Treadle Hammer

at the Delnero Old Time Blacksmith Shop

The Blacksmith's Treadle Hammer

  This treadle hammer was built from the plans designed by Clay Spencer of Madison, Alabama. It has a 65 lb. hammer connected by a adjustable link to the treadle. Three large springs suspend the hammer. Its anvil is made of a 36" X 6" X 6" piece of steel. There are hardie holes in both the hammer and the anvil to hold many different kinds of tools. The treadle hammer has many uses to a smith as many operations require three hands.
 Almost all blacksmithing is done with iron and steel. None of the other common metals can be forged after heating in the same way. Modern iron is produced from large furnaces which melt iron ore. What first comes from these blast furnaces is called pig iron. Wrought iron is produced by refining and rolling hot pig iron to reduce the carbon and to remove most of the impurities. It is the most tough and malleable form of iron. It also has a greater resistance to corrosion than most other types of iron.
  Unfortunately, wrought iron has not been produced since around 1911. It has been replaced by mild steel, which is iron with a small amount of carbon in it. For structural work and general machining, this is a better material. It is not however, as satisfactory for blacksmithing. It forges harder than wrought iron and is much more difficult to fire weld. Because it is possible to reuse the same iron many times, today's smiths might find it worthwhile to collect discarded iron for further use. 
 
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