“JUMPING” IRON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 942, 14 May 1883, Page 2

“JUMPING” IRON.

To the Editor, Sir, —I notice in your issue of the 10th, a letter from a correspondent signing him*

self “ Novice. ” There are two statements in that letter, which 1 think, in justice to Mr Yerdon, should be discussed. -First: “ That any lad knows that he should never jump iron if it can be avoided.” That 1 must object too, as I know a great many lads who don’t know any such thing, although they have been working hot iron for a good many years. Second: “Every blacksmith knows that jumped iron is not so strong by nearly one-third as it was before that operation.” Does “ Novice ” mean that a bar that has been jumped until it is twice its original section, possesses only two-thirds of its original strength. If this is so, it is high time it was better known, for at present the usual custom is to jump a bar at any point where extra strength is required. I will admit that jumping does injure iron to a certain extent, but I hold that the increased bulk due to the jumping more than compens ites for any injury done, provided the jumping be properly performed and the iron be good.—l am, etc., Fair Play.