block can also be used as a
paperweight
** Window Shelf for Flower Pots [292]
On the ledge formed by the top part of the lower sash of the
window I fitted a board 7 in wide into each side of the casing,
by cutting away the ends I placed a small bracket at each end of
the shelf, so that it would fit solidly against the lower window
sash to support the weight of the plants
[Illustration Shelf in Window]
One of the brackets I nailed to the shelf and the other I held in
place with a hinge, the reason being that if both were solid, the
shelf could not be put on the window, as one end must be dropped
in place before the other Such a shelf will hold all the plants a
person can put on it When not in use, it can be removed without
marring the casing
--Contributed by G A Wood, West Union, Ia
** Magnet for the Work Basket [292]
Tie a ribbon or strong string to the work basket and fasten a
large magnet to the other end Needles, scissors, etc, can be
picked up without any trouble This device is very convenient for
invalids
--Contributed by Nellie Conlon, Worcester, Mass
** Knife Made from a Hack-Saw Blade [293]
A very serviceable knife with excellent cutting qualities can be
made easily from a discarded hack-saw blade The dimensions given
in the sketch make a knife of convenient size
The saw teeth are ground off on an emery wheel or grindstone to a
smooth edge parallel with the back edge For the handle, take two
pieces of hard wood, dressing one surface of each piece, and cut a
groove as wide and thick as the saw blade Place the blade in the
groove and glue the two dressed sides of the wood together After
the glue has dried, the blade can be pulled out of the groove and
the wood shaped to any desired form A small wood-screw is put
through one side of the handle to prevent the blade from sliding
After completing the
[Illustration Details of Handle]
handle, the blade is put back into the groove and sharpened to a
cutting edge
--Contributed by H A Hutchins, Cleveland, Ohio
** Killing Mice and Rats [293]
A simple and inexpensive means for killing mice and rats is to
leave yeast cakes lying around where they can eat them
--Contributed by Maud McKee, Erie, Pa
** Roller Coaster Illusion Traveling Up an Incline [293]
A toy car with a paddle wheel and a shaft on both ends traveling
upward on a chute in which water is flowing down, is shown in the
accompanying sketch The paddle wheels travel in a reverse
direction causing the ends of the axles to roll on the edge of the
chute, thus carrying the car up the incline If a rack is used on
each side of the chute and a small pinion on the
[Illustration Car Travels Uphill]
ends of the axles, a positive upward movement of the car will be
obtained
--Contributed by W S Jacobs, Malden; Mass
** Block for Planing Octagonal Wood Pieces [293]
The little device shown in the illustration will be found very
useful in any workshop Two or three of them will be necessary for
planing long pieces Each one is made of a hardwood block, 1 in
square and 4 in long A notch is cut in one side, as shown in
Fig 1, so a piece of wood which has been planed square will fit
in it Put a screw in the end of each piece and fasten it down to
the bench If desired, a tenon may be made on the bottom of each
block, as shown in Fig 2, to fit a mortise cut in the bench
Place the blocks far enough apart so the board to be planed will
rest firmly in the notches
[Illustration The Notch Holds the Wood]
Plane the board square first and then place it in the notches and
plane the corners down to the proper dimensions
--Contributed by Willie Woolsen, Cape May Point, NJ
** A Letter Holder of Pierced Metal [294]
The letter holder shown in the illustration will be found
convenient for holding out-going letters that await the postman's
coming It can be made of either copper or brass and need not
[Illustration Finished Letter Holder]
be of very heavy material Gauge 22 will be sufficiently heavy
One sheet of metal, 6 by 9-12 in, a board on which to work it,
and an awl and hammer, will be needed Prepare a design for the
front If one such as is shown is to be used,
[Illustration Layout for the Metal]
make one-quarter of it first, and then get the other parts by
folding on the center lines and tracing This will insure having
all parts alike The letters can be put on afterward
Fasten the metal to the board, using tacks and nailing outside of
the required space, in the waste metal Trace the design on the
metal with carbon paper; or, if desired, paste the paper design
right on the metal With an awl pierce the metal between the
marginal line and the design, as shown The holes should be
uniform along the outlines but should be pierced promiscuously
otherwise On the back, only the marginal line is to be pierced
Remove the metal, together with the paper if the latter was pasted
to the metal, and trim off the surplus metal where the tacks had
been placed File off any sharpness so that the hand may not be
injured in handling it Place the metal on the edge of a table or
between two boards, and bend on the two lines indicated in the
drawing, to right angles
A good finish is obtained by just letting the copper age with its
natural color If any polishing is required, it should be done
before the metal is fastened to the board and pierced
** Imitating Ground Glass [294]
Make a mixture of white lead in oil, 1 part; varnish, 34 part;
turpentine, 14 part, and add sugar of lead as a dryer Make a
very thin paint of this and use a broad, flat brush, says Master
Painter With care you may succeed in getting the paint on quite
evenly all over, which is desirable One coat will do If it
becomes necessary to remove this coating for renewal, it may be
effected by an application of potash lye, or the old may be
renewed by a coating of a mixture of
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