The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-22
HOW WIRE NAILS ARE MADE.
An Industry of German Origin Which Is
Rapidly Growing in the United States.

One OF the rapidly growing industries OF the
world, but of comparatively recent origin, is the
manufacture OF wire nails. The business oriei-
mated in Germany and was only introduced into
the United States about forty years ago. Man
ufactories have for number Of years been es-
tablished in Pittsburg. and the industry has
since gradually moved westward. There are two
establishments in Indiana, the largest being in
Indianapolis. The other was started at Green
castle during the past year. Steel wire nails
have grown In popularity because of their su-
perior qualities of strength and toughness.
Their manufacture Is almost entirely different
from that Of the ordinary cut nail. There is no
not necessary. For making wire nails the best
quality of Bessemer steel rods, wire is usual
ly employed. The wire is made specially for the
purpose and comes to the manufacturer in large
coils. The first step in making a nail out of
these coils is to plunge them for two three
minutes in large watts containing a fluid the
principal Ingredient of which is dilute sui
phuric acid. This action is necessary to clean
the wire and better tit for drawing. The coils
are next cleaned by dipping them into tanks Of
pure water, and they are then removed to the
drying room. This room is heated to a high de-
gree of temperature by means of steam coils
and the wire is soon dried The wire, before it
can be properly drawn, must be given the
right temper. and for this purp ose, after it has
been dried, it is removed to the aunea1ing ovens,
where a uniform heat is applied that softens it
to the required drawing temper. Once in the
drawing room the wire is reeled on cylinders
placed near the reducing dies. The dies are of
steel and usually three four sizes smaller than
the wire. The die is opened and the wire in
closed The free end is then attached to
another cylinder moved by machinery which
draws the wire through the die and again reels
it. sEhs process is continued through smaller
dies until the required fneness is reached.
Before it is through the die, however.
provision is made for Frightening the wire. For
this purpose it is given bath in lime water and
the coating of lime which then adheres operates
polisher while the wire is being drawn
through the die The wire is now ready for be-
ing cut into nails and is removed to the mailing
room. The coils again placed upon reels
preparatory to connecting them with the nail
ing machine which is altogether self acting The
end of the wire is automatically fed into a die
which, closing upon it, serrates ii and holds it
momsntarily while q rod-hammer. acting like a
piston, hits a small exposed portion Of the wire
and 1attens it out into the head. AS the ham
mer withdraws the die separates slightly allow
ing the wire to pass through the length of
nail. when pair of small beveed chisels coming
together behind the die both point and cut off the
nail The average capacity of a nail machine is
300 per minute and one man with a helper
operate from four to nine. The last stage in
completing the nail is to give it further and
finer polish. and this is ACCOMPLISHED by putting
the nails into an iron-lined cylinder which re-
wolves horizontally. In revolving the nails are
rolled from side to side and the abrasion which
thus ensues gives them the requisite polish To
absorb the oil which may have adhered to the
wire while passing through tho machinery in the
process of becoming nails, a small quantity of
sawdust is thrown into the cylinder.