VOL. III. FEBRUARY 15, 1914 NO. 1 T EDITORIAL CHAT OUR SECOND BIRTHDAY WENTY-FOUR issues of this little magazine have been prepared and placed in the hands of thousands of millmen in almost every country of the civilized world. Two years ago, when the "Crucible" made its first appearance, certain ideals were given expression, certain definite plans were stated with regard to its aims and purposes. Chief among them was the earnest intention to bring into closer touch the users and manufacturers of DISSTON SAWS and tools, to give such suggestions upon the use of these as would be of practical assistance to the millman in the performance of his work. It was furthermore, our desire to acquaint our friends with many of the inside workings of the greatest saw and tool manufacturing plant in the world. We wished those who are users of DISSTON products to see and realize why it is that the Keystone Brand is the symbol of Quality wherever saws and tools of precison and dependability are used. Many such glimpses into the making of DISSTON products have been given. As an interesting accompaniment to these little journeys through our Philadelphia home we have illustrated and described the work of early saw and file makers who plied their trades long before the American continent was discovered. The modern scientific methods of a great manufacturing plant were thus made doubly interesting by contrast with the crude efforts of the artisans of hundreds of years ago. From time to time, articles dealing with the practical operation and care of saws have been published. These were written by men who have made such matters their life study. We hope and believe that these suggestions have been of genuine value to many of our friends in the lumber manufacturing world. The generous appreciation accorded our efforts in the past two years both in actual letters of commendation and in contributions by interested readers, encourages us to believe that we have to some extent attained our ideals and fulfilled our purposes. Such appreciation commands our sincerest thanks. It spurs on our resolution to keep these ideals and aims ever before us-to bring them to still fuller and higher attainment. Quality 3 Jell ITS HISTORY AND MAKING PART NINE files by hand. Modern practice has demonstrated, however, that the handcut file cannot possibly possess the same high efficiency that a machinecut file does. During the cutting operation the blank is secured in a "bed" which travels back and forth under a chisel that "raises" the teeth at a speed that the eye can hardly follow. When double cut files are being made the blank is put through the machine and overcut." Then the position of the bed is shifted to one side and the second, or "upcut" is put on, the teeth running in an opposite direction. On some machines the chisel is turned instead of the bed. In Part Seven, Fig. 16, was illustrated one of the machines on which DISSTON FILES are cut. This style of machine represents the highest development in file-cutting machines, and is one of the many reasons why DISSTON FILES are so superior, both in the efficiency and endurance of the teeth. The main difference between cutting files and rasps lies in the chisel used. For files the chisel cuts at an angle all the way across the file at one stroke, while the bed moves steadily. In cutting rasps, however, a pointed punch of peculiar form is used. This punch travels back and forth across the blank, the bed moving only after each row of teeth is completed. In cutting half-round files the chisel cuts the teeth in rows, lengthwise of the file instead of straight across, the bed being moved back and the position of the file changed as each row is finished. When the teeth have been cut the files pass into the inspecting room where a thorough examination is made of the teeth. If these are not absolutely perfect the file is rejected. After passing inspection the file is "cropped" or cut to exact length. This operation consists of cutting a small portion off the point of the file to bring it to proper length. When "cropped' the file is stamped with the famous DISSTON BRAND on the tang. (Continued on page 11) THE A SINGULAR ACCIDENT. HE Dare Lumber Company recently had an accident in their place which affords a very vivid illustration of the fine qualities possessed by a DISSTON SAW. It is especially notable because both the cause and the effect are somewhat out of the ordinary. The accident, which occurred to their Band Re-Saw, was caused by the man who was doing the setting. The regular setter was out, and while they have a regular spare setter and floor man combined he was not available at the time. One of the Doggers, therefore, was put to work handling the setting works. This man could never explain his action, so unexpected was it even to him, but right in the middle of the reverse movement, that is, after the back end of the log had passed by the saw, going back, this temporary setter set out twice, each stroke being two inches. This had the effect of pushing four inches of the saw log right into the saw. It pulled the saw about half way off the pulleys, and the strain stopped the mill, which is electrically driven, in a few seconds. Steps were at once taken to remove the saw. In raising it up into the filing room it seemed to show considerable resistance to the men below, who were handling it, and as soon as it was lifted off the pulleys and the filing room crew attempted to spread it on the floor in the usual manner, it suddenly flew into the coil as shown in the photograph. Every effort to straighten it proved unavailing for just as they thought they had it in some sort of shape it would fly back into its coiled form again. Referring to the photograph it will be seen that there are five loops, which were caused by the blade having |