Solid fork-ends, small and large, are easily shaped by means of a mould, like Fig. 236. An implement of this shape may be used as a bottom tool without a corresponding top tool; or a pair of tools may be made having recesses of the same shape in each tool; and both tools may be adapted to a steam hammer and anvil, the top shaper being keyed in the dovetail gap of the hammer, and the bottom shaper being keyed in the dovetail gap in the anvil. When the bottom tool only is employed, the lump to be shaped is driven into the recess with ordinary fullers and rounding tools; and when one half is thus shaped, the work is put upside down, and the rounding tools again employed to drive the fork-end into the shaper. Fullers and rounding tools are thus employed as substitutes for a top shaper ; but when the shaper is in two pieces, the fork-end may be entirely formed at one or two heatings, while between the shapers, no other tools being required.

If a great number of fork-ends are to be formed in such implements, it is necessary to ascertain the exact quantity of metal required for each fork-end, to avoid the necessity of taking the work from the shapers during forging and cutting off the superfluous pieces with chisels. The proper quantity of metal for each one, and also for burning and welding, is known by entirely finishing one or two, previous to preparing or drawing down the metal for the total number of fork-ends required.

The making of fork-ends, and all other forgings that are pressed into moulds, is greatly facilitated by forcing into the shapers only that quantity of metal which is sufficient, by which the danger of injuring the moulds is also avoided.