Concept in Definition ABC
Miscellanea / / July 04, 2021
By Florencia Ucha, on Jun. 2010
It is designated by the term of smithy to the workshop or shop in which a blacksmith operates. And the smithy will also be called job from the blacksmith. In the smithy, what is basically done is to work the iron material to make various objects, or to restore some elements that are made of this material.
Art of working iron and workshop in which it works with this material
Iron, the material that ironwork works par excellence, is the fourth most abundant metal in the crust of our planet, representing per se 5%, meanwhile, it is the most important in planetary mass since the earth in its core concentrates the largest amount of iron. The core of the planet earth is made up mostly of iron, in addition to nickel, in metallic form, and for example, when it moves it generates a magnetic field.
Basic elements with which the blacksmith works: anvil, forge and others
While, the blacksmith is that individual who is dedicated to the elaboration iron or steel objects using specific hand tools, such as the forge, anvil, hammer, pliers and tools. molds, to be able to bend, hammer or perform any other action aimed at shaping the metal when it is in a plastic state.
The forge is the physical place in which heat is applied to the metal, and for example the fire that is generated there must be controlled and determined temperature.
And the anvil is a large block of steel that is used as a support for those pieces that are fused. They work on it.
Traditionally, metal is subjected to heat until it becomes incandescent, red-hot, as one might say, and subsequently subjected to the forging process.
Bars, furniture of any kind, such as tables, chairs, armchairs, benches, sculptures, tools, weapons, utensils kitchen, hoods and decorative elements, turn out to be the most common manufactures that are made and produced by blacksmiths in a smithy.
An ancient trade
Blacksmiths with a lot of experience, that is, who have been developing the trade for many years, are trained to make, investing very little effort, products of excellent quality that will allow to give a refined appearance to the place in which they are located.
The blacksmith trade is certainly millenary, it has been present in the communities for many years, even if we review the history of classical mythologies, such as the Greek and Roman, we find that the figure of the blacksmith has been valued through deities who performed the trade, such is the case of the Greek Hephaestus and the Roman Vulcan. Both Hephaestus and Vulcan had a skill incredible and unique when it comes to working iron, even one of her great tasks was the building of most weapons and armor worn by the gods.
The trident of Poseidon (Greek god of the sea), with which he stirred the waters, was built by Hephaestus.
Involved in the design, decoration and construction of buildings and infrastructure in cities
Currently, in the field of design and decoration, the products that a blacksmith manufactures have a special predilection on the part of both designers and professionals. the general public that consumes them, on the one hand, because of that touch of distinction that we mentioned they possess, and on the other hand because, as they are elements, objects and furniture that is made of materials as strong as iron or steel will last longer and will not require an extreme careful. For example, an iron chair can be left out in the open without damage. Its structure is important, being able to withstand rain, cold, humidity, among other inclement weather of weather.
On the other hand, blacksmithing is a fundamental activity when it comes to raising, building the infrastructure of a city, because through them sheets, beams and rods can be produced that turn out to be vital to carry out any construction project.
Build a house, a building would be impossible if you do not have the intervention from the smithy.
One of the specialties within the smithy is to place the horseshoes on the hooves of the horses. This type works with black iron, the color being due to the oxide layer that is deposited on the surface of the metal during its heating.
Topics in Blacksmithing