Rational Horse Shoeing and Wagon Making
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with rules, tables, recipes, etc., useful to
manufactures, blacksmiths, machinists,
well-drillers, engineers, liverymen,
horse-shoers, farmers, wagon-makers,
mechanics, amateurs and all others who have
occasion to perform the work for which this
book is primarily intended.
the share is of soft center steel, harden as follows:
First,heat the whole point to a very low red heat; then turn the
share face down, with the heel over the fire, and the point in
suc)l a posi. tion that it is about two inches higher than the
heel. This will draw the fire from the heel along towards the
point, and the whole length of the share will be heated almost
in one heat. Be sure to get an even heat, for it will warp or
crack if the heat is uneven. When the share has a moderate red
heat take it out, and you will notice that it is sprung up along
the edge. This is the rule, but there are exceptions, and the
share is then sprung down. In either case set it right; if sprung
up set it down a little under the square; if sprung down set it a
little over the square. You cannot with any success set it by a
table or leveling block, because this will, first, cool off the edge,
second, it must be either over or under the square a little.
Therefore, you must use your eye and set the share with the
hammer over the anvil. This done, hold the share over the fire
traveling man, or sprinkle the share with prussiate of potash and plunge it into a barrel of salt water.
You will notice that the share will warp or spring out of shape more in the heating than it does in the cooling, if the
heat is right. Some smiths never look at the share when hot for hardening, but simply plunge it into the tub, and then
they say it warped in hardening, while it was in the heating. If the share is too hot it will warp in cooling also.