Copying with elongation

140.  In this species of copying there exists but little resemblance between the copy and the original.  It is the cross-section only of the thing produced which is similar to the tool through which it passes.  When the substances to be operated upon are hard, they must frequently pass in succession through several holes, and it is in some cases necessary to anneal them at intervals.

141.  Wire drawing.  The metal to be converted into wire is made of a cylindrical form, and drawn forcibly through circular holes in plates of steel:  at each passage it becomes smaller. and, when finished, its section at any point is a precise copy of the last hole through which it passed.  Upon the larger kinds of wire, fine lines may sometimes be traced, running longitudinally. these arise from slight imperfections in the holes of the draw-plates.  For many purposes of the arts, wire, the section of which is square or half round, is required:  the same method of making it is pursued, except that the holes through which it is drawn are in such cases themselves square, or half-round, or of whatever other form the wire is required to be.  A species of wire is made, the section of which resembles a star with from six to twelve rays; this is called pinion wire, and is used by the clockmakers.  They file away all the rays from a short piece, except from about half an inch near one end:  this becomes a pinion for a clock; and the leaves or teeth are already burnished and finished, from having passed through the draw-plate.

142.  Tube drawing.  The art of forming tubes of uniform diameter is nearly similar in its mode of execution to wire drawing.  The sheet brass is bent round and soldered so as to form a hollow cylinder; and if the diameter outside is that which is required to be uniform, it is drawn through a succession of holes, as in wire drawing:  If the inside diameter is to be uniform, a succession of steel cylinders, called triblets, are drawn through the brass tube.  In making tubes for telescopes, it is necessary that both the inside and outside should be uniform.  A steel triblet, therefore, is first passed into the tube, which is then drawn through a succession of holes, until the outside diameter is reduced to the required size.  The metal of which the tube is formed is condensed between these holes and the steel cylinder within; and when the latter is withdrawn the internal surface appears polished.  The brass tube is considerably extended by this process, sometimes even to double its first length.

143.  Leaden pipes.  Leaden pipes for the conveyance of water were formerly made by casting; but it has been found that they can be made both cheaper and better by drawing them through holes in the manner last described.  A cylinder of lead, of five or six inches in diameter and about two feet long, is cast with a small hole through its axis, and an iron triblet of about fifteen feet in length is forced into the hole.  It is then drawn through a series of holes, until the lead is extended upon the triblet from one end to the other, and is of the proper thickness in proportion to the size of the pipe.