The spring-tool is especially adapted to finishing sweeps, curves, or round or other corners, and will answer for any metal whatever. As illustrated, the face is given an up ward incline to make it sufficiently keen for wrought-iron or steel. For brass-work, this face should be made horizontally level, or, if the cutting stands with its cutting edge far out from the tool-post, it may be inclined downward to make it cut smoothly. The piece of wood shown driven in the bend is to correct any tendency of the tool to spring away from the hard parts of the metal, as it is apt to do. The spring-tool does not turn so true as is desirable, still the smoothness of its finish makes it the most desirable tool for the purposes mentioned. It should have its face filed up very smoothly before being hardened, and should not be ground on that face. The application of the oilstone greatly improves its value for finishing. It should, for all purpose, be tempered to a brown color on the face, and left soft around the bend.

Spring-Tool