Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 89.djvu/168

 154

��Popular Science Monthly

��To Screen Doors and Windows

IN screening doors and windows, it is highly desirable that the wire screens should not bulge or wrinkle, and that they should be as taut as pos- sible between the frames. In the accom- panying illustration, a method is shown for accomplishing this. One end of the door or frame to be screened is made

���Here is a simple way of stretching a screen taut on a frame

��to rest on the steps, and the other rests on the floor or walk. By means of a piece of wire or cord and the screw-eye in the floor, the center of the door is sprung so that it is held 3" or 4" below the sides. The door must be held in this sprung position until the wire screen has been completely tacked in place. The tacking should begin at the center and proceed to the corners of the frame. When the tacking is completed, the door or frame can be released froiu its taut position ; and it will be found that a neat job, with a well-stretched screen free from wrinkles and bulges, will he the re- sult. — E. B. Williams.

A Home-Made Table-Too Varnish

FOLLOWING is a recipe for a good varnish, suitable for experimental and wireless benches, and also for in- strument bases. It gives a finish very much like hard rubber :

Mix enough lampblack with shellac to make the mixture black, but not enough to thicken it nuich. After sandpapering the wood smooth, ai)ply two coats of the varnish, sandpapering lightly after each coat. Over this put one or two coats of dull varnish. This makes the wood waterproof, preserves it, and improves the appearance of the table-top.

��Concealed Ventilation

THE diagram shows a simple scheme of ventilation, which may be em- ployed on any window by extending the top of the upper half so that it pockets higher into the wall. When the window is in position for ventilating, the top is pulled down slightly, as shown in Fig. 1. This permits air to enter through the "middle joint," as indicated by the ar- rows, and it is deflected upward, just as it should be. The top, it will be noted, is still sealed.

The appearance of the window when closed is shown in Fig. 2. It always looks like an ordinary window, and the absence of any attachment makes it the acme of simplicity.

���C/osed

��J^enf/'/af/ng

���A ventilating ar- rangement which can be used on any window

��Fig. t

��Fig. 2

��Removing Heat Spots from a Table

THE white spots, caused by hot dish- es, can be removed by rubbing fresh lard on them. The lard should be rubbed in with the fingers. If the spots are very bad it will be necessary to leave the lard on a few hours. It is then rub- bed off with a soft cloth. The lard will not injure the finish of the table. A fine- ly polished dining-table, otherwise ruined by hot dishes, can be thus reclaimed.

�� �