quality and character.
Today blacksmiths do more than simply hammering. Part of their business is to visit clients, survey sites, discuss design ideas, provide individual design proposals and make drawings, in addition to making, finishing and installing the work. New methods like computer-aided design, sophisticated welding, fabrication, cutting systems, and power hammers have added to the capabilities of modern blacksmiths, but have not compromised the hand skills that lie at the heart of the craft.
Materials:
Wrought Iron
Long regarded as the traditional material worked by the blacksmiths. It is highly malleable and ductile and can be easily forged and welded. Since this metal is corrosion resistant and handles stress well, it was in the past preferred for all types of metalwork. Today no longer commercially produced and due to the limited availability it is very expensive and is almost exclusively used in restoration and conservation projects.
Mild Steel
The most common form of steel used today, as its price is relatively low. Although it is less ductile and malleable, this material possesses greater tensile strength and its properties are acceptable for many applications. It corrodes more easily then wrought iron and therefore needs to be protected either by galvanizing, painting or powder coating.
Cast Iron
A ferrous nonmalleable alloy which is heated to a liquid and then poured into molds to solidify. Popular because of its low cost, it is widely used as cast material for mass producing identically shaped items. It exhibits reasonable resistance against corrosion but unlike wrought iron or most irons and metals, due to its low tensile strength more prone to fracture. It is very strong in compression which makes it desirable for use in columns and posts of buildings.