St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-08
USES OF STEEL.
Some W0nderfuL Results of Experiments


Some WonSerTul Results of Experiments
scith the Metal.
From the Pittsburg Commercial Gazette.
The latest use of steel is in the manufac-
ture of cannon. tits probably the most as
tonishing application yet made of that metal.
In 1880, about the time mild steel came
largely into the market, the president OF a
company manufacturing seamless brass and
copper pipe concluded to try mild steel as
substitute in certain directions for the more
expensive brass, copper and other metals
used in his establishment The process of
manufacture was simple. A plate OF metal
was placed over die and mandrel forced
the plate into it just as lady might place
piece of tissue paper over her thimble and
then force it in with her finger. The man
drel would force the metal into shape like
a deep bowl, with sides of uniform thickness.
By repeating this process with other dies and
4 mandrels, hydraulic presses being used to
shove the mandrel through the die: the plate
of steel eventually became steel tube OF
uniform thickness and perfect bore and cir
conference. The steel was found to work
as easily as the brass or copper, and no
| change of tools was necessary.
As steel was cheaper than copper, the adj
vantage of substituting drawn steel seamless
tubes for brass or copper one was manifest.
But the saving in price was altogether the
smallest gain. To the establishment of those
engaegl in the experiment, the steel was
found to have radically changed its character
in the process. Invent into the machine
soft and pliable. 1t came out, although drawn
cold, beautiful tempered spring. If a tube
was compressed it would instantly resume
its shape when the pressure was removed.
If struck with a hammer it rang like bell,
while tests of the increased strength of the
metal showed a change that WAS wonderful.
To fully test its strength boiler of the size
and style used beside every range in large
houses was made from the steel by this pro-
cess. The m etal of the boiler was drawn
out to thickness of about one-thirtieth of
an inch. and it then stood a pressure of 600
pounds to the square inch, giving way when
that limit was passed.
After this and other tests the experiment.
ers began to wonder why gun barrel could
not be made of steel by this process that
would be superior to any other They first
made tube of six inches bore and half an
inch thickness of metal. This was drawn
cold. Then another was made of the same
thickness of metal, and of bore that would
permit it to be showed over the first one by
hydraulic press when it warmed, the first re-
naming cold. A third was then drawn over
the two and thus was completed cannon.
1t was found that it would stand water
pressure of 5000 pounds to the square inch.
This cannon has been sent to Sandy Hook,
and the officers of the artillery corps will try
to burst it by the usual tests applied to new
cannon. They have before them the as
\ tOp of hat yriI
q solid shot weighing 100 pounds, although
the metal is only one inch and half thick
around the powder. To people accustomed
| to seeing the common cannon enor
mously thick at the breach, it will seem in
credible that an inch and a half of this metal
will serve this purpose better.
| 1t is well known that one cause of the
high price of Illuminating gas to the consul
mer is the great quantity lost by leakage
through the cast iron pipes used. In this
city it was found that this leakage of the
natural gas was so great that serious and IA
tai explosions occurred. Every foot of the
cast-iron mains has in consequence been or
dered out. The great size of the bore needed
prevented the use of lap-welded wrought-iron
pipe, and the seamless pipe of paper-thick-
ness will be used, its great density being
proof against any leakage of gas or liquid
under any pressure. The tendency to cor
rode even under ground is very small, but
this objection to steel will be wholly obv lated
by coatings either of tin or aluminium
bronze within and without. The steel pipe
is not only better but cheaper.
| Milk cans are being made of the new steel
tubing. The bottom is an eighth of an inch
thick, and the sides about one-fourth OF an
| inch. The banging of the most vigorous
| Yankee cheese maker or of the most reck-
less brakeman on milk train can not dent
them or seriously injure them.
The experimenters have also turned their
attention to clock-springs, and they have
found that the new process not only makes
cheaper, but a superior quality of spring.
Just what change the metal undergoes in
this process of drawing has not been deter
mined That it becomes dbrous is plain.
Iron drawn out into wire becomes fbrous
also, but 1t does not become tempered
spring.