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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
ROGER rW. ARCHER, OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS.
IMPROVEMENT IN PROCESSES FOR PRESERVING WOOD.
Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 153,515, dated July 28, 18741 ; application iled
June 8.1874.
To all whonm it may concern:
Be it known that I, RoGnn W. ARnHER of
Corpus Christi, in the county of Nneees and
State of Texas, have invented an Improved
Process for Preserving Wood, of which the
following is a specification:
Mv invention relates to a process which is
designed more particularly for preserving tim-
ber from the ravages of marine insects.
The invention consists in first charring the
surface of the wood, and then filling the crev-
ices with sand and coating it with tar.
The wood is first burned until the surface
is well charred. The crevices are then filled
with dry sand or earth, by rubbing or rolling
the wood in the sand, or by any other suitable
means, and the surplus sand or earth isswept
away, after which the surface is coated with
hot coal-tar, applied with a mop, or in any
other suitable manner. The friction thus
caused mixes the sand, charcoal, and coal-tar
together, forming a tough cement, and filling
all the crevices. This process renders the
wood water-proof, and effectually prevents de-
struetion by the teredo and other marine in-
sects. Pine-tar, asphaltum, or pitch may be
used for the coating, but I prefer to use coal-
tar.
I do not claim the carbonization of wood or
timber by subjecting the same to the action
of a flame of gas after the wood has been
united in a structure; nor do I claim charring
wood for the purpose of preventing decay;
nor do I claim making a series of openings in
wood or timber, and then inserting therein
coal tar and pulverized stone, for neither of
such is my invention.
I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-
ters Patent-
The mode herein described of preserving
wood, the same consisting in first charring
the wood in tihe usual manner, and then filling
the crevices with sand, and then coating the
whole with coal-tar, as set forth.
ROGER V. ARCHER.
Witnesses:
D. C. GiovEs,
C. McTIRN N.