Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1883 — Use of Steel Nails. [ARTICLE]

Use of Steel Nails.

Within the past six months the use of steel nails has increased largely. They came into the market about a year ago and found an immediate sale. One by one the the leading nail companies of this State togk up this line of manufacture until all now produce steel nails regularly. No change in machinery is required. Tlie knives for cutting the steel plates dull much quicker than on iron irork, but otherwise the cost of manufacture is not increased beyond the first cost of the steel bloom as com-

pared with pig or scrap iron which is used in mating iron nails. At first the extra cost of steel nails was If cents per pound, or $1.50 per keg, but it has now been reduced to $1 extra. % The great advantage of the steel nails is that thev can be driven into hard wood as easily as an iron nail will go into a pine board. We have seen steel nails driven into a white oak knot without bending. Nothing else is now used in laying hard-wood floors, as they re?uire no boring, but are driven readily. 'nr all kinds of hard finish they are especially adapted, and, as so much hard finish is now employed, their Use must be on the increase. They are also used largely by car-builders,, and box-makers are increasing their demand for theWT. Box-makers have been using the better grades of iron nails, as they desire those which can be drawn and redriven. The steel nail meets tnis requirement better than any other.—Boston Commercial Bulletin.