The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-02-13
BUYING PARM TOOLS.

BUYING Farm TOOLS.
The farmer who now selects new tools |
for another seasons work, will find it a
matter of economy in labor TO choose
those which are as light as a sufficient
degree of strength will admit. Weld
ing a needlessly heavy tool is waste of
strength. a hand hoe. for instance,
may make two thousand strokes in al
hour, OF twenty thousand in day. A
needless ounce in weight will therefore
require the constant movement of this
ounce twenty thousand times daily, or
equal to more than half ton, which an
operator must expend in personal exer-
tion. Some tools are half pound heav-
ier than use requires and day laborers
using them waste an amount of strength
equal TO whole tons in each day. There
are other tools not requiring the alterna-
ting movement of the Toe. when addi-
tiOnal weight is not so detrimental, as,
for instance, the crowbar, which, being
used as a lever, does rot require a con-
slant motion. But in all cases tools are
their intended purpose. The crOwbar
must be heaviest where the weight
rests, and decrease in size with the dis
tance from this point, There is often
too little taper toward the hand, and as
a consequence, the bar is usually bent
Properly constructed, the handle would
be bent as soon as any other part, and
no sooner. The same principle will ap-
ply in the construction of hoe handles,
which should be strong where the hand
moves, and if the tool is slightly taper
ing toward the blade, to which most ot
the motion is given, it will prevent a
needless expenditure of strength.
The principle which DR.. Holmes
imagined the maker of the hundred.
year one horse shay - adopted in con.
structiDg every part OF the vehicle ac.
e0rding 10 the strength required, may
be also applied TO the construction oi
tools as far as possible. The part which
most frequently breaks should be made
stronger next time. That which never
breaks is needlessly heavy. A light
plOw, strong enough for continued use
economies the strength Of the team
II twenty pounds too heavy, the friction
which these twenty pounds create OF
the soil will require force equal at leas
to ten pounds more than is necessary
These ten pounds bearing on horse al
day amount to about as much as plow
ing an entire acre in a twenty acre field
Some plOws are much heavier.
All these matters should be we'll ex
amined in purchasing any tools; ant
such as are in frequnt or constant US
require more care in selection than sue
as are rarely employed; ; and more car
should be given the form and strengtI
of those parts that have quick Yibra
tory motion, where momentum must b
continually created and arrested, tha
in such as have a continuous OF revoly
ing motion. As human strength
more valuable than horse OF steam pow
eT, hand tools should be selected wit
particular care, and light and effectiv
as we'll as durable ones, preferred to Ui
and clumsy, especially il they are in da
ly use.
Where the efficiency of a tool depend
entirely on the momentum which ma
be given 10 il, different rule apple.
as with hammer, which must have
weight corresponding with its intende
use. a heavy hammer would not driv
a small, slender nail, but would bend c
double it ; while the quick blow Of
light hammer would accomplish the dC
sired purpose. On the other hand
large spike could not be driven with
light hammer. Rivet.heads are sprea
only with the quick blows OF a ligh
hammer, in the same way that a stak
or post has its head battered and spli
with light ak. a heavy FOUNDER
required for heavy post. A tack han
Der would make no impression on il
whatever might be the vigur with whic
it is used Country Gentleman.