Ball-peen Hammer

We just learned about the Anvil - Pritchel Hole.

When a blacksmith has a piece of hot metal, there are a few different types of hammers they can use.

One is called a ball-peen hammer.
This hammer has one flat side, and one rounded ball shaped side.

Peening metal means to hit the metal with a hammer to bend or shape it.
Because the one side of the ball-peen hammer is ball shaped, it will bend and shape the metal differently than a flat hammer.

The ball shaped side has a few different uses.
It can be used to make small marks in the metal for a different look.
It can help hammer small nails called rivets into holes.
It can help mush the metal up against corner pieces.


(from: wikipedia - ball-peen hammer)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lightning Rod

Anvil - Pritchel Hole

We just learned about the Anvil - Hardy Hole.

Another part of the anvil is the Pritchel Hole.

This is a small round hole by the edge, used to punch holes in the metal.
The blacksmith would put the piece of metal over the hole, then hold a tool like a nail over the metal and hit it with a hammer to make a hole in the metal.

(from: wikipedia - anvil)


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Anvil - Hardy Hole

We just learned about the Anvil - Table.

Another part of the Anvil is the Hardy Hole.

This is a rectangle shaped hole in the top of the anvil that can be used to hold special tools called hardy tools that are used to help shape the metals.


(from: wikipedia - hardy tool)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lightning Plasma

Anvil - Table

We just learned about the anvil - horn.

Another part of the anvil is the table.

This part of the anvil is in between the face and the horn.
It is used for when the metal needs to be cut, but the blacksmith doesn't want to scratch up the face of the anvil.


(from: wikipedia - anvil)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lightning Re-strike

Anvil - Horn

We just learned about the anvil - face.

Another part of the anvil is the horn.

This is the long part that sticks out like a nose, or almost like an animal horn.

A blacksmith can use this rounded horn to help make a rounded piece of metal by shaping while it is hot using a hammer.


(from: wikipedia - anvil)


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Anvil - Face

We just learned about the Anvil used in blacksmithing.

The anvil has many parts that are useful to a blacksmith.
The main top flat part of the anvil is called the Face.


(from: wikipedia - anvil face)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lightning - Attachment

Anvil

We just learned that a forge is a hot fire that blacksmiths use to heat up metal.

When the metal is heated up, blacksmiths pound it against an anvil, which is a large hard piece of metal.


(from: wikipedia - anvil)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lightning Upward Streamers

Forging

We just learned that someone who works with metal is a Blacksmith.

The blacksmith heats up the metal to work with in a forge.

A forge is like a big hot oven.


(from: wikipedia - forge)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lightning Leaders

Blacksmith

We just learned about Metalwork.

One of the types of metalsmithing is called blacksmithing.

Long ago the blacksmiths were people that made everything from swords to spoons to pots and pans.


(from: wikipedia - blacksmith)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Cloud to Ground Lightning

Metalwork

We've learned a lot about the weather. Everything from clouds to hurricanes and more.

Now let's learn about metalwork.

This means everything from pouring hot metal into a mold, to banging hot metal to make things into different shapes.

Metalworking is used for everything from artwork to knives and forks, to cars and airplanes.


(from: wikipedia - blacksmith)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Cloud to Cloud Lightning