140 



Popular Science Monthly 



runners with deeply imbedded screws. 

 The front sled is made exactly to the 

 same dimensions as the rear sled. The 

 top and the lower blocks should be 8 in. 

 long, cut from i3^ or 2 in. oak, and 



the post, as shown. This makes a very 

 strong steering gear, which will not work 

 loose with hard use. 



That the coasting sled may prove 

 attractive it should be given two or 



LOCK PLATE. 



The rocker blocks and manner of fitting them together to make a teeter; the detail of 

 the necessary parts of the runner and cross-section of the rocker for the front bob 



should be the width of the sled and seat 

 respectively. The two middle blocks 

 on the top may run the full width, but 

 will serve just as well if made 8 in. square 

 and the same thickness as the others. 

 The lower half of the first middle block 

 is tapered to a rocker shape, and to 

 make the sled turn easily a large, flat 

 iron-washer is placed between the two. 

 The two upper blocks are solidly screwed 

 together and to the under side of the 

 seat — the centers exactly 18 in. from the 

 forward end. The two lower blocks are 

 likewise screwed together, and the lower 

 one is mortised into the top sides of the 

 sled and screwed firmly to it. 



The steering gear consists of a J^ or 

 l-in. iron post, to which is bolted an 

 iron wheel or crossbar known as a tee. 

 If an old brake wheel can be picked up, 

 such as is used on railroad cars, this will 

 make a splendid steering wheel, or 

 lacking this, a crossbar of iron will 

 answer just as well. That the lower end 

 of the steering post may be solidly 

 affixed to the sled, the end of the post is 

 threaded, and a large lock -washer or 

 plate about 4 in. square and >^ in. thick 

 is first screwed on. This plate is 

 provided with four screw-holes in which 

 heavy screws are turned to fasten it 

 solidly to the underside of the lower block 

 which is mortised to the sled runners. 

 A second nut is screwed on the end of 



three coats of bright red paint, and 

 finished with a coat of outside spar 

 varnish. The steering post and wheel 

 or tee may be finished with aluminum 

 paint or black enamel. If a cushion is 

 desired, this may be cheaply made of 

 tan khaki, padded with cotton, or an 

 old comfortable may be cut to the 

 desired width to slip in the cover. The 

 best way to keep the cushion in place 

 is to fasten it to the seat with several 

 straps and buckles. 



A Shoe- Scraper Made of a 

 Wagon Step 



ADISCARDED wagon step screwed 

 to the side of the porch steps makes 

 a good shoe-scraper. It is set off from 

 the steps and the 

 scrapings from 

 the shoes fall on 

 the ground and 

 not on the steps. 

 It cannot clog, 

 and being fast- 

 ened to the side 

 of the steps, it is 

 not in the way. 

 It does not mar 

 the step nor is it 

 liable to cause injury. Its cutting edge 

 can be filed as sharp as desired, and it 

 will hold its shape and position. 



Scraper attached to 

 the side of a step 



