The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-06-24

today, for though quantities are
heat it to bright red, and not beyond
the critical point" as is the case with
current types of high-speed steel; and
to allow it to cool naturally in the air
without the use Of an air blast. The
DEVIATION of the use of an air blast
simplifies the process greatly. To an
neal ''Unor' steel for easy machining
all that is required is to heat it to
cherry red, let the heat sink over the
fire to very dark red, and then to
plunge it in the water. Experiments
have proved that it can be rehardened
or softened any number of times, and
that the wearing quality Of this new
tool material does not deteriorate in
any way in the course Of these pro-
cesses.
The makers of "Unor" steel are de-
termined to put the material quickly
before the engineering world, and ar
rangements have been made for its
manufacture in large quantities. The
price they ask for it, IS cents per
pound, delivered in America, is con-
sidered to be very modest indeed. In
tests made with twist drills Of ''Unor"
steel at the Sheffield Testing Works,
on a railroad tyre made Of (CommelIs
steel Of 0.49 per cent carbon, 40 holes,
each 1882 inches in diameter and 1873
inches deep, with drilled at an aver
age speed Of 25 seconds each. A 1916
inch. drill, made from this steel, drill
ed 20 holes, 2 inches deep in 16k min
utes. In both cases the tool used was
left in good condition. I may add
to this that the price of 'Unor" steel
in this country has been fixed at eight
pence a pound, cheaper, as might be
expected, than the American quotation.
The United States is a big consumer
of high-speed tool steel, and "Unor"
should have a.great vogue there. The
price is not greater than is asked by
a good many makers Of water harden
ing tool steel. "Unor" steel does not
alone commend itself on account of its
extraordinary characteristics, but 1t
will undoubtedly be popular on account
of the moderate figure at which it is
placed upon the market.
Another Invention.
have elected the fact that the
Sheffield Steel Makers, Ltd, will short
ly place upon the market another re-
markable invention, which is likely to
arouse as much curiosity as has already
been manifested in the case of "Unor.
The material in question is water
hardening tool steel, capable of MAIN
tanning a keen cutting edge longer than
anything Of the kind hitherto produc-
ac1,0 tn
me- the blades of which were made Of
this material. Externally they differed
in no way from the ordinary, and l
was told that they had been made by
a local cutler Their popularity rested
entirely in the quality Of the steel en-
ployed. The blades were whetted up
to carry a razor edge, which was test
ed by shaving the hair from the arm
of the gentlemen who was KIND
enough to make the experiment.
large piece of red wood was then
brought in, and an unmerclful slash-
ing was entered upon with the small
blade. Large knots were encountered
in the course of the experiment, and
everything that could be thought of to
test the blade composed of ordinary
steel. few cuts upon the wood that
was used would have brought 1t to the
semblance of saw the durability OF
the blade was done. But on re-testing
the knife the edge was exactly as at
the outset of the experiment. and
would have served for the process Of
shaving.
The steel to all appearance is in it.
self a paradox Notwithstanding the
;n I,4~ to ont OIL
it will bend easily. The blade was laid
over the edge of an office table, and
when hammered with steel bar, it
was bent to an angle Of sixty degrees,
without breaking. After this the blade
was broken in half, and I. was shown
that the steel would cut glass with the
greatest Of ease. Every user of steel
knows quite we'll that glass hardness
in steel invariably means also brittle
ness, but this quality has been quite
avoided in the case of this new tool
steel.
It is not proposed to bring this steel
upon the market before the month OF
July, and it will be particularly intend
ed for the manufacture Of razors pock'
ct cutlery, circular saws, and tools In
general where it is essential that
keen cutting edge should be maintain
ed for the longest possible time. In
this case. also, the company intend to
place their material upon the market
at a popular price, which will probably
not exceed Sd per lib. A great number
of tests have been made. revealing the
astonishing. cutting and staying power
Of this material. Files which have
been made from 1t have been found to
wear four times as long as tools made
from other kinds of steel. The COM
pany have other inventions still to ex-
plot, and these will be looked for with
considerable curiosity by all who are
interested in steel manufactures.