Project Swage Block and Cone Mandrel
Dear Fred,
You always have informative articles in the
Gazette which are helpful to all levels of the craft.
Might I suggest some information on the use of the blacksmith’s
swage block. Most texts simply mention the blocks in
passing giving little information as to their application.
True; most folks can easily figure out how to use the outside
edges and its’s surely not hard to understand what a ladle
or spoon depression is for. But the varied number of
square and round holes may leave some baffled as to
purpose and techniques employed say for tenoning or forming
shoulders. We may all use this tool but not perhaps to
it’s fullest advantage and surely not with the facility
that some of the older masters could. Just a suggestion for an
article or if it might be found, some reprinted information on
the subject. Actually it would be curios to gather data similar
to the “Project Anvil” but on swage blocks and cones for that
matter.
Thanks, Bill Ker
Let's Start a Project Swage Block and Cone Anvil!!!
Well Bill, that is a great idea. I have been gathering
information on Swage blocks for some time, and will continue to
do so with an article in mind. We gathered and published quite a
bit of information on the anvil through the formation of
“Project Anvil”. Let’s start a similar project for Swage Blocks
and Cone Mandrels.
Ok, all of you guys and gals out there
how about sharing the information that you have on swage blocks
and cone mandrels with our readers. Reprints from old books,
from old magazines, old newsletters, including text,
photographs, and drawings. I really don’t know how much
information may be out there on these items. They were however,
very important pieces of equipment in the blacksmiths shops.
When we started “Project Anvil” I didn’t know that an Anvil
Book was in progress and I made a statement if there was enough
information we might put out a book on the subject. I do not
believe there is a book underway on the swage block and the cone
mandrel and I doubt that there is enough information to produce
a book; however, if I am wrong and it turns out that a great
deal of information comes in, we will consider assembling and
printing a book on the subject. Let’s see what’s available! Send
your input for this project to: Blacksmith's Gazette, 950 South
Falcon Road, Camano Island, WA 98292 or e-mail to Fred Holder,
Editor of Blacksmith's Gazette at fholder@sos.net.
Dear Fred,
I am writing you about “Project Swage Block
and Cone Mandrel.” As an aspiring smith who is still trying to
set up a forge, I had a friend give me a book titled “The Art of
Blacksmithing” by Alex W. Bealer (ISBN 0-7858-0395-5). It is an
excellent book for anyone trying to ‘learn it on their own’. In
any case, the book has the following to say:
(page 80 - 81 )
“ Another piece of equipment which stands on the floor near the
forge is the ‘mandrel. ‘ it is no more than a cone of cast iron
some 2- to 4-feet high on which the smith shapes circular
objects such as nose rings for oxen and hub bands for wagon
wheels. The better mandrels have a slot running from point to
base on one side into which tongs can be inserted while holding
the piece of work. Some also have a removable tip with a shank
that can be taken off the mandrel and placed in the leg vise or
Hardie hole for convenience.”
(Page 93 - 94) “Often the
blacksmith whose work is fairly general equips his shop with a
set of upper swages, or makes them himself, and
substitutes a universally useful ‘swage block’ for the lower
swages. He is not qualified to make this tool himself but he can
make a wooden pattern and have it cast at the nearest iron
foundry.
“Swage blocks are generally 2 1/2 - to 3-inches
thick and anywhere from 6 to 18-inches square, depending on the
versatility required. Usually two of the sides are serrated with
semicylindrical depressions ranging from 1/8 inch to 2 inches in
diameter. When the block is placed on the anvil, or on a
separate wooden block or stand, these depressions are used to
shape round cape chisels or used in place of lower swages.
“The remaining two sides of the cast-iron block are usually
devoted to V-shaped depressions of successively larger size
which serve as lower swages for shaping square stock. Sometimes,
however, depending on the needs or whims of the smith, the edges
provide half-ovals, half-rectangles, half-octagons or hexagons,
or half of any special shape a particular smith may need
“There is no waste of space on the flat sides, either. They
are pierced with all sizes and shapes of holes — round, square,
rectangular, heart-shaped, whatever — to provide a precise
variety far beyond that offered by the Pritchel or Hardie holes
in the anvil. Such holes go entirely through the mass of cast
iron, but often on both sides the swage block has hemispherical
or semi-egg-shaped depressions for shaping ladle and spoon
bowls, for in eighteenth-century America and Europe the smith
provided these items to other craftsmen and households.”
The book has a very nice history of blacksmithing and starts
from the beginning of forge and fire and works through making
tools to artistic forging. The author also points out the best
written directions cannot replace hands on experience.
Enjoyed my first issue (October) of the Gazette.
—Bill
Bennet
Return to Blacksmith's Gazette Home Page
This page last updated on July 7, 1999
See Swage Blocks . Com for photos and information