Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 91.djvu/482

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��First draw the angular lines, and then with chalk or charcoal draw the sweep freehand. The angular or straight lines serve as a guide.

Another illustration (Fig. 4) is of the

��Popular Science Monthly

���Fig. 4. A pair of wood dividers are used to make sweep after drawing the angular lines

same method, but in this latter case the wooden dividers, which are very large and made for the sign painter's work, will usually be found sufficient for making the circular sweep, and if the sweep is to be elliptical, as it most always is, it may be made freehand, with the compass lines as a guide. The compass would do only for small signs. In Fig. 4 the upright lines serve a useful purpose in dividing the sketch.

Illustration Fig. 5 shows the use of flourish or ornament, sometimes a valuable addition to certain forms of lettering, and these may also be indicated on the scale sketch, getting the form true and just as

��Fig. 5. An ornament added to a sign where it is necessary is laid out from a scale sketch

it is to be when placed, enlarged, on the sign. The value of a beveled bristle fitch, used in connection with a beveled straight edge, is not "appreciated as it should be for very large lettering work. — A. Ashmund Kelley.

��An Easy Method of Preparing Demar Varnish

TO prepare demar varnish, place from 4 to 10 lb. of the gum in 1 gal. of turpen- tine, and allow it to dissolve. Agitating it in a churn is the best method. You may also use a mixture of turpentine and benzol, or carbon tetrachloride and benzine, for cutting the gum, but just the pure turpen- tine is commonly used. The amount of gum used per gallon determines the body or weight of the product.

���Rubber Plugs in Handsaw Handle to Prevent Its Falling

WHEN placed against awall a handsaw has a tendency to slide sideways and fall, often injuring the teeth. This is because the handle horns which touch the wall are smooth and polished, thus offering no frictional resist- ance. If these horns are pro- vided with soft rubber tips many a fall will be prevented.

To accomplish this, drill a small Y % or 3/32-in. hole about % in. deep in the side of the tip of each horn, hole with rubber cement or mucilage and insert a plug of soft rubber cut from an eraser. Set aside to dry. Have each plug project slightly, as shown. These rubber projections come in contact with the wall when the saw is leaned against it. This prevents the saw from falling down or sliding sideways. The same result may be obtained by winding an elastic band tightly around each horn. — Roy B. Snow.

���Rubber plugs in handle to pre- vent saw from sliding away from a wall

��Partly fill each

��I of soap

��Using Ball of Soap to Recover Screw in Spigot

IN the type of spigot where the washer is secured by a screw the constant turning on and off frequently causes the washer to twist, carrying the screw with it. As a result the' screw finally falls into the bottom of the spigot, from whence it is extremely difficult to re- move it. The usual method is to turn on the water and flow it out, but this is rather uncertain as

well as inconvenient at times. I found by fastening a ball of soap on the end of a stick I could remove the screw easily by pushing the device down so that the screw would become imbedded in it. Nuts may be re- covered the same way. — James M. Kane.

���Soap on stick end picking up screw

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