The
blacksmith played an important role in the smooth running of a mine. He
maintained equipment, made up trucks, as well as making and mending tools.
One of the most important tasks for the blacksmith was re-sharpening pick
axe blades; blunt pick blades were brought up by miners at the end of
a hard day for re-sharpening ready for the next day's shift.
By controlling airflow into the Forge fire, iron work can be heated to the different temperatures required for each job, once heated the hot metal is lifted out using Tongs and carried over to the Anvil where it is hammered into shape. The ironwork might need to be heated and beaten many times before it is the right shape.
Next to the forge is a tank of water called a Bosh, into which the newly shaped hot metal can be plunged to cool or 'quench' it, to give it the hardness suitable for its task. Sometimes the hot iron work is plunged into oil or brine, to give the iron different hardnesses.
We now have a new blacksmith at the mine using these and modern techniques - come and see the workshop, or even commission a new piece of work; examples of work and photographs are available to view.