[Illustration]
Nuts are used in conjunction with bolts for fastening things together
or tightening up parts of machines. There are two ways of making nuts;
one is to cut a piece of metal off the right length, punch a hole in
the middle, and finish it by shaping it on the end of a mandrel or
punch. The second way is to weld a collar and shape this on a mandrel.
Though the second method involves welding and is the more difficult of
the two, it is the better method. However, the grain of the metal in
the second method runs around the nut, while in the former case it runs
lengthwise. For this reason the nut is apt to split when tightened up
too tight on the bolt. The method explained here is the easier one of
the two: it is the simple process of making the nut by punching the
hole.
_Material:_ Stock 1 × 5/8 in. of wrought iron, any length.
_Tools:_ Hammer, punch, hot chisel, pair of calipers.
[Illustration]
_Directions:_ The drawing here shows each step in the process of making
the square nut. Measure off 1-1/16 in. on the bar and with the hot
chisel nick on each side almost through. Find the centre of the piece
and, with the punch, punch a hole through it after heating it red hot.
Place it on the anvil. Place the punch in the centre and drive down
from one side until the impression of the punch shows through on the
other side. Withdraw the punch and turn the piece upside down. Place
the punch upon the impression shown through, driving down till the
centre piece is loosened. It is now put over the hole of the anvil
and this loosened centre piece driven out. This leaves a hole in the
hot iron. All holes made in hot iron are punched through in this way
whether they be large or small. The size of the hole is determined by
the size of the punch.
[Illustration]
Re-heat the iron, push the punch into the hole made, and by a bending
motion break the piece off where it is nicked. The piece now is
sticking on to the end of the punch. Place them on the anvil and square
up the nut while the punch is still in the hole. This prevents the hole
from changing its shape while the nut is being driven into shape. It is
now taken off the punch and flattened down to the desired thickness.
Repeat this edging up and flattening down till the nut is finished.
Hexagonal nuts are made in the same way, except for the squaring up.
When the piece is ready for shaping it is made round while on the punch
and then made six-sided. It is flattened and edged up in the same
manner until the desired size is reached.