Forging of metal involves the process of technological processing of metal billets to give them the necessary appearance in the course of changing their size and shape. Those products that are obtained during processing are called forgings. At the same time, in order to get a high-quality semi-finished product, you need to know in what condition the metals are better forged, what material is most suitable in a particular case, etc.
Among the main metals that are best suited for forging, it is worth noting: noble metals, cast iron, lead, steel, copper and bronze. But often they use only three main ones. A forge is a workshop in which material is processed by forging. It is worth noting that in the modern world, due to the relatively low level of productivity of manual labor, production is increasingly shifting to factory (conveyor) production. Now, instead of workshops, forge shops equipped with hydraulic hammers are increasingly found. As for manual work, now they resort to it only for the manufacture of piece goods or art forging.
History
Blacksmithing can safely be called the second from the list of ancient crafts. After mankind discovered the indisputable advantage of iron products over stone, the active development of blacksmithing immediately began. From time immemorial, forges have often been on the outskirts of any settlement due to the fact that this is a place of increased fire hazard. In ancient times, a mandatory attribute of such a workshop were blower furs and a hearth (brazier), which was designed to bring metal to the required temperature. Charcoal or coal was used for fuel. As the main tools used: chisels, anvil, hammer, pliers, file, nail and emery stone.
Blacksmiths in Russia
As for Russia, almost until the 19th, the technology of metal forging was unchanged, and this despite the fact that the blacksmiths of that time were at such a high level that even watches could do without problems, not to mention knives and more. A special place was occupied by the production of all kinds of locks with various secret mechanisms, while the craftsmen knew which metal was best used for forging.
Blacksmith requirements
Unfortunately, and maybe fortunately, not everyone can become a true master of blacksmithing. It is not enough to know in what condition the metals are better forged, what tool should be used in this case. A blacksmith should have remarkable strength, have good physical and mental health, be accurate, have a good imagination.
Types of Forging
Depending on whether the forging is performed under the influence of high temperature or in the absence thereof, it is possible to divide this process into two types - cold and hot.
As for the latter, in this case it is understood that the metal used for forging will be brought to the required state directly in the furnace. Needless to say, each material has its own temperature, depending on individual chemical and physical properties.
Cold forging, based on its name, does not imply heating, and processing occurs using special equipment. By the way, if the material requires stamping, then in this case it is placed in special stamping equipment, which limits its size to the required one, after which, under pressure, the metal takes the form of a cavity in which it was placed. This procedure is often applied only in mass, mass production.
Classification by processing method
Classification of forging is carried out depending on the metal processing method: crimping kritz, welding and ordinary. The latter, in turn, implies the compaction of the material and giving it the necessary shape. During welding, splicing of packages is carried out, which consist of separate parts that have been heated to the required temperature. As for crimping the kritz, with this method, compaction occurs, followed by welding of the particles with the release of slag directly from the kritz (an iron mass similar in appearance to dough).
Forging can be manual and automatic. The first is determined by a series of sequential operations with a hammer, sledgehammer and other tools. Initially, blanking of the workpiece, extraction, flashing, chopping, bending, welding and final processing are performed.
In the case of automatic forging, all the same operations are performed, only special equipment is used instead of manual labor.
Forging metals
In blacksmithing, craftsmen sometimes have to deal with different metals and their alloys. Workpieces of the same size may require different temperatures, and therefore different amounts of fuel.
What is the thermal conductivity of a metal? This is the heating rate of the workpiece relative to its cross section. The following conclusion can be made: the lower its thermal conductivity, the higher the risk of cracking. Thus, thermal conductivity is directly related to fuel consumption.
The so-called “malleable” metals are used directly for forging, in other words ductile alloys, for example, iron and carbon, based on the amount of its content, are distinguished: high-carbon (0.6-2%), medium (0.25-0.6 %), low carbon (up to 0.25%).
Steel
As for its structure, steel is like a granular-crystalline body, which is a kind of grain. Due to its properties, it is an ideal material for a blacksmith. In that case, if the carbon content does not exceed 0.1%, the steel is quite soft and easy to weld without additional hardening, in practice it is simply called iron.
If the carbon content is kept in the region of 0.1-0.3%, then such a material meets all the requirements, and is suitable where art forging is needed. The metals used may be different, only the impurities in them should be no more than 1%. They are also called ornamental.
Carbon steel
That steel, which contains no more than 1.7% carbon, is called carbon and, despite the fact that this material is quite complicated for manual forging, it is perfect for automatic.
As for GOST 380-71, steel for art forging is marked from 0 to 8. The material is designated as follows: St0 or St1, etc. This number, which appears after the letters, indicates the percentage of carbon in hundredths. When answering the question “in what condition are metals better forged?”, It must be understood that the closer the indicator is to zero, the softer the material. For example, St10 contains 0.10% carbon. Next, a table will be presented, where it is clearly seen in what condition the metals are better forged, more precisely the temperature of the beginning and end of this procedure.
steel grade | T ° C forging | steel grade | T ° C forging |
Start | the end | Start | the end |
St1 | 1300 | 900 | U7, U8 | 1150 | 800 |
St2 | 1250 | 850 | U9 | | |
St3 | 1200 | 850 | U10, U12 | 1130 | 870 |
Thus, any specialist will be able to quickly calculate the required temperature relative to a particular material, and, accordingly, the required amount of fuel for kindling and a suitable metal for forging. Blacksmithing is a fairly accurate process, despite the outward rudeness of the blacksmiths. In the modern world, this is akin to art, and to find a truly good master every year is becoming more difficult.