Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-02-09
How TIE Iren Plates for the Great War
steamer are Constructed.

steamer are Constructed.
The London Engineer gives the following
interesting account of the process by which
the iron plates for the new English war
steamer ere constructed
The tests which were applied to the plates
furnished by the builders Of the Warrior were
fred at with 6s-pounders, at 200 yards range,
aud were literally cut in halves by balls,
fred one after another, on a line drawn on
the surface, each ball striking immediately
below its predecessor. Upon some other
plates the balls made circular indentation
upon the surface nearly as deep as the plates,
exactly of the form Of the projectile, as though
q mold had been taken Of it in some soft and
Welding substance. II was only after repeat
ed trials that It was decided that the plates
should be annealed scrap iron. The labor
involved in buildingup these plates is enor-
nous. In the first instance, small scraps Of
iron are thrown into the FIRE, and, when in
4 state of red heat, are subjected to severe
hammering, under the steam hammer, until
the whole is beaten and amalgsmated into a
solid mass Of about half ton weight This
lump is then placed on the top of q similar
mass the whole made red hot, and ham
mered and welded together. Repeated adj
ditions Of this kind are made until about i've
tons Of metal are thus welded together in one
huge, shapeless body. This is then brought
10 glowing white heat, and placed un-
der the huge hammer, the laundering
blows Of which gradually reduce it into
shape Again and again the enormous
slab is put into the furnace and hammered
into one piece, Is feet long, 3 feet wide, and
Al inches thick. From ten 10 a dozen men
are engaged in the work of moving these
ponder0us masses Of iron, which are moved
about apparently with the most perfect ease.
Powerful cranes swing the molten mass from
the furnaces to the hammer, nicely adjusted
balance is provided by massive iron lever,
one end of which Is welded into and forms
part OF the metal, and this is provided witha
dozen or more Of horns or handles, by which
the iron can be turned in any directon; for
the plates are not only hammered on the
broad surface, but at the sides and at the
bottom. The plates after having been form
ed into shape; are completely planed and
squared. Planning machines of fenormous size
hug these plates in their resistless arms, and
bear them slowly and silently under the
sharp-cutting edges Of the tools, and thin
shAvings of the metal, which, as they are cut
of, coil up in long, bright ringlets OF iron,
attest the tremendous power of these noiseless
and all but omnipoteut machines. When
the edges and surfaces are made perfectly
smooth, like the finest work ofza cabinet
maker, the plates are placed on eRd, grip
ped firmly by a mortizing mechine, and as
| thav travail a1oTIv hacLrmard and fOrward in
the framework against small tongue of
steel groove Of about one inch in width
and depth is formed, into which tha cores
ponding proceedings formed on the side Of an
other plate viii fit with the most perfect &C
curacy, the plates all being made to dovetail
on each Of the four sides.