The Boy Mechanic Part 81

[Ill.u.s.tration: Pencil on the Knife Blade]

** A Novel Rat Trap [290]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Rat Trap]

A boy, while playing in the yard close to a grain house, dug a hole and buried an old-fas.h.i.+oned fruit jug or jar that his mother had thrown away, says the Iowa Homestead. The top part of the jug was left uncovered as shown in the sketch, and a hole was b r 0 ken in it just above the ground. The boy then placed some sh.e.l.led corn in the bottom, put a board on top, and weighted it with a heavy stone.

The jug had been forgotten for several days when a farmer found it, and, wondering what it was, he raised the board and found nine full-grown rats and four, mice in the bottom. The trap has been in use for some time and is opened every day or two and never fails to have from one to six rats or mice in it.

** A Nut-Cracking Block [290]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Holes in the Block for Nuts]

In the sketch herewith is shown an appliance for cracking nuts which will prevent many a bruised thumb. To anyone who has ever tried to crack b.u.t.ternuts it needs no further recommendation. The device is nothing more than a good block of hardwood with a few holes bored in it to fit the different sized nuts. There is no need of holding the nut with the fingers, and as hard a blow may be struck as desired. Make the depth of the hole two-thirds the height of the nut and the broken pieces will not scatter.

--Contributed by Albert O'Brien, Buffalo, N. Y.

** A Jelly-Making Stand [290]

Every housewife who makes jelly is only too well acquainted with the inconvenience and danger of upsets when using the old method of balancing a

[Ill.u.s.tration: Cheesecloth Strainer on Stand]

jelly-bag on a couple of chairs stood on the kitchen table, with the additional inconvenience of having a couple of chairs on the kitchen table out of commission for such a length of time.

The accompanying sketch shows how a stand can be made from a few pieces of boards that will help jelly makers and prevent the old-time dangers and disadvantages. The stand can be stood in the corner of the kitchen, or under the kitchen table where it will be out of danger of being upset.

--Contributed by Lyndwode, Pereira, Ottawa, Can.

** How to Make an Egg-Beater [291]

There is no reason why any cook or housewife should be without this eggbeater, as it can be made quickly in any size. All that is needed is an ordinary can with a tight-fitting cover-a baking-powder can will do. Cut a round piece of wood 3 in. longer than the length of the can. Cut a neat hole in the cover of the can to allow the stick to pa.s.s through, and at one end of the stick fasten, by means of a flatheaded tack, a piece of tin, cut round, through which several holes have been punched. Secure another piece of heavier tin of the same size, and make

[Ill.u.s.tration: Made Like a Churn]

a hole in the center to pa.s.s the stick through. Put a small nail 2 in. above the end of the dasher, which allows the second tin to pa.s.s up and down in the opposite direction to the dasher. This beater will do the work in less time than the regular kitchen utensil.

--Contributed by W. A. Jaquythe, Richmond, Cal.

** Cart Without an Axle [291]

The boy who has a couple of cart wheels is not always lucky enough to have an axle of the proper length to fit the wheels. In such a case the cart can be constructed as shown in the ill.u.s.tration.

This cart has no axle, each wheel being attached with a short pin for an axle, on the side and at the lower edge of the box. The outer end of the pin is carried on a piece of wood extending the full length of the box and

[Ill.u.s.tration: Wheels Fastened to the Box]

supported by crosspieces nailed to the ends, as shown.

--Contributed by Thos. De Loof, Grand Rapids, Mich.

** An Illuminated Target [291]

My youthful nephews some time ago were presented with an air rifle and it worked so well that it became necessary for me to construct a target that would allow the fun to be carried on at night.

I reversed a door gong, screwed it on the inside of a store box, and fitted two candles on the inside to illuminate the bullseye.

The candles, of course, were below the level of the bullseye. The position of the candles and gong are shown in Fig. 1. At night the illuminated interior of the bell could be

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 1; FIG. 2; Target for Night Shooting]

plainly seen as shown in Fig. 2.

--Contributed by James M. Kane, Doylestown, Pa.

** Sawing Sheet Metal [291]

Sheet metal placed between two boards in the jaws of a vise and clamped tightly, can be sawed easily with a hacksaw.

*8 Feed Box for Chickens [292]

The sketch shows the construction of a feed box designed to prevent the scattering of feed and give the coward

[Ill.u.s.tration: Chicken Feed Box]

rooster as much chance to fatten as the game c.o.c.k. The base may be made of a 1/2-in. board, 1 ft. wide and 3 ft. long, although any of the dimensions may be varied to suit special requirements. The ends are semi-circular pieces with a notch, 1/4 in. deep and 3 in.

wide, cut in the center of the rounding edge. The ends are connected together with a piece of wood set in the notches. The strip of wood is 1/4 in. thick, 2 in. wide and as long as the box.

Notches 1/8 in. wide and 1/8 in. deep are cut on the under side of this piece of wood, 1-1/2 in. apart. Heavy pieces of wire are bent in the form of a semi-circle, as shown. The wires are set in the 1/8-in. notches cut on the under side of the top piece of wood.

The ends of the wires are set in holes in wood pieces joining the bases of the end pieces. The baseboard and top are separable.

--Contributed by Maurice Baudier, New Orleans, La.

** A Book Rest [292]

A book that does not open flat is rather inconvenient to write in when one of its sides is in the position shown in Fig. 2. A wedge-shaped piece of

[Ill.u.s.tration: Book Back Holders]

metal, stone or wood, as shown in Fig. 1, will, when placed as in Fig. 3, raise the sloping half to the level of the other pages.

Cover the block with rubber, wide rubber bands or felt, to prevent its scratching the desk top. The block can also be used as a paperweight.