OXIDE OF IRON PAINT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6255, 3 December 1881, Page 6

OXIDE OF IRON PAINT.

[FROM OUR THAMES CORRESPONDENT.] The Thames Paint Manufacturing Company, who are devoting their attention to the preparing of the above paint, bid fair to make the industry one of the most successful that has been started on the Thames. At present the company's property consists of a small, but very complete plant, with storeroom and office adjoining, the whole bc'ng situated in Campbell-street, Grahamstown. The plant comprises a single-stamper, with stamper box, for reducing the large blocks of crude ore, two Wheeler's pans, connected with three or four tailing pits, small furnace, with drying cistern on top, an ordinary portable iron flour-mill, with sifter attached, and a large tank, in which the pair.t powder is mixed with oil. The crude ore is procured at Tararu, where there is, practically speaking, an unlimited supply, for the bed upon which the company are now working has been traced for a distance of two miles or two miles and a half, and it is of immense width. Both the crude ore and the prepared powder have been carefully analysed at different times, and by various analysts, and have invariably produced a high percentage of iron. The process of manufacturing the powder is as follows :—The crude ore is first crushed by the stamper in the ordinary manner and run into the tailing pits. By this means the iron is extracted from the stone. After settling, the pits are emptied and cleaned out, and the tailings, or iron powder, ground in water in the Wheeler's pans until the whole is a mass of slime. This is then run into shallow wooden boxes to dry, and afterwards emptied into the drying cistern on top ©f the furnace. After the water has been thoroughly evaporated the ore is put into the furnace, where it is thoroughly roasted. Great care has to be exercised in this process, for the ore has to be brought to a white heat, but if allowed to remain a minute too long the stuff is spoilt through running into clinkers. After being roasted the ore is ground in the mill and passed through the sifter, or dresser, when the powder is fit for the market. If the paint is to be prepared in oil the powder is put into a mixer and the oil added as required, and when brought to the proper consistency the whole is run off into a tank, from which it is drawn off in tins. The dry powder is packed in tins holding 2Slbs. weight, and the paiut when groimd in oil in round tins of 71bs. and 141bs. weight. Each tin when filled is carefully soldered down. The tins are then neatly labelled and packed in convenient-sized boxes ready for shipping. The excellence of the powder is due to the fineness to which it can be ground, and this is the real secret of the company's success. The powder, as prepared by them, has been pronounced by numbers, who have given it a practical test, a very superior article. The paint is an excellent one for covering every description of iron or wood work, and makes a very useful priming, any lead paint taking very well over it. I'lie paint has a very good body, and after thoroughly drying it is impossible to rub it off. It is believed that shingles dipped in it will be materially preserved, and that they will wear double the length of the ordinary shingle. Wood covered with it resists the action of fire for a long time, and under no circumstance will it burn readily. When thoroughly dry, the colour is of a rich brown or chocolate, and not displeasing to the eye. With their present appliances the company are able to manufacture about two tons of the powder per week, by working 16 hours a day, but this quantity could be doubled if three shifts were employed and the machinery kept goinp constantly. A ready sale is found for all that is manufactured, and it is believed that as the paint becomes better known the demand for it will greatly increase. The company exhibited samples of the powder and paint, and also boards painted with it, at the late Agricultural Show, and were awarded a first prize. The article is new to the trade, and it is difficult to get contractors and others to give ic a fair trial, but where used it has invariably given satisfaction. The company have received numerous testimonials from persons who have tried both the powder and paint, all speaking very favourably of the manufacture.