Ice Planed

Abstract

PERHAPS it will interest some of those who are investigating the structure of different kinds of ice to know how blocks of it may, with ease and certainty, be shaped into bars and plates of any required dimensions. Some time ago I had occasion to prepare some specimens for experimental purposes. At first my success in working the ice into the required form was not very great, for it cracked in all directions under the action of a saw or chisel. After trying many devices, I at last resorted to a joiner's plane; a tool which may have been tried for the purpose before, though I do not remember having seen its use suggested. With it ice may be planed with greater ease than wood, the shavings coming away in powder, and leaving the ice with a clean, bright, sound surface.