Metal workers who are in the habit of preparing alloys for solders are likely to have occasion to use them for other purposes also. As before observed, these alloys, on account of their low fusing point and the sharpness with which they fill out the forms, are well adapted to the manufacture of small cast articles, such as children's toys, buttons, etc.

If it is desired to make them harder and save tin, small quantities of antimony may be added during the melting. From 1 to 5 per cent is enough to harden the alloy considerably; a certain limit must not be exceeded, for the reason that the articles, especially if thin, would be very brittle and break easily.

An alloy for casting, made of 4 parts of tin and 3 of lead, is easily fusible, and quite soft, filling the forms perfectly. Eight parts of tin, 6 of lead, and 0.5 of antimony makes an alloy easily fusible, but somewhat harder and more brittle than the preceding.

Sheet Alloy

Tin ........................................ 35

Lead ....................................... 250

Copper ..................................... 2.5

Zinc ....................................... 0.5

This alloy has a fine white color, and can be rolled out into very thin sheets. It is used for lining tea-chests, and for making sheet to wrap up tobacco, chocolate, etc. The copper and zinc are used in the form of fine shavings, and the alloy cast into thin plates, afterward rolled to the thinness of paper, and called tin foil.

An alloy of 29 parts of tin and 19 of lead is characterized by a high and permanent luster, and can be used to imitate brilliants, for theatrical decoration. An alloy of 2 parts of tin and 1 of lead is usually made first, and more tin is then added until a drop, let fall upon a smooth iron plate, reflects like a mirror. The brilliants are made by dipping a piece of glass, cut in the form of a jewel, into the melted alloy, quickly removing it and letting it cool. The small quantity of the alloy adhering to it stiffens quickly and falls off. These brilliants are rough on the outside and gray in color, but the smooth inner surface, by artificial light, gives reflections like diamonds; the surface may also be coated with blue, red, or green aniline varnish to vary the effect. Pieces of polished steel or bronze may also be used instead of the glass.

The above-described alloys of tin, lead, and bismuth are the ones generally used for casting objects which cannot be exposed to great heat, such as wood carvings, plaster casts, etc.

The so-called cliche metals possess in a high degree the qualities of ready fusibility, softness, and capacity for filling out the molds sharply, which are required of these alloys, and are eminently suited for casts of woodcuts, as in making metal plates for printing.

Cliche Alloys

Tin ........................................... .3

Lead .......................................... 2

Bismuth ....................................... 5

Fusing point, 91.6 deg. C.; excellent for cuts, but expensive on account of the large amount of bismuth. Some cheaper compositions are as follows:

Alloys for medallions and coins (used by collectors to take impressions) must give extremely fine and sharp impressions. The following mixtures are suitable for the purpose:

Castings of natural objects, such as fruits, leaves, butterflies, lizards, etc., can only be made by using the very softest and most fusible alloys known, prepared by adding cadmium to the bismuth alloys. This metal, whose fusing point alone is 455 deg., has nevertheless the property of lowering the fusing point of metallic mixtures.

Wood's Metal

Tin...................................... 2

Lead .................................... 4

Bismuth ................................. 5 to 8

Cadmium ................................ 1 to 2

This is silver white, very fine grained, and melts between 66 deg. and 72 deg. C. It is also excellent for soldering.

Lipowitz's Metal

Tin .......................................... 4

Lead ......................................... 8

Bismuth ...................................... 15

Cadmium ..................................... 3

This is the most readily fusible of all mixtures, becoming soft at 55 deg. and melting entirely at 60 cleg. C.