Popular Science Monthly 



935 



Substitutes for the Ordinary 

 Carpenter's Levels 



IN laying the foundations of a house 

 a rubber hose may be used as a 

 substitute for a carpenter's or engineer's 

 level. The illustration explains how to 

 use it. It is evident that the wate- will 

 be at the same level in both ends of the 

 hose. 



A Good Substitute for a Solid 

 Round Belt 



W1^ 



round belt of the kind 

 sed on a jig-saw machine, or 

 light lathe, is required and a solid roimd 

 belt cannot be obtained, a very good 

 substitute, superior in some ways to the 

 solid belt, can be made by using a 



rawhide belt 



Another way pi — ' | | b | | ' ®1 — 'B"— -"—' h * lace somewhat 



is to set a tub [J* OL^Iq U ^""^ ^^jl fe""^ longer than 



almost full of ^^—'^ ^^ no z needed. After 



water at about tt " a » soaking it in 



the proper fig i. —=2=^?^^ warm water for 



height, near I 1 ' some time to 



the center of Two methods of constructing an accurate level, soften the 



the building. A ™ ""^^^^ t^^ medium to obtain the straight- leather, pro- 



, , , ,- ^ , edge or sighting level for a distant mark , , , . ^ 



block ot wood ceed to twist 



supporting a long rule, as shown in it up until it is perfectly round. Then 



Fig. I, is placed on the water. As the hang it up to dr\- with a weight of 



block can turn around freely, the leveling 30 pounds or more on the end. This 



can be obtained in all directions. To will make a belt with a better grip than 



adjust the rule, direct it to a point A at that of the solid belt, and it has the 



some distance, turn the block end for added advantage of being adjustable, 



end, and if the rule points exactly to- By undoing the ends and either twisting 



wards A again, it is properly placed, or untwisting it, the length can be in- 



By moving a small stone B back and creased or curtailed considerably. The 



forth on the block, the proper adjust- twisted leather belt will also have a bet- 



ment can be easily obtained. ter grip on the grooves of pulleys than 



The best method is to make the water- the smooth-surface round kind, 



level as shown in Fig. 2. This level can For fastening the ends, make a close 



be made by anyone handy with tools. spiral spring about 2J4 ins. long and of 



It is composed of a block C that can such a diameter that the round belt will 



revolve on the end of the staff D. To fit in tightly. When the two ends of the 



the block is attached a tube 3 or 4 ft. belt meet in the center of the coiled 



long, terminating at both ends with ■ spring the ends of the wire are passed 



glass tubes — lamp chimneys will do. through the leather in the form of a 



Water is poured in until it reaches hook. This makes an ideal joint which 



about half way up the tube. No adjust- has flexibility and is easily remo\ed for 



ment is needed since the water is at the tightening. It will not tear out like the 



same level in both tubes. The instru- usual hooks on account of the holes 



ment is far more accurate than one being so far away from the ends. Also 



would suppose and is amply sufficient because the spring is pulled out, it 



for use in laying Sc') contracts and grips the belt 



foundations. — 'aC'w/u^J "^^^ water poured into a ^^ more firmly.- 



Adrian GeT.^Z. |' ]gSSian length of hose win reach ./7"l/r^^ B. E. DOBREE. 



the same level at both ends 



