These are of various shapes and dimensions, to suit both small work and large ; and are used to grip the various pieces of work while being carried about from a fire to a hammer or to a shaping implement. Carriers are represented by Figs. 204, 20.5, and 206.

The cranked carrier shown by Fig. 204 is a very safe instrument to prevent the hot piece of metal slipping away from the middle of the carrier while being carried about. A carrier of this class is made of a straight piece of round iron or steel; and the cranking is effected on an anvil-beak, or on a block in which are studs or pins to hold the work while being cranked. Such studs for bending purposes may be placed also in some of the slots in a table shown at the bottom of the Plate (20).

The hook carrier, denoted by Fig. 205, is useful to a hammerman for carrying about small rods or bars of great length. While the smith carries one end of the work, the other hot end is suspended with the hook, and carried by the hammerman. Such carriers are useful also for twisting and bending small work.

Fig. 206 indicates a class of carriers for carrying long bars or plates, the work being gripped by one of the gaps in the cranked part. Either one, two, or three such carriers are employed by one or more hammermen, according to the dimensions of the work to be moved about.

To make such a carrier, two components are necessary; one of these is a straight bar for the cranked portion, and the other piece is a rod of iron of sufficient length to make any length of handle that is required. The bending of the bar to the shape of the crank is effected in a manner similar to that for making other cranks, which is by means of studs on some convenient block or table. After the gaps are made to the width desired, the crank part is welded to its handle, and the carrier is complete.

Bolsters

Bolsters are used to support a piece of work at a proper distance above an anvil, while being punched or drifted ; consequently the greater the length of drift that protrudes beyond the work being drifted, the greater is the height or thickness of the bolster. Some sorts of bolsters consist of thick circular rings having holes of various diameters; other bolsters are slotted, or may have a long narrow gap, as in Fig. 207. The forging of one of this class consists in bending one end of a long bar and closing the work together until the gap is of the proper width. After the bolster is finished, it is cut from the bar which was used as a handle during the forging.