MODERN BLACKSMITHING iil 



HOW TO HARDEN A MOULDBOARD 



To harden a mouldboard is no easy job in a black- 

 smith's forge, and it is no use trying this in a portable 

 forge, because there is not room enough for the fire 

 required for this purpose. First, dig the firepot out 

 clean, then make a charcoal fire of two bushels of this 

 coal, have some dry basswood or wood like it, and 

 when the charcoal begins to get red all over then pile 

 the wood on the outside corners of the fire. Heat the 

 point of the mouldboard first, because this being 

 shinned, it is thicker and must be heated first or it will 

 not be hot enough ; then hold the mouldboard on the 

 fire and pile the wood and hot coal on top of it. Keep 

 it only until red hot in the same place, then move it 

 around, especially so that the edges get the force of the 

 fire, or they will be yet cold while the center might be 

 too hot. 



HOW TO PATCH A MOULDBOARD 



When the mouldboard is red hot all over sprinkle 

 with prussiate of potash, and plunge into a barrel of 

 ice or salt water. A mouldboard will stand a good 

 heat if the heat is even; otherwise it will warp or 

 crack. Another way to heat a mouldboard: if you 

 have a boiler, then fill the fire place with wood and 

 heat your mouldboard there. This will give you a 

 very good heat. If it is a shinned mouldboard the 

 point must be heated first in the forge, then place it 

 under the boiler for heating. This must be done to 



