I20 MODERN BLACKSMITHING 



claimed that there are twent}" different kinds of steel. 

 To blacksmiths only a few kinds are known, and the 

 sturdy smith discards both "physical tests and chem- 

 ical analysis," and he thinks he knows just as much as 

 do those who write volumes about these tests. 



To weld tool steel, or steel of a high per cent of car- 

 bon, borax must be used freely to prevent burning and 

 promote fusing. Steel with less carbon, or what smiths 

 call "soft steel," "sleigh steel," should be welded with 

 sand only. This soft steel stands a higher heat than 

 the harder kinds. 



Good tool steel will break easy when cold if it is cut 

 into a little with a cold chisel all around, and the bar 

 then placed with the cut over the hole in the anvil, the 

 helper striking directly over the hole. If it is good 

 steel it will break easy, and the broken ends are fine 

 grain, of a light color. If it* shows glistening or glit- 

 tering qualities it is a bad sign. 



Good steel will crumble under the hammer when 

 white hot. 



To test steel draw out to a sharp point, heat to a red 

 heat, cool in salt water; if it cuts glass it is a steel of 

 high hardening quality. 



For armor piercing, frogs, tiles, safes, and crushing 

 machinery, alloy steel is used. This steel contains 

 chromium, manganese or nickel, which renders it 

 intensely hard. Tungsten is another alloy that is used 

 in iron-cutting tools, because it does not lose its hard- 

 ness by friction. Smiths should know more about 

 steel than they do, and we would have steel to suit 

 every need. As it is now, any poor stuff is sent to the 



