FORGE

Forge means shaping a metal object by striking it, usually with a hammer on an anvil, in order to give it its shape through plastic deformation of the material. Depending on the Metal worked and the desired result, forging is carried out hot — the metal brought to a high Temperature becomes more malleable — or cold, which hardens the piece through Cold working while refining its structure. In watchmaking and related trades, small components are notably forged to give them a particular shape or specific mechanical properties, such as when the tip of the Dart (safety pin) of a Pallets (lever) is forged to thin it out. Beyond shaping, forging orients the grain of the metal and can improve its strength. A foundational gesture in the working of metals, forging is often followed by finishing operations — filing, machining, hardening and tempering — which bring the part to its final dimensions and characteristics.