Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-12-18
ABOUT SAWS.
We copy the following from one of the Boston
commercial Bulletins Centennial Letters
uAssIcur-srrrs nLNr-r AcrI,Rrs

We copy the following from one Of the Boston
Commercial Bulletins Centennial Letters
MASSACHUSETTS MANUFACTURES.
Before close must squeeze in paragraph or
two in reference to two large manufacturing com
panies of Mass, which certainly deserve q much
more extended notice, if the space could be afford
cd. The exhibit of the Simonds Manufacturing
Company of Fitchburg, is remarkably fine. As
of thelargest manufacturers OF machine knives,
and knives, sick les, and sections for mowers ard
reapers, during the past twelve years, their pro-
auctions have taken a leading position, but the
circular saws which they exhibit and the process
by which they are made, is OF interest not only to
hose who have occasion to use the article, but TO
those who are fully aware of the difficulty of max
ing anything from sheet steel and leaving in sat-
isfsctory condition after being tempered and fin
shed. Saw-makers especially, can realize the tie
dious process Of hammerlng, and the utter impos-
bility Of producing perfect article.
Mach money, time and patience have been OK
pended during the past % wears, to perfect pro-
cess for Strengthening and other steel articles
without hammering, and it has been accepted as
aforegone conclusion that it was an lmpossibllN;
but the Simonds Manufacturing Company after
seriess of experiments, extending over period of
three wears, and at large expense, have fully
succeeded. They are now successfully producing
circular saws Of all sizes without hammerng, and
an article that takes = foremost rank.
By the old method of manufacture, the saw.
through the hands Of smithers, hammerers, aud
blockers. as they are called, who remove the IL
Irregularities as far as possible with heavy ham
mers on apvils, leaving the saw when complete
irregular in its tension, source of continual eX-
pense and annoyance to its users. In avoiding
this system, and by means of their improved pro-
cess and appliances, they produce an article en-
tirely free from uneven strain or buckle-a result
not before attained.
The hammering process requires the use of a
Of sta, tha apta apf
by breakages would ruin any concern; hut by
means Of the new process very high quality OF
steel is used, and as q result saws are produced
that BY aetu al tests will hold edge twice as long
The success OF the process, requiring perfectly
uniform heat, insures an absolute uniformity Of
temper, and the saws file and set in more salts
factory manner.
One very marked peculiarly of large saws is,
that they can be run at any reasonable speed with
equally good results some ffty-inch saws now in
use, having been run at nearly every speed from
400 to 1850 turns q minute-the generally accept
ed speed for that size being S25 turns-while ham
mered saws must be hammered differently for diff
fcrent speeds. In fact, many old theories, so long
considered as to have been axioms in the minds of
saw makers and users, are exploded by the results
of this process.
1t marks a new era in the working of Steel
makes perfectly practicable what had before been
considered an impossibity, and not only lifts a
load from toiling humanity, but is decided step
forward in mechanic arts.