The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-03-07
Welding Pieces OF Cast.Eron.

4 foreign exchange states that in some
parts Of Asia itinerant thinkers pass through
all the avenues of populous cities shouting
as they 90, I" Old kettles to .mend!" IL
hole or crack has been made in cast-lron
not, these vagrant workmen will apply heat
to the metal around the hole or along the
crack with such admirable precision that
a damaged kettle can be repaired ina few
minutes at q triflirg expense. Numerous
instances have recently been recorded, In
which two large pieces of cast-lron nave
been satisfactorily united. so as TO he as
strong as a new piece, by simply liking the
parts in the desired position, and then pour
ING on melted iron until the surfaces the
broken Dieces were so plastic that there
would be complete union with iron Ill |!
LIQUID condition. AS soon rs this degree OF
heat is attained the issue Of the mould IS
closed and the cavity is filled with melted
iron, which unites the two parts in most
perfect manner.
The following instances Of n very interest
ing and important experiment, taken from
the London Practical Mechanics journal,
will give more perfect idea OF the manner
Of repairing articles ofcast-lron. The writer
SAYS s'This method OF mendinS cast-lron
rolls we had the opportunity OF proving IN
its feasibility at one Of our American rolling
this case four columns were to he east, and
the writer and superintendent OF the foun-
dry proceeded as follows:
" All four were east sound ana without Il
blemish, except that upon the top box III
which one Of these was cast, I'LL beng cast
in green sand, some one had unluckily
dropped bar, or something heavy, or put
foot upon il, land produced crush,'
which rendered one Of these horns utterly
amorphous. The casting, otherwise per-
feet, was in that state absolutely useless,
and was about to be broken up when the
writer resolved to try and save 1t by attempt
ing to "burn on" a new and perfect morn.
The old and defective mass was carefully
cut of to absolutely sound metal; Loan
cakes having the proper form for the horn
were taken from the pattern, and the sur
face Of the cut metal was we'll busted over
with powdered glass Of boraX. Alter that
the mass of the frame in close propuinquity
with the defective place had been heated
red hot in coke fire built up roundit The
fire was then raked away, the loan cakes
secured in place, and several hundred
pounds Of very hot liquid cast-iron We're
for some time kept flowing through the
cavity of the loan cake hollow mould. AT
length the flow was stopped, when the cut
surface could be felt with the point OF an
iron bar pushed through the running metal
to have become pasty and SOFT, ana the IRON Q,
was then permitted to set. When finally
stripped, the new horn was found to be per-
fectly united with the remainder Of the
casting; and when struck it gave the clear,
sonorous ring which proves complete metal
lie continuity.
1.-The success, in fact, was perfect, and
somewhat surprised both the writer, to
whom SO large an instance was new, and the
marine engineer responsible for the super
vision of the work, who would not pass the
casting until he had assured himself Of the
safety of the horn by striking it heavily with
a sledge-hammer. This method Is capable
of being applied not infrequently with SINH
lar ends in view, and may often save the
condemnation of u casting, and effect a good
deal of economy. 1t can almost always be
made effective, if the methods be judicious
for attaching, as in the above case, q heavy
piece to heavy casting. It is Il far more
delicate and difficult task to make itsucceed
with smaller and more delicate work, and
there are certain cases in which it is useless
to attempt it."-Man,Jdcturer.