T weld: This is used in making a T plate. The cross piece is upset in the middle and scarfed by using the peen of the hammer as shown.
The upright piece is upset on the end and scarfed, same as was done on the corner weld. Both pieces prepared are then heated and welded as described in the making of the corner plate. The sketch given here shows fairly well the different steps.
Detail of T weld
XXIII
MILD STEEL OR SOFT STEEL
Mild steel, or soft steel, is supplanting wrought iron in many shops. Any smith who has worked with this metal will always prefer it to wrought iron. It is much stronger and can be bent, forged, and twisted in all manner of shapes, without cracking or splitting. This cannot be said of wrought iron. Therefore, when mild steel is used one is sure of finishing his problem, provided he understands the process of heating it. The matter of heating mild steel is the vital thing. It should never be worked at a welding heat or below a red heat. If worked either above or below this point it will show it by splitting or cracking before the problem is finished. Large crystals formed by working at or above the welding heat will cause the breaks, and internal fractures when working at the low heat will cause the cracks. However, this can be worked at a black red heat if the blows delivered affect only the surface and do not penetrate to the centre. This metal lends itself to forging better than wrought iron does. It is very good for most kinds of forging and particularly good for making weldless rings. One of the best problems to illustrate one of the many uses to which soft steel may be put is the making of a weldless ring.
