A learner who is commencing the business, and has attended to the foregoing instructions, may now be able to make a few more tools, and to understand a few remarks on welding.

The easiest joint for a learner to make is that of two small flat bars united by a scarf-joint, shown by Fig. 132. To weld such a joint either of two methods may be adopted, according to circumstances. The first-mentioned plan is suitable for a smith who may be without a hammerman. In such cases the workman places a screw-prop at that side of the anvil which is usually occupied by the hammerman. The distance of the prop from the anvil depends upon the length of the work; the prop, being portable, may be in any desired situation for supporting one of the bars to be welded; the fork is then screwed up or down to suit the thickness of the work, and to make the scarf touch the anvil while the remainder of the bar is an eighth or a quarter of an inch above the anvil.

After the prop is put into its proper situation and position, the two scarfs are placed into the fire side by side, with the two extremities of the scarfs upwards, that they may not be burnt off, and that the heat may be driven upon the entire surfaces that are to be welded together, instead of upon the edges only.

When the welding heat is attained, a supply of sand is given to the two scarfs to cleanse the slag or other impurities from the iron. When the scarfs are thoroughly cleansed, the workman brings out both pieces at one time, one in each hand. The piece in his right hand he puts upon the prop with the scarf end a quarter of an inch beyond that edge of the anvil which is nearest to him. The piece in his left hand he then places upon the top of the other piece; and with the scarf end of the upper piece a quarter of an inch nearer to the further end of the work than the joint will be when welded. He then delivers a few blows with his hammer, which drive the upper bar down to its proper position, which is in line with the other bar. These few blows also stick the scarfs together; and while the scarfs are still at welding heat the whole work is turned upside down by the operator carefully twisting the part on the prop with his right hand at the same moment that he twists the other part with his left hand. After being reversed, the scarf end that was underneath is still at welding heat, because it was a short distance beyond the anvil-edge. The welding is then completed by hammering the sides and edges of the work until sufficiently solid for the purpose intended.

The second mode of making a scarf-joint, is managed by instructing the hammerman to take out one of the pieces from the fire, and causing him to supersede the screw-prop.

It may be also necessary to advise the learner not to draw down his work with a steam-hammer until he has acquired the method of holding his work in a correct position on an old-fashioned anvil. Serious effects to the arms will result if the work is held too high or too low, the danger being in proportion to the force that may be imparted to the hammer at the moment.

If the learner should be making any rings according to the instructions that were given on the subject, he may refer to Fig. 139, in which he will see the mid-circle of the ring's face marked by M. And if he should meet any difficulty in finding any Figure that may be referred to, he can avoid trouble by remembering that if the greatest number at the bottom of any Plate he may be looking at, is one or two less than the number of the Figure he desires, he will know that the required Figure is in the next Plate following, although the number of the Plate may not be mentioned. Also, if the smallest, number at the top of any Plate he may be examining is one or two greater than the number he desires, he will know that the required Figure is in the next Plate previous. The terms " Plate 10," " Plate 12," and similar phrases, are often omitted for brevity and to avoid repetition; the simple sentence, "Fig. 122," being more isolated and easily remembered.