926 



Popular Science Monthly 



Making a Book Trough with 

 Natural Wood Finish 



BOOK troughs are pleasing variations 

 of the conventional book rack and 

 they serve a very useful purpose. Food 

 for thought in the shape of books can be 

 dished out in no better way than a book 



A simple conventional design for a book 

 trough to be used on the library table' 



trough full of books conveniently located 

 on the library table. The list of materials 

 required for this one is as follows : 



2 end pieces ioJi in. square and % in. thick. 



I rail 25 in. long, 4 in. wide and % in. thick. 



I rail 25 in. long, 2% in. wide and % in. thick. 



1 piece for keys 2% in. long, 1 in. wide and J^ in. 

 thick. 



The selection of the wood should be well 

 considered. All dimensions given are gener- 

 ous, to allow for planing and finishing to 

 the sizes given in the illustration. The 

 layout for the ends is detailed, the mortises 

 being marked from both sides to enable the 

 worker to cut clean lines on both surfaces 

 when chiseling out the stock. Cut the 

 outline of the ends carefully on the band- 



Dimensions of the parts of the book trough. 

 These may be varied to suit the maker 



saw or with a turning saw or scroll-saw 

 if there is no band-saw atjiand. Smooth 

 the straight edges with a plane and the 

 curves with a wood file. In cutting the 

 mortises, bore holes first and then cut care- 

 fully to the size with a wood chisel, working 

 from both sides. 



The long pieces or rails joining the ends 

 should be cut to width and length, and 

 the tenons laid out and cut on the ends. 

 The holes for the keys are next cut. Fit 

 the tenons carefully to their respective 

 mortises and mark them so that they 

 can be returned to their places. Fit the 

 keys carefully and mark them. The steel 

 figures are just the thing for making these 

 marks. 



The pieces are now scraped and sanded 

 and they are ready for the finishing process. 

 A good oil stain gives the best results in 

 the hands of the amateur. When oak is 

 used, spread on the stain evenly and rub 

 off the surplus. When this has dried for 

 24 hours apply a coat of filler which 

 has been colored with a little of the stain 

 used. Let it stand for a few minutes, 

 or until it is dull, and then rub off the sur- 

 plus with a piece of burlap, rubbing across 

 the grain. After the filler coat has dried, 

 apply two coats of shellac, spreading 

 evenly. Rub the pieces with steel wool 

 after each coat to prepare a smooth surface 

 for the wax. Two applications of wax 

 will complete the finishing process. The 

 pieces should now be assembled, after 

 which the book trough is ready for imme- 

 diate service. — Harry W. Anderson 



A Homemade Oil-Gage for a 

 Large Storage Tank 



WHERE a large storage tank is kept 

 filled with gasoline for private use 

 it is necessary to have some means of 

 knowing the quantity of oil within to pre- 

 vent running short. The illustration shows 

 a homemade gage constructed of discarded 

 parts which can usually be found about a 

 home garage or shop. The body of the 

 gage consists of a breather-tube A and a 

 cap B. A slot Y% m - wide was cut in the 

 side of the tube, extending to within % in. 

 of each end. The lower end of the tube was 

 rethreaded to fit in the threads of the 

 filling hole. A guide C was turned to the 

 shape shown from a piece of solid brass bar. 

 The hole through the center was drilled to 

 make a sliding fit for the rod D. Four 34-in. 

 holes were drilled through the base so that 

 oil could be poured in when the cap B was 

 removed. To hold the guide in place it is 

 made a press fit, but'it was finally soldered. 

 The rod D is a V%-\n. drill rod with a float 

 E fastened to the lower end. A knob F was 

 fastened to the upper end of the rod, which 

 served as a gage block and to prevent the 



