46 Prmffesfor maktiig Bat- Iron and Natural SUel. 



fcrves to feparate it, while the other portion combines witk the iron itfelf, and gives it tlic 

 qualities of fteel. 



The dlfpofition of the hearth or fire-place, and the pofition of the tuyer or nozle of the 

 bellows, are two objeds which require much attention. In order to obtain iron, the fire- 

 place muft be larger than for fteel, and the tuyer muft be inclined fo as to direft the blaft 

 to the furfacc of the iron. The hearth is to be filled with charcoal, and the crude iron 

 placed thereon to the level of the upper part of the tuyer. The heat is applied mode- 

 xatdy, and by degrees, in order that the iron may not flow, but be kept in the ftate of a 

 pafte. It is to be ftirred occafionally with the rake, frequently brought into the direftion 

 of the blaft, and the fcoriae muft from time to time be taken out. 



To produce fteel, a bed of fmall or powdered charcoal is to be laid round the fire-place, 

 which muft be moiftened and rammed down. Light fufible fcorise are added ; the tuyer is 

 ufually more inclined, and the fufion more haftily urged, in order that the metal may flow, 

 and immediately fink beneath the fcoriae, which are not removed till the end of the ope- 

 ration. 



The fame procefles are not every where followed : but a little attention ferves to (how 

 that they are all founded on the fame principles ; namely, that in producing fteel the 

 coaly principle of the iron is not burned, whereas in the produ£lion of bar iron the ope- 

 ration is fo condu(Sted as to burn that principle. We fliall proceed to mention fome in- 

 ftances. 



In Styria, where good fteel is made, the caft iron is reduced into thin plates, which are 

 fufed in the refinery. The ordinary mafles or loupes, which have been fufi^ered to cool in 

 the furnace, inftead of having been drawn ofl^, are alfo fufed for fteel, of which they have 

 begun to aflume the charafter during their maceration in the pot, which, with this inten- 

 tion, was lined with charcoal, and wherein they were covered with the fcoria:. The plates 

 as well as thefe mafles, which are prcvioufly divided into fmaller pieces, are refined with 

 the precautions neceflary to determine the formation of fteel. 



A circumftance which contributes much to the goodnefs of the fteel is, that after it has 

 been drawn out by the hammer, the bars are thrown red-hot into water, and afterwards 

 broken in pieces for the purpofe of feparating the perfe£l fteel from that which is of the 

 nature of iron. The hard fteel is alfo feparated from the foft. Packets or truffes of thefe 

 are made up, confifting of twelve or fifteen pieces each, obferving that the two outer pieces 

 are foft fteel. Thefe truflcs are welded together, and drawn out again to a fmall fize ; by 

 which means the quality of the fteel is rendered confiderably more uniform. The greatefl 

 quantity of German fteel, as well as that which is moft efteemed, is made in Carinthia^ 

 Their procefles deferve to be particularly attended to. We fhall here give a fliort account 

 of the particulars from Haflenfratz, who made his obfervations on the fpot, and has com- 

 municated them to us. 



The crude iron is reduced into thin plates, or leaves, when it is drawn from the fmelt- 

 ing furnace. For this purpofe a mould, or hemifpherical cavity, is prepared before the 

 furnace. It is formed of the fcoriae reduced into very fine powder, and wetted to make 

 them adhere together. 



The work is then opened with an iron bar, in order that the fcorix may flow into the mould, 

 and diflipate its moifture. Thefe are in the next place taken out, and the metal itfelf is fuffered 



to 



