The Boy Mechanic Part 6

** A Carpenter's Gauge [19]

The home workshop can be supplied with a carpenter's gauge without any expense by the use of a large spool and

[Ill.u.s.tration: Round Stick In a Spool]

a round stick of wood. The stick should be dressed to fit the hole in the spool snugly and a small brad driven through one end so that the point will protrude about 1/16 in.

The adjustment of the gauge is secured by driving the stick in the hole in the direction desired. A better way and one that will make the adjusting easy is to file the point end of a screw eye flat and use it as a set screw through a hole in the side of the spool.

** A Flatiron Rest [19]

The iron rest and wall hanger shown in the sketch is made of sheet iron. The upturned edges of the metal are

[Ill.u.s.tration: Board or Wall Iron Rest]

bent to fit the sloping sides of the iron. The holder and iron can be moved at the same time.

--Contributed by W. A. Jaquythe, Richmond, Cal.

** Use for Paper Bags [19]

When groceries are delivered, save the paper bags and use them for staring bread and cakes. Tie the neck of the bag with a string and it will keep the contents fresh and clean.

--Contributed by Mrs. L. H. Atwell, Kissimmee, Florida.

** Use Chalk on Files [19]

If a little chalk is rubbed on a file before filing steel, it will keep the chips from sticking in the cuts on the file and scratching the work.

** A Homemade Steam Turbine [20]

By WILLIAM H. WARNECKE

Procure some bra.s.s, about 3/16 in. thick and 4 in. square; 53 steel pens, not over 1/4 in. in width at the shank; two enameled, or tin, saucers or pans, having a diameter on the inside part of about 4-1/2 in.; two stopc.o.c.ks with 1/8 in. holes; one shaft; some pieces of

[Ill.u.s.tration: Details of Turbine]

bra.s.s, 1/4 in. thick, and several 1/8-in. machine screws.

Lay out two circles on the 3/16-in. bra.s.s, one having a diameter of 3-1/2 in. and the other with a diameter of 2-3/4 in. The outside circle is the size of the finished bra.s.s wheel, while the inside circle indicates the depth to which the slots are to be cut. Mark the point where a hole is to be drilled for the shaft, also locate the drill holes, as shown at A, Fig. 1. After the shaft hole and the holes A are drilled in the disk, it can be used as template for drilling the side plates C.

The rim of the disk is divided into 53 equal parts and radial lines drawn from rim to line B, indicating the depth of the slots.

Slots are cut in the disk with a hacksaw on the radial lines. A small vise is convenient for holding the disk while cutting the slots.

When cutting the disk out of the rough bra.s.s, sufficient margin should be left for filing to the true line. The slots should be left in their rough state as they have a better hold on the pens which are used for the blades. The pens are inserted in the slots and made quite secure by forcing ordinary pins on the inside of the pens and breaking them off at the rim, as shown in Fig. 4.

When the pens are all fastened two pieces of metal are provided, each about 1 in. in diameter and 1/32 in. thick, with a 3/8-in.

hole in the center, for filling pieces which are first placed around the shaft hole between the disk and side plates C, Fig. 1.

The side plates are then secured with some of the 1/8-in. machine screws, using two nuts on each screw. The nuts should be on the side opposite the inlet valves. The shaft hole may also be filed square, a square shaft used, and the ends filed round for the bearings.

The casing for the disk is made of two enameled-iron saucers, Fig.

2, bolted together with a thin piece of asbestos between them to make a tight joint. A 3/4-in. hole is cut near the edge of one of the saucers for the exhaust. If it is desired to carry the exhaust beyond the casing, a thin pipe can be inserted 1/4 in. into the hole. Holes are drilled through the pipe on both inside and outside of the casing, and pins inserted, as shown in Fig. 5.

Solder is run around the outside pin to keep the steam from escaping. At the lowest point of the saucer or casing a 1/8-in.

hole is drilled to run off the water. A wood plug will answer for a stopc.o.c.k.

If metal dishes, shaped from thick material with a good coating of tin, can be procured, it will be much easier to construct the casing than if enameled ware is used. The holes can be easily drilled and the parts fitted together closely. All seams and surfaces around fittings can be soldered.

Nozzles are made of two stopc.o.c.ks having a 1/8-in. hole. These are connected to a 3/8-in. supply pipe. The nozzles should be set at an angle of 20 deg. with the face of the disk. The nozzle or stopc.o.c.k will give better results if the discharge end is filed parallel to the face of the disk when at an angle of 20 deg. There should be a s.p.a.ce of 1/16 in. between the nozzle and the blades to allow for sufficient play, Fig. 3.

The bearings are made of 1/4-in. bra.s.s and bolted to the casing, as shown, with 1/8-in. machine screws and nuts. Two nuts should be placed on each screw. The pulley is made by sliding a piece of steel pipe on the engine shaft and fastening it with machine screws and nuts as shown in Fig. 6. If the shaft is square, lead should be run into the segments.

The driven shaft should have a long bearing. The pulley on this shaft is made of pieces of wood nailed together, and its circ.u.mference cut out with a scroll saw. f.l.a.n.g.es are screwed to the pulley and fastened to the shaft as shown in Fig. 7.

The bearings are made of oak blocks lined with heavy tin or sheet iron for the running surface. Motion is transmitted from the engine to the large pulley by a thin but very good leather belt.

** Homemade Telegraph Key [21]

A simple and easily constructed telegraph key may be made in the following manner: Procure a piece of sheet bra.s.s, about 1/32 in.

thick, and cut out a strip 3-1/2 in. long by 3/4 in. wide. Bend as shown in Fig. 1 and drill a hole for the k.n.o.b in one end and a hole for a screw in the other. Procure a small wood k.n.o.b and fasten it in place with a small screw. Cut a strip of the same bra.s.s 2-3/4 in. long and 5/16 in. wide and bend as shown in Fig.

2. Drill two holes in the feet for screws to fasten it to the base, and one hole in the top part for a machine screw, and solder a small nut on the under side of the metal over the hole.

Mount both pieces on a base 4-1/4 by 2-3/4 by 1/4 in., as in Fig.

3, and where

[Ill.u.s.tration: Bra.s.s Key on a Wood Base]

the screw of the k.n.o.b strikes the base when pressed down, put in a screw or bra.s.s-headed tack for a contact. Fasten the parts down with small bra.s.s wood-screws and solder the connections beneath the base. Binding posts from an old battery cell are used on the end of the base. The screw on top of the arch is used to adjust the key for a long or short stroke.

--Contributed by S. V. Cooke, Hamilton, Canada.

** Keeping Food Cool in Camps [21]

Camps and suburban homes located where ice is hard to get can be provided with a cooling arrangement herein described that will make a good subst.i.tute for the icebox. A barrel is sunk in the ground in a shady place, allowing plenty of s.p.a.ce about the outside to fill in with gravel. A quant.i.ty of small stones and sand is first put in wet. A box is placed in the hole over the top of the barrel and filled in with clay or earth well tamped. The porous condition of the gravel drains the surplus water after a rain.

The end of the barrel is fitted with a light cover and a heavy door hinged to the box. A small portion of damp sand is sprinkled on the bottom of the barrel. The covers should be left open occasionally to prevent mold and to remove any bad air that may have collected from the contents.

--Contributed by F. Smith, La Salle, Ill.

** Homemade Work Basket [22]