Page:St. Nicholas (serial) (IA stnicholasserial321dodg).pdf/601

1905.] zinc could be employed to form such artistic edgings to wood boxes and bits of furniture as may be seen in the following illustrations.

It is so simple and easy to bind with metals that any boy can do it if the suggestions here given are followed and a little care and perseverance are exercised in the work.

large growing plants, palms, and miniature trees, an attractive plant-box is shown in Fig. 18. It can be made almost any size, but for general use a good size is 12 inches square at the bottom, 18 at the top, and from 12 to 14 inches high. On two sides of the box ring-handles are to be fastened. These can be made by a blacksmith, at a small cost, and should be from 2½ to 4 inches in diameter, according to the size of the box. On the other sides metal strips of ornamental design may be tacked on.

This box should be treated to several good coats of paint inside, and finished as desired on the outside. A zinc lining should be made to fit the box, with a vent-hole at the bottom to drain off surplus moisture. A tinsmith will make the lining, which may be tacked around the top to the inside edge of the box.

(Fig. 19) is a useful receptacle for photographs, picture-cards, or other small things that accumulate in a library or a living-room.

To make a box 18 inches long, 10 inches wide, and 8 inches deep, including top, bottom, and sides, obtain some smooth pieces of wood not more than three eighths or half an inch thick. The pieces arc glued and nailed all together, forming an inclosed box. Use a good liquid glue and slim steel-wire nails to make the joints, and when the glue is dry make a light pencil-mark all around the four sides of the box, one and a half inches down from the top; on this line carefully saw off the tap from the box.

Cut some strips of stovepipe iron or sheet-lead about an inch and a quarter wide. These are for binding the edges of the box. A strip is bent and lapped on both sides of a corner, so that a band five eighths of an inch wide will show on each side, The metal is to be fastened on with brass, oval-headed upholsterers’ tacks, and the heads may be from a quarter to half an inch in diameter, Before tacking, lightly punch a hole in the strip with a pointed awl.

At the point on the strip where the corner is to be cut out a V is shown in the upper part of Fig. 20. The metal, when fastened to one edge, will appear as shown in the lower part of Fig. 20.

When the nails have been securely fastened in, bend down the standing edge of metal so that it will lie flat on the other side of the corner. This may be done by beating it down with a light wooden mallet.

From sheet-iron or lead next cut a few irregular strips of suitable length, and fasten them to the box to represent the straps to the hinges or binding straps to the box, The hasp and eye-plate can be made in the same manner.