Wild steel, resulting almost certainly in micro-honeycombs, if not worse, can only be avoided by the co-operation of the manufacturer, and engineers should impress this point with energy.
Such micro-unsoundness as is shown in Mr. Andrews’s report upon a broken rail and propeller-shaft can be reduced to a minimum by insisting upon reasonably pure steel.
If sulphur, phosphorus, silicon, and oxygen are kept at a reasonable minimum, sulphides, phosphides, silicides or silicates, and oxides must be at a corresponding minimum.
That there is much room for improvement in the manufacture of steel is evident, and when means of getting rid of oxygen, nitrogen, and all other undesirable elements have been found the steel of the future will be very different in kindliness of working and in endurance of strains than that with which we are familiar.
It is believed, however, that no matter how perfect the manufacture may become, nor what the final theories of hardening, etc., may be, the properties stated in these pages will remain the same as long as steel continues to be essentially a union of iron and carbon.
Some other alloy or compound may displace carbon steel, and present an entirely new set of properties, but there is nothing of the kind in sight now, and engineers need have no fear of having a new art to learn very soon.
To one who has spent an ordinary business lifetime in making steel, studying it, and working with it it becomes a subject of absorbing interest, if not of love; and steel when handled reasonably is so true that “true as steel” ceases to be a metaphor, it is then a fact which fills him with the most entire confidence.
Once more, steel highly charged with sulphur, phosphorus, arsenic, oxygen, and nitrogen is certainly highly charged with so many elements of disintegration; it takes more serious harm from ordinary deviations from good practice, such little irregularities as occur inevitably in daily working, than steel does which is more free from these elements.
Reasonably pure, sound, reliable steel can be had at moderate cost, and all consumers should insist upon having it.
Regular, uniform, reliable working can be had where it is required, and there should be no excuse for irregular grain, overheated work, uneven work, or any other bungling. Where skill is required and reasonable discipline is enforced, good work will not cost any more than bad work.