Forging in general refers to the process for the heating of metal in order to manipulate it into desired forms and shapes based on particular concepts or designs. As such, hand forging is still the process of forging metal, only this time the process is manually guided by a forger with the aid of specially designed equipment that are specifically made for such a purpose. Even though hand forging is labor intensive, the process is still favored over machine-produced metals in certain instances due to the perception that it offers some advantages over the other type. The process for hand forging is different from that of machines, and the tools utilized are also different from those used in the mechanized process.
The process of hand forging is an ancient one that has been utilized for many centuries by professionals who are generally referred to as blacksmiths. Basically, they shape the metal by heating and applying blows of varying pressure to the metal in order to manipulate it into a desired contour that is keeping with the design the blacksmith is trying to achieve. Apart from the fact that this method of forging metal requires a lot of labor and strength, it also has some benefits over the metals that are forged in other ways. One of the benefits is the fact the metal produced through this method is usually stronger than metal produced by other techniques, such as casting or welding. The main reason is that the repeated blows from the blacksmith and the careful monitoring of the process results in a less porous material that is better refined than most tactics.
Another reason why this type of forging might be utilized in the shaping of metal could be due to the fact that this method allows the material to be manipulated more closely than would be the case with another process. For example, if someone wants to make special wrought iron shapes with very intricate designs, this can be better accomplished by the application of hand forging. Depending on the need of the client, most forging companies can offer either hand forging or other techniques, even though this type is usually more costly due to the labor and time involved in the process. Those who are trying to develop a prototype of a design may also use this process to fine tune the product before deciding to use other methods.
