FORGE, properly signifies a little fur nace, wherein smiths and other artificers of iron or steel, &c. heat their metals red hot, in order to soften and render them more malleable and manageable on the anvil. An ordinary forge is nothing but a pair of bellows, the nozzle of which is directed upon a smooth area, on which coals are placed. The nozzle may also be directed to the bottom of any furnace, to excite the combustion of the coals placed there, by which a kind of forge is formed. In laboratories there is generally a small furnace consisting of a cylindrical piece, open at top, which has at its lower side a hole for receiving the nozzle of a double bellows. This kind of forge fur nace is very convenient for fusions, as the operation is quickly performed, and with few coals. In its lower part, a little above the hole for receiving the nozzle of the bellows, may be placed an iron plate of the same diameter, supported upon two horizontal bars, and pierced near its cir cumference with four holes, diametrically opposite to each other. By this disposi
tion the wind of the bellows, pushed for cibly under this plate, enters at these holes ; and thus the heat of the fire is equally distributed, and the crucible in the furnace is equally surrounded by it. As the wind of bellows strongly and ra pidly excites the action of the fire, a forge is very convenient when a great heat is required. The forge, or blast bellows, is used to fuse salts, metals, ores, &c. It is much used also in works which require strong heat, without much management ; and chiefly in the smelting of ores, and fusion of metallic matters.
Fonsx, in the train of artillery, is gene. rally called a travelling forge, and may not be improperly called a portable smith's shop : at this forge all manner of smith's work is made, and it can be used upon a march. as well as in camp.