Slack Tub

We just learned about the Fuller.

Another part of a blacksmith's forge is the slack tub.
This is the large tub of water that the blacksmith dips the metal in to cool it off.

If there is a part of the metal that the blacksmith does not want to get shaped, they can cool it down, and then only the hot part will be shaped.

For blade making, like swords or knives, the blacskmith uses oil instead of water.


(from: wikipedia - forge)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Blizzard

Fuller

We just learned about the Tongs.

Another blacksmithing tool is the fuller.

This type of tool is a long tool like a bar that has a rounded edge on one side.
There are two types of tools, an upper fuller or lower fuller.

The upper fuller is like a bar that is placed on top of the hot metal.
It has a handle that the blacksmith holds onto while hitting the top of the fuller, and the rounded part of the fuller spreads out the metal as it is pushed down into it.

The lower fuller goes underneath the metal by the anvil, and sits into the hardy hole while the blacksmith hits the metal.


(from: wikipedia - fuller)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Dust Storm

Tongs

We just learned about the chisel.

Another tool used in a blacksmith forge is the tong.

The metal is too hot for the blacksmith to touch, so the tongs are used to hold it still while it is being shaped and hammered, or for putting it in or taking it out of a hot forge.

There are a few types of tongs, like flat tongs, ring tongs, and gad tongs.
Depending on what type of metal the blacskmith is working with, different shapes of tongs can help hold it better.
If it is a flat piece of metal, the flat tongs work well.
But if it is a round bar, it might slip with flat tongs, so the ring tongs would work better.


(from: wikipedia - tongs)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Sand Storm

Chisel

We just learned about the sledgehammer.

Sometimes when a blacksmith needs to cut a piece of metal, they will use something called a chisel.

There are two main types of chisels, a hot chisel or cold chisel.

A cold chisel is used for metal that is cooled down, and is sometimes used to put marks or grooves in metal.
A hot chisel is used for metal that has been in the forge and is very hot.
A blacksmith will hold the chisel over the metal, and then hit the top of the chisel with the hammer.

There is a special type of chisel called the hotcut hardy, which goes into an anvil's hardy hole.
The point of the hotcut hardy chisel is facing up, and the blacksmith puts the metal on the top of the chisel and hits the metal, pushing it into the pointed part of the chisel.


(from: wikipedia - chisel)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Freezing Rain

Sledgehammer

We just learned about the Straight Peen Hammer.

Another type of hammer used in blacksmithing is the Sledgehammer.

This type of hammer has a round flat face on both sides, and a very long handle.


(from: wikipedia - sledgehammer)

In the old days of blacksmithing, there would be one person holding the piece of metal in place, while another person called the striker would take a big heavy swing and hit the piece of metal very hard with the sledgehammer.


(from: wikipedia - blacksmith)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Heat Lightning

Straight Peen Hammer

We've learned about the Ball Peen Hammer and the Cross Peen Hammer.

Another type of blacksmithing hammer is the Straight Peen Hammer.

This is used just like the cross peen hammer, but in the other direction.
The cross peen hammer has a sideways line that makes a cross shape with the handle.
The straight peen hammer is lined up straight with the hammer handle.


(from: wikipedia - hammer)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Thundersnow

Cross Peen Hammer

We just learned about the ball peen hammer.

Another type of hammer used in smithing is the cross peen hammer.

This hammer has a flat head on one side, and a sharp line on the other.
It is used to put indentations in the metal, and spreads the metal out.


(from: wikipedia - hammer)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Thunder

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)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lightning Strikes - Trees

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)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lightning - Return Stroke

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

Typhoon

We just learned about Category 5 Hurricanes.

If a large tropical cyclone is in the northwest part of the Pacific Ocean, it is called a Typhoon instead of a hurricane.


(from: wikipedia - typhoon haiyan)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lightning

Category 5 Hurricane

We just learned about the Category 4 Hurricane.

The next level of hurricane is Category 5 Hurricane - Catastrophic damage will occur.

These hurricanes have wind speeds over 157 mph.

This is the highest level a tropical cyclone can get to.
These hurricanes totally destroy entire buildings.
They flood large areas, uproot trees, cause power outages for a long time, and people have to leave their homes and go to a safer place.


(from: wikipedia - saffir-simpson hurricane)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Fog

Category 4 Hurricane

We just learned about a Category 3 Hurricane.

The next level is a Category 4 Hurricane - Catastrophic damage will occur.

These hurricanes have wind speeds between 130 and 156 mph.

This kind of hurricane can totally knock over a house, rip up and snap most trees, flood very far inland, and cause power and water losses for weeks.


(from: wikipedia - hurricane gustav)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Snowflake