Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 89.djvu/935

 �FOR PRACTICAL WORKERS

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��Making Artistic Decorative Butterflies in Sheet- Copper

TO produce artistic effects representing butterflies in copper requires a little skill, a sheet of copper — about 20-gage — a jeweler's saw-frame and blades, artist's oil colors ground in light Japan, two camel's- hair brushes — one wide and the other pointed — and a fine drawing- pen known as No. 390 The colors of paints and inks used de- pends upon the de- s i g n to be executed.

Select the butterfly, or a colored drawing of one, to be re- produced in metal and very carefully trace or draw the out- line on a piece of the copper. Saw it out, follow- ing the outline closely. Hold the copper in a bench-vise, or by means of a bench-angle, such as used by jewel- ers, or like that shown in the illustra- tion. If the saw tends to bind or chatter rub a bit of beeswax or com- mon washing-soap along the teeth. Smooth the edges of the copper pattern with a fine flat file and go over the surface with very fine- grained emery paper.

The coloring is next in order. Suppose, for example, the butterfly to be reproduced is yellow with black-lined wings and body. Squeeze a little of the yellow oil-color on a piece of glass and mix it to a fairly thin con- sistency with the Japan drier. Dip up a good brush full and flow it e\-enly over the entire surface of each side with the widest brush, allowing one side to thoroughly dry before touching the other. Choose the smoothest side and with a well-pointed pencil trace very lightly the general mark-

��ings on the wings and body; then with a pen and ink, copy the markings of the original as closely as possible. This ink will dr>' almost instantly and leave a dull surface. If a glossy surface is desired give it a coat of very thin white shellac. Spots of contrasting colors can be touched in with the smaller brushes.

An assortment of these varicolored flies will make attractive pieces which can be utilized for many purposes, such as bookmarks, pendants, etc. By solder- ing a buckle-strap to one side before painting, an attractive and original belt-buckle can be made. Solder a sharp nail to the under side and drive in one end of a stick stained green and use for a plant stick. Several of these plant sticks sup- porting an assorted lot of brilliantly colored moths and butter- flies, placed among the leaves of potted plants furnish a beauti- ful and realistic Coloring forms cut from sheet decoration for a copper to resemble brilliant but- window garden, terflies for decorative purposes — L. B. ROBBINS.

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��Repairing Automobile Tires to Prevent Bulky Places

LKY-LOOKING repairs are often caused by the overlapping of the new plies of fabric on the old. When a piece of fabric is inserted it should lap just ^s in. all around. During vulcanization the air pressure and the expansion of the tire will draw the fabric down so that it will join the old fabric exactly without overlapping or any clumsy eflfect.

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