FOR PRACTICAL 

 WORKERS 



iffifirYi _ 



Chemical Flasks Made from Electric 

 Light Bulbs 



CHEMICAL flasks are indispensable 

 around the laboratory. Very service- 

 able ones can be made, at practically no 

 expense, from worn-out electric bulbs. 

 Since the bulbs are manufactured in various 

 sizes, it is possible to construct flasks of 

 many dimensions according to the sizes of 

 the electric globes. 



The essential materials are a Bunsen 

 burner and a three-cornered file. If a 

 Bunsen burner is not available, any burner 

 giving a hot blue flame can be utilized in- 

 stead. Hold the brass base of the bulb 

 in the flame for a few seconds, until the 

 cement surrounding the glass has melted 

 sufficiently to enable you to pry the base 

 off with the pointed end of the file. Allow 

 the glass to cool; then with warm water 

 clean off the cement that still adheres 

 to the bulb. 



Carefully make a scratch with the file 

 around the circumference of the bulb 

 where the globe proper is sealed to the 

 filament. A light blow will separate the 

 filament from the bulb. If the mouth is 

 left rough, it may be smoothed by revolving 

 it in the flame. While the bulb is soft at 

 its mouth, it may have a small taper put 

 on it with the sharp end of the file. When 

 it has cooled, hold the mouth of the flask 

 in a cloth, and permit the large end to 

 revolve in the flame, taking care to heat 

 the glass evenly until it softens. Have a 

 clean dry slab of marble, slate or similar 

 substance at hand, and press the flask down 

 on it evenly so that the flask can stand by 

 itself. 



After a few flasks have been com- 

 pleted, they should be placed in a strong 

 salt solution. Heat the solution, while the 

 flasks are in it, bringing it gradually to 

 boiling point; then when the brine has 

 cooled, take the flasks out. They are then 

 ready for use. — Herman Neuhaus. 



A Concrete Mixer Made Out of an 

 Old Mower 



AN old dismantled mower constituted 

 jTjl the foundation for this unique con- 

 crete mixer. One mower wheel was 

 planted in the ground and weighted with 

 rocks, while the other was supported on a 

 beam to stand the axle at an angle. The 

 sickle driver head was removed and a band 

 wheel put in its place. A rough wood box 

 constructed of matched lumber to make it 

 water-tight was fastened to the spokes of 



The axle of an old mower set at an angle and 

 used to revolve a box for mixing concrete 



the upper wheel. A hinged cover was 

 fastened to the open end. In this the 

 cement was whirled. 



A portable farm engine was used for the 

 power, which was connected up to the 

 mixer with a belt. — J. E. Grinstead. 



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