or melt and allow the lead to run off. All
this must be done carefully and dexterously to do a first-class job,
and you must keep the flame moving around over the top and not hold it
in any one place for ally length of time, so as not to melt too deep,
or to melt the outer edge and allow the lead to run off and spoil the
job. Sometimes the whole mass becomes too hot and the top cannot be
made smooth with the flame. If this occurs wait until the connector
cools, soften the flame, and try again. Figure 147 shows the welding
completed.

[Fig. 147 Connectors "burned" to posts]

Burning Plates to Strap and Post

First clean all the surfaces which are to be welded together. Take
your time in doing this because you cannot weld dirty surfaces
together.

Plates which compose a group are welded to a "strap" to which a post
is attached, as shown in Figure 5. The straps shown in Figure 5 are
new ones, as made in the factory. Plate lugs are set in the notches in
the straps and each one burned in separately. In using old straps from
a defective group, it is best to cut the strap close to the post, thus
separating all the plates from the post in one operation, as was done
with the post shown in Figure 96. If only one or two plates are to be
burned on, they are broken or cut off and slots cut in the strap to
receive the lugs of the new plates, as shown in Figures 148 and 149.

[Fig. 148 Sawing slot in plate strap]

Set the plates in a plate burning rack, as shown in Figure 96, placing
the adjustable form around the lugs and strap as shown in this figure.
Be sure to set the post straight, so that the covers will fit. A good
thing is to try a cover over the post to see that the post is set up
properly. The post must, of course, be perpendicular to the tops of
the plates. If the slotted plate strap shown in Figure 5 is used, or
if one or two plates have been cut off, melt the top of the lug of one
of the plates which are to be burned oil, and the surfaces of the
strap to which the plate is to be welded. Melt in lead from a
burning-lead strip to bring the metal up flush with the surface of the
strap. Proceed with each plate which is to be burned on.

If all the plates have been sawed from the strap, leaving the post
with a short section of the strap attached, as shown in Figure 96,
melt the edge of the strap, and the top of one or two of the end plate
lugs and run in lead from the burning strip to make a good joint.
Procee