66 MODERN BLACKSMITHING 



belts and they must therefore be very tight in order 

 to work. 



Belts should not have too much sag, or they will, if 

 the distance between the pulleys is too far apart, pro- 

 duce a great sag and a jerking motion which will be 

 hard on the bearings. Never place one shaft directly 

 over another, for then the belts must be very tight to 

 do the work, and a tight belt will wear out quicker 

 and break oftener in the lacing than a loose one; 

 besides this the bearings will give out sooner. 



If a belt slips use belt oil or resin, or both. 



BOB SHOES 



In repairing old bob sleds is is difficult to find shoes 

 to suit. But in every case the shoe can be fitted to 

 suit without touching the runner. The trick here as 

 in many other cases in the blacksmith business, lies in 

 the heating. Any shoe can be straightened or bent to 

 fit the runner if only heated right. A low cherry-red 

 heat and a piece if iron to reach from the crooked end 

 of the shoe and far enough back to leave a space 

 between where it wants to be straightened. Now pat 

 it in the vise and turn the screws slowly and the shoe 

 will stand a great deal. If too straight, put the shoe 

 in between a couple of beams so that you can bend it 

 back to the right shape. Remember the heat. 



I have put on hundreds and never knew of a shoe 

 that broke when the heat was right. I must confess, 



