Homemade Pair of Skis 



A simple method of making skis 

 without having to bend the wood 



BY following the design here illustrated, 

 it is comparatively easy to construct 

 a pair of skis with which one can travel 

 on the surface of the softest snowdrift 

 without sinking. 



Procure two hardwood boards about 

 6 ft. long, 4 in. in width, and 3^2 in. thick. 

 Although soft wood will do, hardwood will 

 answer the purpose better, as it polishes 

 easier, and the smoother the ski is on the 

 bottom the better it will run. 



A leather strap is tacked to the upper 

 side of the ski, so as to form a loop. This 

 should be placed exactly in the center 

 of the ski and should be just large enough 

 to admit the toe of the shoe. A small 

 block of wood is fastened just back of 



-"^S* 



at the other, it is fastened to the under 

 side of the front of the snow-shoe, with 

 the pointed end turned up. The nail 

 heads and all sharp points of tin should 

 be filed off so as to make the under 

 surface of the ski as smooth as possi- 

 ble. — Peter J. M. Clute. 



Joe strap 



-Stop block 



"■^Sheet metal 



The straight wood runner is pointed with 

 a piece of sheet metal cvirved at the end 



the toe-strap in such a position as to fit 

 into the hollow part of the shoe, just in 

 front of the heel. 



A piece of heavy tin or sheet metal is 

 used for the front part of the ski. This 

 should be about 1 ft. long, 4 in. wide 

 at one end and tapering to a blunt point 



How to Make Knitting Needles 

 in a Speed Lathe 



KNITTING for our soldiers seems 

 popular with the ladies as a method 

 of doing their bit. It may be of con- 

 siderable interest to know that knitting 

 needles can be made easily and cheaply 

 by students, in shops where speed lathes 

 are available. 



Red cedar is the best wood to use. 

 Secure straight grained sticks and joint 

 them straight and true. Rip out pieces 

 about 1 in. longer than the length 

 desired, and with a side of the cross sec- 

 tion only slightly greater than the re- 

 quired diameter of the needle. 



Needle sizes are about as follows: 



For sweaters, dia. 200 in., length 14 in.. 

 Twist drill No. 7. 



For helmets, dia. 175 in., length 13 in.. 

 Twist drill No. 16. 



For wTistlets, dia. 135 in., length 12 in.. 

 Twist drill No. 29. 



Secure a piece of cold rolled steel J^ by 

 2 by 5 in. and drill a hole in the center of 

 each end, in such a manner as to allow it 

 to be bolted to the face plate of a speed 

 lathe through the screw holes on the face 

 plate. It should approximately center up 

 on the lathe. With a twist drill of the 

 size of the needle required, drill a hole 



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