The Boy Mechanic Part 89

** Holder for Flexible Lamp-Cord [317]

The holder is made of a round stick--a piece of a broom handle will do--as shown in Fig. 1. It is about 1 in. long with two notches cut out for the strands of the cord. These holders are easily made and will answer the purpose almost as well as the ones made in porcelain. Painting or enameling will improve not only their appearance, but also their insulating properties.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ceiling-Cord Holder]

Several of them can be used along a line, as shown in Fig. 2.

--Contributed by M. Musgrove, Boissevain, Man.

** Support for Double Clotheslines [318]

Anyone using a double clothesline over pulleys will find the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 for supporting the

[Ill.u.s.tration: Holder on a Clothesline]

lower line quite convenient. The support is made of a piece of 3/4-in. square or round wood which has a screw-eye turned into each end. The line is run through these screw-eyes as shown in Fig. 2.

--Contributed by W. W. UpDeGraff, Fruitvale, Cal.

** Hot Pan or Plate Lifter [318]

Unless a person uses considerable caution, bad burns may be suffered when taking hot pies from an oven. If one reaches in and takes hold of the pie pan with a cloth, the arm is liable to touch the oven door and receive a

[Ill.u.s.tration: Lifter on Pie Pan]

burn. To obviate this, I made the device shown in the sketch for lifting hot pie pans and plates. The handle is of pine about 18 in. long, and the two loops are made of heavy wire. The ends of the first loop of wire are put through the handle from the back, as shown, and then bent so as to stand out at an angle. The second loop is hinged to swing free on the opposite side of the handle.

In use, the hinged side of the loop is dropped under one edge of a plate or pan and the rigid loop is then hooked under the opposite side. The weight of the pan or dish draws the loops together and there is little or no danger of a spill. The same lifter will pick up any size of plate or pan from a saucer to the largest pie plates.

--Contributed by E. J. Cline, Ft. Smith, Ark.

** Weighting Indian Clubs [318]

An ordinary Indian club can be fixed so that different weights may be had

[Ill.u.s.tration: Indian Club]

without changing clubs. Each club is bored to receive lead washers which are held in place by a spiral spring. A bolt is run through from the handle end and fastened with a round nut. The lead washers and spring slip over the bolt as shown in the ill.u.s.tration. Changing the number of washers changes the weight of the club.

--Contributed by Walter W. White, Denver, Colo.

** Venting a Funnel [318]

When using a tight-fitting funnel in a small-neck bottle, trouble is usually experienced by the air causing a spill. This can be easily remedied by splitting a match in half and tying the parts on the sides of the stem with thread.

--Contributed by Maurice Baudier, New Orleans, La.

** Lubricating Woodscrews [318]

A screw may be turned into hardwood easily, by boring a small hole and lubricating the screw threads with soft soap.

** To Make "Centering" Unnecessary [319]

For drilling a hole in a chucked piece, centering is just one operation too many, if this method is followed:

First, face off the end of the piece, making a true spot at least as big as the diameter of the drill. Put a center punch mark where the tool lines indicate the center of revolution. This serves as a rough guide for placing the drill between the tail stock center and the work as usual. Clamp a tool in the tool-post and, on starting the lathe, bring it in contact with the drill and keep it firmly so until the drill is in fully up to the lips. This prevents the drill from wobbling, and when once in true up to its size, it cannot change any more than under any other starting conditions. After being entered, the drill does not need the tool, which should be backed out of contact.

** Fountain Pen Cap Used as a Ruler [319]

When it is necessary to draw a short line and there is no ruler at hand, take

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ruling Lines]

off the cap of your fountain pen and use it as a ruler. If the cap is fitted with a retaining clip, all the better, as this will prove a safeguard against slipping.

** Vanis.h.i.+ng Handkerchief Trick [319]

The necessary articles used in performing this trick are the handkerchief, vanis.h.i.+ng wand, a long piece of gla.s.s tubing, a bout 1/2 in. shorter t h a n the wand, and a paper tube closed at one end and covered with a cap at the other, says the Sphinx. The handkerchief rod, shown at C, is concealed in the paper tube A before the performance. The gla.s.s tube B, after being shown empty; is put into the paper tube A, so that the handkerchief rod now is within it, unknown to the spectators. The handkerchief is then placed over

[Ill.u.s.tration: Wand]

the opening of the tube and pushed in by means of the wand. In doing this, the handkerchief and the rod are pushed into the wand, as shown in D. After the wand is removed, the cap is placed over the paper tube, and this given to someone to hold. The command for the handkerchief to vanish is given, and it is found to be gone when the gla.s.s tube is taken out of the paper cover. This is a novel way of making a handkerchief vanish. It can be used in a great number of tricks, and can be varied to suit the performer.

** Removing Gla.s.s Letters from Windows [319]

Gla.s.s letters are removed in the same way as metal letters, by applying caustic soda or potash around the edges of the letters.

As the cement softens, manipulate the point of a pocket knife under the edges of the letter until the caustic works completely under and makes it easy to lift the letters. With care and patience, every letter may be thus taken off without breakage.

** A Guitar That Is Easy to Make [320]

A guitar having straight lines, giving it an old-fas.h.i.+oned appearance, can be made by the home mechanic, and if care is taken in selecting the material, and having it thoroughly

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

seasoned, the finished instrument will have a fine tone. The sides, ends and bottom are made of hard wood, preferably hard maple, and the top should be made of a thoroughly seasoned piece of soft pine. The dimensioned pieces required are as follows: