The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-05
SAILS MADE OF PAPER.
Something Wanted Lighter and More
Elastic Than Duck.

1t is now quite certain that paper pulp
composition will be employed in making
sails for light vessels. The Herreshoffs,
builders of racing boats, have lately ex-
perimented with the application of rubber
to balloon and other light sails, the opera
tions being carried on at the Bristol Rub
Der Works. The value of big spreading
sail in going before the wind is known to
yachtsmen, which, together, with a bulg-
ing balloon jib topsail, utilizes every ounce
of wind in force. The idea in view in
making these sails of rubber is to obtain
an elastic material which will allow the
sails to increase in area, and consequently
in propulsive power in proportion to the
force OF the wind, Canvas sails have here
tofore been used exclusively, but as a
lighter, more elastic and alright material
is desired, the proposition at present is to
make the sails of gossamer weight from
rubber, rope them strongly along foot,
huff and leach, resulting, it may be, in
superior sails.
Even rubber has its drawbacks. A sud-
den increase of wind power expands the sail
too much, and difficulty is experienced in
governing the course of the boat; so atten-
ton has been turned to that unfailing
source from which so many things are now
made-paper. A chief reason for the en-
ployment of paper stock for this purpose is
lightness, a matter which counts for con-
siderable in fast sailing vessels; but there
are other points of superiority, one being
that the composition stretches just about
enough to favor both wind power and ves-
sci, while another is that the paper sails are
air-tight. Besides this, practical tests have
shown that the paper, properly prepared,
is very valuable, and is less liable to tear in
case of high winds.
Il
woven from strands or threads, but are
made up from compressed sheets, these be-
ing cemented and riveted together in such
a way as to form a smooth and strong I'M
ion. The first process of manufacturing
consists in preparing the pulp in the reg
ular way, to ton of which is added
pound of bichromate of potash, % pounds
of glue, 30 pounds of alum, II pounds of
soluble glass and pounds of prime tallow,
these ingredients being thoroughly mixed
with the pulp. Next the pulp is made
into sheets by regular paper-making ma
chinery, and two sheets are pressed to-
gether with a glutinous compound be-
tween, so as to retain the pieces firmly,
making the whole practically homogen-
eous.
The next operation is quite important
and requires specially built machine of
great power, which is used in COMPRISING
the paper from a thick, sticky sheet to a
thin, tough one The now solid sheet is
run through bath of sulphuric acid. to
which / per cent of distilled water has
been added, from which it emerges to pass
between glass rollers then through a bath
of ammonia, then clear water, and finally
through felt rollers, after which it is dried
and polished between heated metal cylin-
ders. The paper resulting from this pro-
cess is in sheets of ordinary width and
thickness of sail stock, it is elastic, air.
tight, durable, light and possessed of other
needed qualifications to make it available
for sail-making. Paper Trades Journal.