MODERN BLACKSMITHING 79 



end, this done turn the tire on edge and while it is in 

 a welding heat come down on it heavy with hammer, 

 if a buggy tire, and with a sledge and hammer if a 

 heavy wagon tire. Hammer it down until it is con- 

 siderably narrower over the weld as it will swell out 

 when dressed down. This way the weld has all the 

 material in the iron and the lapped lips will help hold 

 the weld together. A very poor smith can weld tires 

 to stay in this manner. The edges should be rounded 

 off with the hammer and filed to make the tire look the 

 same over the weld as in the iron. If there should be 

 any trouble to weld a steel tire place a little steel 

 borings over the weld and use borax. 



A blacksmith in Silver Lake, Minn., working for a 

 wagon maker of that place, when welding a tire failed 

 entirely after half a dozen attempts, and he got so 

 angry that he threw the tire down on the floor with all 

 his might. It happened to crush the wagon makers 

 big toe. This was more than the otherwise good- 

 natured man could stand, and instantly the smith was 

 seen hurled through an open window — the wagon 

 maker attached. Result: separation and law suit. 

 All this because the smith had not read my book. 



When a light buggy tire is to be set mistakes are 

 often made in measuring the tire. The tire is too 

 light in itself to resist the pressure of the gauge. The 

 smith tries to go it light and if there is not the same 

 pressure in measuring the tire there was in measuring 

 the wheel, it will not give the same results; and when 

 the tire is put on it is either too tight or too loose. 

 I worked for many years on a tool to hold the tire 



