THE WIRE 175
hose-pipe may be immediately used to wash it down the wire. In this case, if
any stuff has got jammed in the nip of the guard board, when the board is
lifted to free it the piece must be caught before it drops down on the wire.
[t is the practice in some mills to use a 'starting sheet5. This is laid on the
stuff as it reaches the suction boxes and may be easily caught coming through
the couch rolls, and serves to lead the wet sheet on to the felt. If the machine
is started with the dandy roll running on the wire, this introduces an unnecessary
element of risk, since the stuff is seldom correct for taking a water mark when
it first reaches the first suction box.
Bits will be picked up by the roll, and may attain some thickness, layer by
layer, before they can be got off, generally to fall on the wire and go through
the couch rolls. Or it may happen that the stuff is more wet or more free than
the machineman has calculated on, or he may have too much or too little stuff
or water. The presence of the dandy roll then adds immensely to his diffi-
culties. If the roll is not down, the suction boxes have a far greater chance of
taking water out of the sheet. When the machineman has got his stuff and
water suitably proportioned and his level approximately correct, he may lower
his dandy roll on to the paper with confidence. On moving the ends of the
suction boxes, or when packing them with stuff, bits may be carried round
and on to the wire rolls. An accident that is not uncommon happens when
a piece of some foreign substance, such as small stone, piece of cement, or
sandy particle, is washed into the wire by the indiscreet use of the hose-pipe
on the floor in front of the wire.
The hose-pipe, when washing up the floor, must always be directed to send
the jet away from the wire.
An uncovered strap or pulley may fling a piece of fibre, or even a belt
fastener or rivet, into the wire, or on to the table, A machineman should be
careful to have all the buttons on his clothing firmly sewn on and to remove
his collar studs when he takes charge. Any one of these may fall or jerk on to
the wire when he leans over the slices or other adjustments. When putting
on or repairing connecting strips or aprons, all tacks, screws, pieces of rubber,
etc., and all tools should be picked up and accounted for before moving the
wire again. When removing stringy fibres from the slices, no hard, pointed
instrument may be employed. The best method is to run the tip of the finger
along the edge.
No spanners, broke, etc., should be thrown down near the wire, and the
space both at back and front should be kept dean and as clear of all machine-
house fittings as possible. Shake must be stopped as soon as paper is off the
wire.
When the machine is shut for the week-end, sufficient sprays to keep