Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1843-10-04
NO. SO
times TO yield this double product. this
well will be worth more than silver mine.
-Ciaciundii Chronicle.


-Ciaeiundii Chronicle.
Blaeksmiih's Work.-As many Of oul
farmers have blacksmilh's shops Of their
own. the following directions for working
steel aud making edged tools, plain and
simple as they are, may be Of great value
TO them. if casefuIIy enjoined upon their
smith. who are frequently grea, bunglers
10 this kind of work. Southern Planter.
"Working Cast .SteeL.-We have re.
Gently obtained information on this subjec,
from Tho most ,skilllul and celebrated
workman in the U. States, Capt. J. Hill,
of Bilerica, Mass. We were little sur
prised 10 learn the difference in the man
agsment Of cast steel, from that of the
German.
There is something ye, remaining mys-
ferIous, with regard to tho nature and nan.
agenieui Of this article; which no cyclnpc-
dia or other vehicle Of intelligence have 40
yet. developed.
The process Of manufacturing cas-, steel,
It Is not our purpose ut present TO des-
crihe, but il 10 evidently composed Of re.
hncd iron and carbon in very nice proper
lions. In the process Of shaping il into
cutting blades aud other articles il is hea-
ted and hammered 10 the manner Of other
steel, when tempered for this purpose. il
is FIRST heated to full cherry red, and plum
gcd into water till cold. I, may then DO
held over moderate charcoal fire, until
The color Of any part which has been filed
or made bright after hardening, changes to
poudish orange color,
This is the temper for cutting tools. but
If spring temper is required. it 10 heated
over the charcoal ill the color approaches
q blue. or rather blue inclined 10 red. Ia
either case when The steel is brouehf 10
show these colors, i, 10 be plunged in
oIl-comm0n lamp or linsecd oil-which
will mol affect the color.
II the steel is to be rendered soft for
turning or cutting. il must he heated 10
full red, and left TO ccol In partially igui.
ted charcoal; in this way il may be made
so soft as 10 be cut or turned into shape
Us easily as copper, or even common pew.
ter.
But the most curious and peculiar pro-
CESS is tha, Of welding. Ia welding iron,
a white heat is indispensable. as every bo.
dy knows; but not 80 with cast steel
When Tie serl is TO be welded &C iron
neither are 10 be heated above fnll cher.
ry red. The Two parts are 10 be previ-
ously !ashed or girded together, and in
that condition heated: they have they then
only 10 be immersed in calciued borax. or
to have prepared horax (borate of soda,y
spriukled over The joint, ere ready 10 ad-
here by being hammered together.
The borax for this purpose is Io be pre-
pared. by being previously healed 10 full
red. aud kept heated ill il becomes soft
powder like -four
Whal Ihe chemical effect ofthe calcined
borax on the meialic surfaces is nor
perfectly understood farther than tha,
its affinity for oxygen such as 10 deprive
the joiured surlaces OF my portion oxygen
which might prevent ready union Of tho
surfaces.
When small pieces Of steel are to be
welded, they are To be heated to the full
cherry red. and immerced in the caIcined
b0rax ana then 10 be hammered together.
The most extraordinary poin, in the
process is the fact, that il the steel is but
a little ovcheated, it will Immediately
crack into fragments; hut by shifted pro-
cess and with The use Of jborax, the de-
fec,s may be healed and rendered sound
and solid. We have witnessed the fact,
thai by a judicious management. fine
lemperec cutting edge Of cas-, steel may he
bent. warped and hammered. aud i,s
shape materially changed without break
ing or affecling the temper.
More may be said on this subject in a
future number, bur we close for The pre-
sent with the remark, thai even Anderson
& Co., the celbraled Manufacturers ofcast
steel, are evidently uuacqpainted with all
the merits Of lis, peculiar properties
Amer. MochaRic."
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