Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 89.djvu/482

 408

��Popvhir Scieiice Monthly

��An Easily Constructed Holder for the Broom

A SIMPLE little article which maybe made by a novice from a few pieces of wood is a holder for a broom. It is designed to lengthen the life of the broom by saving the wear on the bristles and also to operate auto- matically.

Take a board 5 ins. by 7 ins. by }4 in. thick, and round ofif the top ij/g ins. to hang up holder, as shown in the illustration. Take a i-in. board 5^ ins.

��by 2

from

��H

��ms., cutting out a slot, f^

��the top, i^.i ins. wide, tapering

��out a circular disk i in. thick and i^f< in. in diameter and place this in the slot. Nail on the long edge a I in. strip, yg in. wide, which will lea\-e a space i^s 'ns. wide between the strip and part contain- ing the circular disk.

To complete, nail across the front a piece of -^s-'n- board 2^4 ins. by 5^^ ins.

\Mien hanging up the broom place the top of the handle in the groove, push up- wards, and let go. The circular disk will fall into place, securely locking the handle. To release broom, push up- wards. — Henry C. Fr.\nke, Jr.

���A Weed Destroyer from a Spoon and Broom-Handle

A HANDY weed destroyer for use on the lawn is made of the handle of an old kitchen spoon and a broomstick. The eye of the spoon handle is cut out with a file, leaving two prongs, as shown and the inside edges arc then sharpened and the small end of the handle is set in the end of a broomstick. Fig. i.

With this tool one may easily and quickly cut off small weeds an inch or so below the grountl without disturbing the sod.

If one prefers to pull the weeds, simply

���BROOM STICK

WIRE BAND

niTCHEN SPOON HANDLE

��Fiai

��Showing the Automatic Action of Cir- cular Disk Which Holds Broom in Place

��The Two Prongs are Sharpened so They

May Be Used Simply to Cut Off the Tops

or to Uproot Weeds

nail a small block of wood to the under- side of the tool near the prongs to form a fulcrum. Fig. 2. The weeds ma\- then be prii'd out of the ground, roots and all. — F. H. LiNTiiilM.

��Correcting Pliers Which Bind

El.KCTRICTANS know how tiresome and annoying arc pliers that are difliciilt to operate. This binding re- sults because the pliers have been dropped upon a hard surface or have been lieid in the fkinie of a blow-torch when holding terminal lugs for soldering.

This trouble can be remedied by wrapping a wet rag around the jaws, and leaving the joint exposed. The joint is then heated in the Hamc of a blow- torch, care being taken to have tiic rag thoroughh' wet while heating, to avoid drawing llie temjier out of the jaws.

When hot, remove the rag and inimediaU'h' |)lungc the [iliers in cold water, closing antl ojiening tlic jaws to their full width until they are cold. DrN' thoroughly, and apply oil to the joint by working it in. After this process your pliers will work as easily as ever. — George Niedekuoff.

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