A 



Popular Science Monthly 



An Effective Window Lock 



N inexpen- 

 sive and 

 effective window 

 lock may be 

 made by the av- 

 erage man with 

 a few tools from 

 a piece of sheet 

 steel. Two steel 

 pieces are cut 

 out according to the design illustrated, 

 and bent to a slight angle, care being 

 taken that both are bent to exactly the 

 same degree. One piece is made about 

 one-quarter of an inch longer than the 

 other, and is bent at right angles, so 

 that the other piece will strike against 

 it, and be prevented from passing. When 

 the window is closed, the device is in 

 operation, and because of the projecting 

 end of the longer piece, the window can- 

 not be opened. The device is released 

 by inserting a screw-driver between the 

 metal strips and bending them in order 

 to disengage the catch. 



To Make Small Springs 



IN making little 

 springs of small- 

 sized wire take a ma- 

 chine screw and wind 

 the wire tightly around 

 it in the threads. This 

 brings the spring out as 

 closely as most home- 

 made springs need be. 

 A slight pull will 

 stretch it to the desired length. A screw 

 somewhat smaller than the size of spring 

 desired should be used to allow for the 

 resiliency of the wire. 



How to Case Harden Iron 



MAKE up a paste of powdered 

 prussiate of jxjtash and water. 

 Coat the iron with this paste, and set 

 it aside to dry. Let the forge fire be 

 clear and bright. When the paste is 

 dry upon the iron thrust the iron into 

 the fire until it is cherry red. Keep it 

 at this heat for a few minutes and then 

 take it out. Plunge it into cold water, 

 and it will be found converted into 

 steel at the surface. 



125 

 Files and Tools from Switch Handles 



FIRST procure the 

 required number of 

 switch handles. Remove 

 the usual screw. Into 

 the hole left by the 

 screw, force the tang of 

 the file or other tool. 



As most of these 

 switch handles are made 

 of wood, there is a metal 

 ferrule on the end which serves to keep 

 the handle from splitting. This ferrule 

 serves the same purpose when a tool is 

 inserted into the handle. Tools vary in 

 size but different sized handles may be 

 used for different sized tools. If a sup- 

 ply of these handles is kept handy a 

 handle may be fitted to a tool at any 

 time. 



A Handle for a Small Bit or Drill 



A CONVENIENT 

 handle for small bits, 

 drills or screw drivers 

 which are intended for use 

 with a brace can be quick- 

 ly made from an old spool 

 about 2" long. If the 

 square end of an old or 

 discarded bit is at hand, 

 drive it slightly into the 

 hole in the spool, so as to make the hole 

 square. 



After this is done the spool can be 

 placed on nearly any size of l:»it, to hold 

 securclv. 



I 



An Easily Made Marking Gauge 

 N T O a W 



dowel of wood, 

 about 8" 1 o n g, 

 drive a 1'' wire 

 brad \V from one 

 end a n d let the 

 point protrude 

 Vs''. Take a rule and lay off sixteenths 

 from the nail. Drill a ^'^ hole through 

 a block of wood 2Vo" X 2i//' x 's". 

 Then slide the block on the dowel. The 

 friction is enough to hold it for marking. 

 P»y tapping the dowel with the block 

 held in the hand, the marking distance 

 can be lengthened or shortened, as may 

 be desired. 



