The metal worker's handy-book of receipts and processes : being a collection of chemical formulas and practical manipulations for the working of all the metals and alloys including the decoration and beautifying of articles manufactured therefrom, as well as their preservation

Front matter

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THE

METAL WORKER’S HANDY-BOOK

Preface

SINCE chemistry has become the hand-maid of the industries, it is next to impossible to keep secret for any length of time the composition of a specialty, the analytical chemist taking care that it soon becomes common property. But the results of his labors being of necessity scattered through the various technical journals, not always readily accessible, the advantages derived therefrom by the practical workman are very problematical, unless he can procure the information wanted without the expense of the time and labor required for examining the very numerous original sources of such information.

To collect such flotsam and jetsam of the technical journals, domestic and foreign, has been the design in preparing the matter for the present volume ; and thus to furnish to the metal-worker, in the form of a handy- book, receipts and processes of practical application, which would otherwise be in great measure overlooked or entirely lost. In the treatment of the different subjects they have, as far as practicable, been divested of all mere technicalities, also omitting that which was not properly relevant.

At the present time the public is accustomed to the consideration of useful facts, set forth in the briefest terms, and, bearing this in mind, in many cases a single article has been made to embrace data from a number of different sources. With the aid of a liberal supply of foreign and domestic books and journals bearing on the

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PREFACE.

various subjects, which have been furnished by the enterprising publishers, the editor trusts that not much of interest or importance has been omitted. In consulting innumerable volumes and journals every care has been taken to select the best receipts and processes, and the editor is confident that every metal-worker, no matter in what branch of the industry he may be engaged, will here find something of use and benefit to himself.

In regard to the practical application of the receipts, the observ¬ ance of the following rules is recommended : i. Be careful to use the exact proportions prescribed. 2. Always first experiment with small quantities. 3. Should the first attempt prove unsuccessful, do not condemn the receipt, but make another trial, as the fault can generally be traced to a mistake in the manipulation or an error in the quantities.

The alphabetical arrangement of related subjects adopted and a very copious table of contents, as well as index, will render refer¬ ence to any subject or special receipt prompt and easy.

WM. T. BRANNT.

Philadelphia, September 10, 1890.