Nails are not just crucial in blacksmithing; they are also very essential in almost all construction processes. It is one of the most sorted products of blacksmithing because of its various uses. Nails have high commercial and market value and are often demanded in large quantities. Read on to find out how to forge nails like a pro in easy steps.
For these reasons, most blacksmiths are keen on learning about how to forge nails. There are several ways pins are created, and hand-forged nails are one of the most common types.
The processes involved in the creation of hand-forged nails are not as tedious as it seems. Once you understand the basics and techniques required, then you are good to go. Here are some simple guides that can help you in making hand-forged nails.
Step 1: Get The Right Tools And Materials
The first step involved in this process is getting the right tools and materials. The necessary tools include forge, hammer, tongs, anvils, metal punch, as well as a file while the elements include an iron bar, steel plate, and iron wire.
Step 2: Forging
To forge nails, you need fire to heat the steel. The light must be hot enough to bring the steel to its melting point. Once the steel reaches the white-hot level, you don’t have to touch it yet; else, it will generate a lot of sparks.
Step 3: Create the Nail Head
At a suitable temperature, make use of a hammer to define the head of the nail. You can even make use of scrap metal to create the head of the pin. Once you identify the head of the nail after repeated strikes with your hammer, then set it aside to cool. This step is vital when forging a sword.
Step 4: Cooling
You should let the forged nails naturally cool off instead of quenching it. This cooling type is because the nature of cooling used for the nail will define a lot of properties. Quenching nails from such a high temperature can make the metal excessively hard, which is most undesirable in nails. Excessive hardness is not suitable for nails because of the harder the nail, the more likely it splits, and the less it holds. If you hit nails of such hardness with a hammer, it will most likely break and shatter instead of penetrating the intended surface.
Step 5: Finishing Your Forged Nails
Of course, after successfully carrying out the above process, you should employ suitable finishing for your nails. This step is highly flexible, depending on the desire of the blacksmith in question. However, you should ensure that the finishing protects the nail, give it an appealing outlook, as well as enhance its overall functionality.
Conclusion
Creating hand-forged nails is neither tedious nor complicated as long as you understand the techniques, as well as possesses the necessary tools and materials. Of course, you might not get a perfect result on the first trial, repeating the process with constant practice will improve your performance.
The primary factor to keep in place is getting your forge to reach the necessary temperature. The steps above will also make the process relatively easier for you.