MECHANICAL. 



L BRASS, TO CLEAN.— Nitric acid, 1 part; sulphuric acid, ^ part; 

 (half as much) in a stone jar. Dikections.— "Have ready a pail of fresh water, 

 and a box of sawdust. Dip into the acid (or swab on), then into the water (or 

 swab on), and rub with the sawdust. A brilliant color is immediate. If 

 things are greasy, first dip into a strong solution of potash or soda (or swab on), 

 to out the grease. It is used at the U. 8. arsenals, and considered the best in 

 the world. 



2. How to Clean Brass, Copper, Tin, etc.— The following mix- 

 ture will be found the best thing for cleaning brass, copper, tin, stair-rods, 

 taps, and even windows, and it is quite worth the trouble of making : Whit- 

 ing, pulverized rotten stone, and soft soap, each 1 lb. ; vinegar, 1 cup, and as 

 much water as makes it a thick paste; spirits of turpentine % pint. Direc- 

 tions. — Let it boil fully 10 minutes, and when nearly cold, add the turpentine, 

 and store in wide-mouthed pickle jars of glass or stoneware. When to be 

 used, put a very little of it on a rag, and rub the article until it becomes 

 bright. Polish with a soft leather dipped in powdered bath-brick. Unless 

 bath-brick is used, it soon tarnishes. 



3. Brass, the Dirtiest, to Clean Very Quickly.— Finely rubbed 

 bichromate of potassa, mixed with twice its bulk of sulphuric acid, and an 

 equal quantity of water, wiU clean the dirtiest brass very quickly. 



4. Another.— Clean brass with a paste made of oxalic acid, 1 oz. ; rot- 

 ten stone, 6 oz, ; and enough whale oil and spirits of turpentine, in equal quan- 

 tities to mix. 



5. Stained Brass, Silver, etc., to Clean. —Whiting wet with 

 aqua ammonia will clean stains from brass and silver, and is excellent for 

 polishing door knobs, of brass, or silver, faucets, fenders, rods, etc. 



B^marks.—M\ the foregoing are good, so take your choice of such as you 

 eon obtain the handiest. 



L Steam Pipes to Cover, to Prevent Loss of Heat,— Coal 

 a^es 4 parts (qts. or bxishels, no matter what the measure), sifted through a 

 fiddle 4 meshes to the inch; calcined plaster (of Paris), wheat flour, and fine 

 dry ^y, each 1 part (1 measure of each of these are used to 4 of ashes.) 



DrRBCTioNS — Mix ashes and fine clay together (with water), to the thickness 

 <rf tiiin mortar, in a mortar-trough; mix the calcined plaster and flour together 

 <Ssy, and add to the ashes and clay mortar, as you want to use it; put it on the 

 f^)es in two coats, according to the size of the pipe. For a 6-inch pipe, 1st 

 €oat 1^ inches thick, the 2d coat about % inch. Afterwards finish with a 



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