764 



Popular Science Monthly 



two braces. It is held down securely by 

 two catches in line with the braces. 



The upper part of the box is filled 

 with a rectangular pad of felt stuffed 

 tightly with hay. This is removable. 



A felt-and-hay insulated fireless cooker to 

 accommodate one or more pots as desired 



The pot is complelel>- wrapped about 

 its sides and bottom with a felt oxer- 

 coat. This may be made from an old 

 felt hat which, if thoroughly steamed, 

 may be easily shaped about the pot. 

 If it is not wide enough to reach to the 

 sides of the box, the erstwhile brim 

 should be sewed to a square piece of 

 stout material in which a circular hole 

 has been cut. This rectangular piece is 

 attached to the sides of the box by 

 means of a 3^-in. wood molding, as 

 shown in the sketch. The final pack- 

 ing of the cooker is done as follows: 



The bottom of the box is temporarily 

 removed. The cover is lifted and o\er 

 the pot the rectangular pad is placed. 

 The lid is closed and the box turned 

 upside down. Then the space that 

 remains is filled with firmly packed hay, 

 and when the bulk of this is in place all 

 but one of the bottom boards arc nailed 

 down. Through the remaining o[K'ning 

 more hay is crowded in until tlu- 

 packing is perfectly solid. Then the 

 last of the bottom boards is secured. 

 As a result of this arrangement the 

 cooker is insulated at the top, sides and 

 bottom by at least 2J/2 i'l- (|)referal)l\- 

 T, in.) of i)acking. This pre\enls radi- 

 ation and insures the efiicient use of all 

 the heal which will be stored in liie pol. 



RoitiCKt Ci. Skickrictt. 



Loosening a Wood Screw to Draw 

 It Easily 



IN an elTort to remove a No. iS 

 wood screw which is 2 in. long, the 

 slot in the iu.id was put into such a 



condition that the screwdriver-bit 

 would not engage it. The screw had 

 rusted in the hole. A cold chisel and 

 hammer were brought into use to cut 

 another slot. After cutting the slot it 

 was found that the screw came out \ery 

 easily. The force of the hammer blows 

 had loosened up the rust and also had 

 spread the wood around the screw 

 sufificientlj- to allow it to come out. The 

 same operation was tried out on a screw 

 which had the head entirely twisted otT, 

 and it was easih- removed. 



Transforming a Wheelbarrow 

 into a Fantastic Toy 



AN example of how so prosaic a 

 . thing as a wheelbarrow may be 

 made into a most alluring toy is shown 

 in the illustration. As his clownship 

 calls for grotesque rather than artistic 

 lines, anyone handy with a saw and a 

 sharp knife can fashion such a barrow 

 according to his own ideas. The one 

 pictured is in eleven sections — two legs, 

 two sides, two end-pieces, the bottom, 

 side standards, front wheel and head, 

 which is car\-ed on both sides. 



The parts of the wheelbarrow are cut out 

 in the shape of a clown and decorated 



First, roughly sketch the clown 

 on heavy manila paper in order to 

 familiarize yourself with the lines of 

 his anatt)m\'; then boldh' draw six 

 sections on bristol board, half of his 

 figure sufficing for a pattern. Cut out 

 these sections with a sharp, pointed 

 knife indicating with a pencil what each 

 one is. Any lumber will do for the 

 barrow; e\en an ordinary pine box may 

 be utili/fd if it is long enough to pro- 

 vide handles, tlu- dimensions ol which 

 ma\- \ary acconling to the size reciuiri-d. 

 The i)r(ii)orli()ns t)f the figure shown are 

 about as follows: leg, 30 in. to tip of 

 toe; end-piece, 14 in.; side-piece, 27 in. ; 

 standard, \2 in.; wheel, lo in. in diame- 

 ter; heaii, I) ill. troin the crown to nape 



