Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-07-10
USES OF CASTOR OIL.
Oue of tho Most Valuable and Servicoablt
nj NI..n t.ImnLIa gIII..Inu

Ome OF tho Most Valuable and Sorvicoabls
of OIcaGiHous Substances.
Castor oil. though best known for
its medicinal qualities, is from n me-
chanical point of Wow one of the most
valuable of all oleaginous substances
The production of this oil in the
United States amounts TO more than
900. 1000 gallons per year In 1880 the
value of the product was little more
than $500. 600.
Castor oil is ono of tho heaviest of
oils. It's specific gravity is nearly a.
great rs that of water. being .96l1.
1t IS tho most viscid of the fixed oils
and mixes In all proportions, when
pure, with alcohol and ether. Al
though in timc in does oXid,ze
and become solid. vet II is prac-
tically non-drying and non.gumming.
MS it may be exposed in thin films for
months without showing any signs of
cumming or hardening. properties
which give IL great value for variety
OF purposes For use upon leather 1t
exccls all other oils. Noalsfoot oil is
not TO be compared toit. lis viscosity
aud its Indifference to tho oxygen Of
the air, arc among tho reasons for its
prcscrvativc action. The first prevents
its being easily driven out of tho
leather by tho action of water or
dampnoss, and the latter serves to
relard the slow destruction OF tho
leather by atmospheric action.
1t appears to have peculiar
action upon leather softcning and
greatly improving that which has bc-
como old and hard. Old boots which
arc entirely beyond the reach of any
ordinary preparations may DO greatly
improved and made almost like now
leather by tho application of castor
oil. There is little difficulty in black
ing leather after this oil has been apa
pliod. Tho ordinary preparations Of
bccswax, tallow aud rosin. when ap"
piled To leather. do make it water
proof for q time, but rs thoy penetrate
and harden in the leather they APP
pear TO open us pores. and when
they have at last been driven out
by moisture, which happens in n short
time. tho leather is mor1 porous than
before. Ordinary oils appear to opcn,
the pores and to do very little toward
rendering tho leather permanently
soft and pliablc. A wotting. after
these preparations have been applied.
leaves them worse than before. es-
pocially IL they havo been wet with
snow wafer ro'
Leather hose and leather belts.
when treated with castor oil. Hast
much longer than when any other
material is used upon thoni. One
author goes so far as 10 say that they
last years longer. A belt well filed
with castor oil win do tho work of
ono fifty per cent. wider. which has not
been so treated and at tho samo limo
last more than twice rs long. Au-
other recommendation is that rats and
mice will not touch tho leather, as
they dislike the oil.
For tho fabrication of hight ma
chincry, castor oil is very valuable, MS |
Il does not gum. an I ITS slow-ilowing |
prevents it from working out Of the
bearings rs quickly as tho mineral
oils. In this respect it is far ahead Of
most other oils Of the same class.
Compared with ordinary "black oil'
il would stand as 1870 to l6 or II. AL
though It is very thick. it does not
soldify or freeze until il has been
cooled to 8 or degrees below zero.
Its melting point is about 10 degrees
above zero. The addition OF one
quarter part by weight of bccswax IS
sufficient to convert tho oil into soft
solid which might bo used for many
kinds Of fabrication where grease Is
needed Mechanical NeD& /