The founding of metals

Front matter

THE

FOUNDING OF METALS:

A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON

Preface

In ten years spent at molding-, and in the foundry business, and four years in traveling through the United States, in introducing a chemical flux", for iron, I have seen the lack of regularity, and the bad effects of it, in the construction and management of foundry cupolas and furnaces, and the want of a guide or rule for their construction and management. At the earnest solicitation of many foundrymen, I have undertaken the publication of this small work, with a view of throwing some light upon the subject of melting iron, and the construction and management of cupolas and furnaces — a subject that always seems to be enshi'ouded in mystery.

All the theories that I have advanced in this work, are from notes taken from practical observation, while visiting diiferent foundries, in the flux business, and from a chemical knowledge of the laws of combusti(/n and heat, as well as of the laws of chemical affinity of one element for another. By giving a few explanations of causes and effect, I hope to establish some regularity in the melting of iron for foundry purposes.

I have also added a few recipes for the forming of alloys, and a general description of all the metals, minerals and gases used in the art of founding, as well as their application, all of which I have endeavored to place before the reader, clothed in popular language, so that all who can read may fully understand this interesting subject ; for this reason, I have endeavored to avoid using any of the chemical and technical terms which are usually applied to this subject, as they often have a tendency to embarrass, rather than to enlighten, the reader.

THE AUTHOR,

Contents

Page.

Iron 1

Mixing and melting irons. ... 14