MANUFACTURE OF QUILL-FLOATS. 217 



another quill a size larger than the one fixed in the float, 

 so as to slip over it, and fix the line securely between 

 them ; when the finished article will appear as in Figs. 

 25 or 26, according to the shape given it, where a is the 

 cap in its place. 



QUILL-FLOATS. 



Cut off the barrel of a good quill, and clear the in- 

 side from the pith ; then insert a drop of melted wax 

 inside the point of the quill, to render it watertight. 

 Next adapt a piece of light wood, about an inch and a 

 half long and of the same thickness as the quill, into its 

 open end with resinous cement. By inserting about 

 half an inch of the wood into the quill, it will leave the 

 projecting part of a proper length, which must be 

 tapered to a blunt point, and have a wire ring fixed to 

 it, as before described. The part where the wood joins 

 the quill must be closely wrapped with waxed silk to 

 render all secure and watertight, while the quill part of 

 the float may be ornamented, if desired, with a row of 

 lozenges by lapping it spirally in opposite directions 

 with stout waxed silk. The wood should be precisely 

 the same thickness as the outside of the quill, and the 

 portion of it inserted inside the latter must be neatly 

 reduced so as to enter it and form a close junction, with 

 the rim of the quill resting tightly upon the shoulder 

 cut in the wood. A few coats of shell-lac, or any trans- 

 parent varnish, must then be given, and the complete 

 article will appear as in Fig. 27. 



A more buoyant float than the last is made by 

 L 



