What is Hand Forging?
Hand forging, also known as blacksmithing, is the simplest form of forging. It is the fundamental process of shaping metal using both heat and force. It often incorporates time-honoured skills in the blacksmithing trade with modern techniques and expertise to provide exceptional hand forged products and components.
B.B. Price offers hand forging as part of one of their forging processes. Our engineer's skilled hand work ensures that we can provide hand forgings are all sizes, types and shapes. Hand forging may cover a variety of processes but includes bending a heated bar into any shape requested by manually forcing it around a generic pole or mould to re-shape the material.
The Hand Forging Process
The process of hand forging is often broken down into three stages:
Heating
The metal which is to be forged is firstly heated to red heat in the fire of a forge. This is typically steel or iron due to their malleability.
Shaping
It is then beaten and manipulated into the desired shape on a metal anvil with hammers and other hand forging tools. Hammers and other tools are employed by the blacksmiths in various forgings operations and processes.
Finishing
Once the forging has been completed, and the piece is cooled, it will go through grinding, filing and polishing in order to achieve the desired surface and high-quality finish.
Advantages of Hand Forging
Hand forging is not only used for high-volume production but also for low-volume, bespoke products. Its low setup costs make it a cost-effective option for these unique items.
As well as that, hand forgings have other benefits including its superior grain flow and refining of the steels internal structure. This comes from bending and working whilst the metal is hot. This means that products which are hand forged are stronger, durable and longer lasting then fabricated or machined components.
Whether you're looking for a blacksmith forge near me or forging solutions in Birmingham, Dudley and the Black Country, or the wider UK, B.B. Price is your one-stop destination for all your hand forging needs.
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Hand forging equipment
There are a number of different tools used in hand forging that allow a skilled forging expert to manipulate, and shape heated metal into a bespoke piece according o very specific requirements. Tools for hand forging can include:
Find out more about our Forging Equipment here.
