BEATING	113
up above the level of the edges. An overloaded track is hard to push about and
pieces from its load fall on the floor and are carelessly put back, with sand,
dirt, or grease adhering, or flung away as waste.
In filling the beaters, no stuff should fall on the floor, but as it is not possible
to avoid this on occasion, the floor at the beater side should be kept perfectly
clean. There is no reason why this cannot be done, as, with any decent flooring,
a flush with water and a sweep off with a broom ought to remove all dust and
grit that can adhere to half stuff.
The beaterman should watch his stuff chests carefully so as to avoid over-
filling.
The making machine department is where waste is most likely to be caused
and broke to be made. Some of the broke is unavoidable; the paring that is
left in order to cut off the deckle edge is an instance, and the paper run while
changing deckles, dandy rolls, etc. But though a certain amount of broke is
unavoidable, a machineman who takes an interest and pride in his work will
try to carry through his changes so that the least possible broke is made. He
should make certain in good time that the dandy roll he is going to put on
is all correct, so that it will not be necessary to take it off again for cleaning
or repairs. As to changes of deckles, etc., it is a good plan for him to work
these out on a sheet of paper beforehand, and inform his assistant exactly what
he is going to do, and why, so that he can have intelligent assistance at any
moment in response to a signal, without loud shouting and confusion.
With regard to the paring or allowance made for cutting off the deckle
edges of the web, this must be closely watched. With deckles of about 72
inches, 2 inches are sufficient for rag papers of ordinary quality. This gives
I inch each side before tub-sizing and J to f inch after sizing. Very strong
all-rag papers will require 2j inches, to allow for the greater shrinkage in
sizing. Banks, which are apt to have ragged and lumpy edges, and do not,
on account of their thin substance, stand well up to the ripping discs of the
cutter, may with advantage be allowed 2j to 2^ inches. Engine-sized papers
of fair substance will be all right with I to i| inches. Reels that are wound
unevenly or slack are a prolific source of broke during later operations, and
reach the cutters in such condition that accurate cutting becomes a matter of
the greatest difficulty, the cutterman having to keep shifting the brackets in
order to keep the web in a central position. It would be an endless task to
enumerate all the causes of broke in the machine room, such as 'pick up',
Yelt rubs', etc.; it must be left to the attention and skill of the machineman to
keep these in check. A few words might be said, however, about the waste
of fibres in starting up and shutting down the machine.
In shutting down a machine to 'wash out' for a fresh lot, the