What is Finery forge?
A '''finery forge''' is a [[hearth]] (a brick fireplace) used to make [[wrought iron]] by burning [[pig iron]]. Finery forges were probably used in the 3rd century BC. In the 18th and 19th century it was replaced by the [[puddling process]]. [[File:PSM V38 D183 A forge trip hammer.jpg|thumb|A hearth (left) and trip hammer (centre) in a finery forge; in the back room (right) is a large pile of charcoal]] == History == [[China]] made finery forges before 200 BC. [[Europe]] made finery forges around 1200 AD. Europe’s finery forges were worse than China’s until 1400 AD. Europe started powering their finery forges with [[Water wheel|water wheels]]. In 1700 AD, Europe made [[Blast furnace|blast furnaces]] and started using puddling techniques == Types == === German forge === In [[Germany]] and [[Sweden]] most finery forges only had one fire used for everything. === Walloon forge === Walloon finery forges were used in north Sweden and made [[oregrounds iron]]. Oregrounds iron was the best iron available in the 18th century. === Lancashire forge === {{main|Lancashire hearth}} == Process == Pig iron is melted, making a lump of iron called a [[Bloomery|bloom]], and [[slag]]. The iron lump is then hit with a [[Trip hammer|hammer]] many times. Hitting the iron with a hammer gets the slag out of the iron, so the iron can be used. [[Category:Iron]]