Rational Horse Shoeing and Wagon Making
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with rules, tables, recipes, etc., useful to
manufactures, blacksmiths, machinists,
well-drillers, engineers, liverymen,
horse-shoers, farmers, wagon-makers,
mechanics, amateurs and all others who have
occasion to perform the work for which this
book is primarily intended.
In Europe great importance is laid upon the position taken by
the apprentice and the manner he holds the sledge. The
sledge is held so that the end of it will be under his right
armpit, when the right hand is next to the sledge, and under
his left arm when the left hand is nearer the sledge. In this
unnatural position it is next to impossible to strike hard and do
it for any time. This is another article imported free of duty, but
few Americans have been foolish enough to use it. In this
country the apprentice will be taught to use the tools in a
proper way.
The end of the sledge-handle will be to one side; at the
left, if the left hand is at the end of the handle and at the right
if the right hand is at the end of the handle; and be down
between his feet when the handle's end must be low. The
apprentice should stand directly in front of the anvil.
In swinging, the sledge should describe a circle from the anvil
close down to the helper's feet and up over his head and
to give it a horizontal start; that is, with one hand close to the
sledge the apprentice starts out either in the direction of the
horn or the butt end of the anvil, and then up while both hands
should clasp the extreme end of the handle close together the
sledge should be dropped down to the feet then up. The hold
taken should not be changed, but the hands held in the same
place. (See figure 4.)
For ordinary use a nine-pound sledge is heavy enough, a large
sledge will give a bump, while a small one will give a quick good
blow, it is only occasionally and for special purposes a large
sledge is needed, even an eight-pound sledge will do. Try it, and
you will be surprised how nice it works.
With these preliminary remarks we shall now begin to make a
few tools. We will begin with the blacksmith's tongs. I shall only
give an idea how to forge the jaws, and every man that needs
to make them has seen enough of this simple tool to know what
kind is needed, and what he has not seen will suggest it to
every sensible smith.
