CUTTING STEEL BARS WITHOUT TOUCHING THEM.

Patea Mail, 2 July 1881, Page 3

CUTTING STEEL BARS WITHOUT TOUCHING THEM.

Among new inventions is a saw in the shape of a circular, smooth-edged plate of iron, which will cut in two a bar of steel placed in front without touching it. When the bar to be cut is brought near the disc in motion the metal imtnediately melts, and there escapes a current of sparks of a dazzling whiteness. Yet one’s hand may be placed in this stream of molten metal without its being in any way burnt; and the temperature .is even but little different from that of the surrounding atmosphere, A sheet of white .paper placed therein would riot take fire,, and would not even be discoloured ; and it : would be the same with a piece of cotton wicking soaked in oil if it were placed iri the current pot far frbtri the" bar to be cut. Besides the drops of molten metal which fall thqs to the ground a certain number are projected sideways in all directions. The sparks which tfius pass in the ‘atmosphere'! over a space of more than five feet ' becomri rapidly hriated and' burin like a hot pbker. In America it is from France and Germany that we expect the solrition of questions of abstract scienpe. What scientist, versed in the study of molecular physics, can give us the. explanation of so wonderful a; phenomenon ? The com-* ; paratively cold sparks burn like a hot poker, while the glistening incanJecent molteri mass will not burrl at all, and will not discolour white paper.