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To Case-Harden with Charcoal

The goods, finished in every respect but polishing, are put into an iron box, and covered with animal or vegetable charcoal, and cemented at a red heat, for a period varying with the size and description of the articles operated on. 3299. Moxon's Method of Case-Hardening. Cow's horn or hoof is to be baked or thoroughly dried, and pulverized, in order that more may be got into the box with the articles. Or bones reduced to dust answer the same purpose. To this add an equal quantity of bay salt; mix them with stale chamberlye, or white wine vinegar; cover the iron with this mixture, and bed it in the same in loam, or enclose it in an iron box; lay it on the hearth of the forge to dry and harden; then put it into the fire, and blow till the lump has a blood-red heat, and no higher, lest the mixture be burnt too much. Take the iron out, and immerse it in water.