1826 Essays . . .

[Pages 42-43] :lq.On the Preservation of Treenails, &c.

&hellip. Having long considered that the method used for finishing treenails wanted improvement, and that it might be done by machinery to great advantage, I invented a machine for that purpose, which answers extremely well. One man can complete from 3[00] to 400 per day; that is, cut the heads square, round their edges, and chamfer the points, which by the old method was left to be done by the shipwright, while proceeding with his work; but frequently neglected altogether, and hundreds of treenails destroyed. If they are manufactured by the treenailmooters in a more complete state fit for driving, the heads will become more clung by seasoning in the treenails-house, and the evil aforementioned will be prevented. The men do not have occasion to saw on in ten while driving, which effects a saving of thousands of treenails, and better to the work.

&etc. [Tree-nails and through bolts should be payed with red paint or hot tar. The edges of the planking should be payed with boiling hot red paint. 20 £. will do all the treenails, bolts, and the edges of planks of

Mr. Editor, — Please to insert in your Miscellana, being connected with former observations, in the third Number of "Naval Essays and Gleanings", the under-mentioned statement of experiments respecting the durability and strength of treenails.

One of English oak and one of locust were placed vertically in the earth twenty-two months, their heads being four inches above the ground, and exposed to all weathers — which is a trying situation for any sort of timber: when taken up, the English oak was very much decayed, and the locust perfectly sound.

By placing the treenails horizontally on two trestles, 2 feet 3 inches asunder, and applying weights on the center, they brokk as follows: —

	Long	Diameter	Weight of	Broke with
	ft.	in.	in inches	a Treenail	Cwt.	??	lbs
				lb.	oz.
Eng. oak Treenails	2	6	1 3/8	1	5	4	1	10
African oak, (No. 1)	2	6	1 3/8	1	9	6	0	5
Locust	2	6	1 3/8	1	6	8	0	12

These experiments prove there is no better species of wood yet known for treenails than LOCUST, it having advantages in two very essential points, — durability and strength.

I am, &c.

W. Hockey. Deptford February 16th, 1826.

Updated 1999-04-15 by Lars Bruzelius

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