Forge Work (Classic Reprint) - Couverture souple

Ilgen, William L.

 
9781440070174: Forge Work (Classic Reprint)

Synopsis

Explore the story of iron and steel from ore to finished metal. This nonfiction guide dives into the processes, equipment, and practical craft behind metalworking, including open‑hearth, puddling, and forging. With clear explanations and practical notes, it shows how different types of fuel, fluxes, and furnace designs shape the metal you use every day.

The book blends historical method with hands‑on technique, helping readers understand how iron becomes steel and how craftsmen shape blooms into usable bars. It covers furnace layouts, kiln insulation, and the careful steps of heating, mixing, and refining. Along the way, it introduces essential tools, terminology, and the logic behind workflow decisions in a foundry or forge.


  • How decarbonization and flux chemistry influence metal quality

  • Step‑by‑step descriptions of puddling, open‑hearth refining, and rolling

  • Details about furnace design, linings, and temperature control

  • Practical insights into tool making and stock calculation for craftsmen



Ideal for readers of industrial history, metalworking hobbyists, and anyone curious about how iron and steel are made and worked.

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Présentation de l'éditeur

William L. Ilgen's book Forge Work is an instructional text detailing metalwork, and more specifically working with a forge. The original purpose of the book, as outlined in the author's preface, was to commit to text many of the oral instructions provided to metalworking and blacksmithing students so that they may have a reference document to which they can refer.

Divided into eight chapters, Forge Work is a thorough and expansive reference book. The book begins with an introduction to the tools and appliances commonly used by smiths. Ilgen's writing is accessible for the layperson, so much so that a reader with no experience in forging could comfortably make this book their introduction into the craft. From his introduction to the tools, Ilgen progresses to a discussion of some specific forging operations, including straightening, twisting, welding, and scarfing, among many others. The author outlines various practice exercises to be used by students of metalworking so as to improve their skills and understanding of the craft.

Later chapters cover more advanced topics, such as the treatment of steel, tool making, art smithing, and scroll work. Pictures are included throughout, however many have unfortunately not survived republication.

William L. Ilgen's Forge Work is a success as both a textbook for students of metal work and as a reference book for those more experienced in the craft. The index that concludes the book is invaluable, and the clear and concise directions throughout make for an illuminating read. While other books have been published on the topic, few cover the information with as much depth and breadth as Forge Work.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

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