Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 90.djvu/156

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��Popular Science Monthly

��runners with deeply imbedded screws. The front sled is made exactly to the same dimensions as the rear sled. The top and the lower blocks should be 8 in. long, cut from i3^ or 2 in. oak, and

��the post, as shown. This makes a very strong steering gear, which will not work loose with hard use.

That the coasting sled may prove attractive it should be given two or

���LOCK PLATE.

��The rocker blocks and manner of fitting them together to make a teeter; the detail of the necessary parts of the runner and cross-section of the rocker for the front bob

��should be the width of the sled and seat respectively. The two middle blocks on the top may run the full width, but will serve just as well if made 8 in. square and the same thickness as the others. The lower half of the first middle block is tapered to a rocker shape, and to make the sled turn easily a large, flat iron-washer is placed between the two. The two upper blocks are solidly screwed together and to the under side of the seat — the centers exactly 18 in. from the forward end. The two lower blocks are likewise screwed together, and the lower one is mortised into the top sides of the sled and screwed firmly to it.

The steering gear consists of a J^ or l-in. iron post, to which is bolted an iron wheel or crossbar known as a tee. If an old brake wheel can be picked up, such as is used on railroad cars, this will make a splendid steering wheel, or lacking this, a crossbar of iron will answer just as well. That the lower end of the steering post may be solidly affixed to the sled, the end of the post is threaded, and a large lock -washer or plate about 4 in. square and >^ in. thick is first screwed on. This plate is provided with four screw-holes in which heavy screws are turned to fasten it solidly to the underside of the lower block which is mortised to the sled runners. A second nut is screwed on the end of

��three coats of bright red paint, and finished with a coat of outside spar varnish. The steering post and wheel or tee may be finished with aluminum paint or black enamel. If a cushion is desired, this may be cheaply made of tan khaki, padded with cotton, or an old comfortable may be cut to the desired width to slip in the cover. The best way to keep the cushion in place is to fasten it to the seat with several straps and buckles.

��A Shoe- Scraper Made of a Wagon Step

ADISCARDED wagon step screwed to the side of the porch steps makes a good shoe-scraper. It is set off from the steps and the scrapings from the shoes fall on the ground and not on the steps. It cannot clog, and being fast- ened to the side of the steps, it is not in the way. It does not mar the step nor is it liable to cause injury. Its cutting edge can be filed as sharp as desired, and it will hold its shape and position.

���Scraper attached to the side of a step

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