Chapter 11 and 12 Summary and Analysis

In Chapter 11: The Flaming Washtub, John friend's Jim Boughton had been working on a secret project and called John over one day to see it. Jim had made a "blast furnace" from scrap. He described it as a "nonferrous foundry for casting aluminum and bronze" (p. 102). The furnace could not attain temperatures enough to smelt steel. Jim ignited it and John was astounded by the heat and roaring sound it generated. Jim demonstrated the furnace's power by throwing chunks of aluminum into it. The aluminum quickly liquified. John helped Jim pour the melted aluminum into a mold. After the metal cooled, Jim cracked the mold open revealing a pair of arms. Jim's younger brother had posed for the mold.

Jim had a close call with another invention. He had created a vat that he used to clean auto parts...