Popular Science Monthly 



927 



Cutting Tile at Any Angle 



IT is often desired to cut tile, cast-iron 

 pipe, or even steel pipe at an angle 

 in order to make a turn in the pipe 

 line. Where these pipes are so large (as 

 they usually are) that they cannot be 

 laid in a miter box for cutting, and where 

 it is desired to mark them quickly and 

 correctly at the same time, the following 

 is a good expedient: 



Set the tile in water at the correct 

 angle, as shown in the diagram; hold 

 it there and make chisel marks all 

 around at the surface of the water. 

 The cut can then be made, after remov- 

 ing the tile from the water, in a true 

 plane. Where care is taken in lowering 

 the tile into the water so that it will not 

 be wetted too high, the "wet edge" on 

 removal will serve as a good guide for 

 the path to be cut. — W. F. Schaphorst. 



•-'^.'^'ft^ 



Piping and tile may be easily cut at any 

 angle by dipping in water 



A Substitute for a Soldering Iron 



IT is often necessary to repair a leaky 

 wash-boiler, tea-kettle or other utensil 

 quickly, and if no soldering iron and 

 appliances for heating it are at hand, 

 the work must be taken to a tinsmith. 



Moreover, a small soldering iron in 

 the hands of an amateur is a difficult tool 

 to use on large work because heat is 

 rapidly conducted from the iron by 

 the cold sheet-metal upon which it is 

 used. 



In many households may be found 

 self-heating flat-irons. As shown in the 

 drawing, the burners from such irons 

 may be used to good advantage for 

 soldering. Since the flame is directed 

 downward by the pressure from the 



A good substitute for a soldering iron is 



made from the burner of an ordinary 



self-heating flat-iron 



tank, the principle is essentially the same 

 as that employed when using an alcohol 

 lamp and a blowpipe. 



A heavy copper wire may be used in 

 place of a soldering iron. If the wire is 

 short, it will be necessary to place it in 

 a handle or wrap some sheet asbestos 

 around one end, as it will become too 

 hot to handle. This "soldering iron" 

 will remain hot until you can finish the 

 job. — C. H. Patterson. 



Taking the Squeak Out of a Sign 



INSTEAD of being kept awake nights 

 by a squeaking drug store sign, the 

 writer resorted to the following expedi- 

 ent to silence the offending adxertise- 

 ment: Insert two pieces of leather 

 strap between the iron pipe which 

 supports the sign and the strap- iron 

 hangers, as shown in the diagram. 

 Fasten the ends of each by twisting 

 soft iron wire around the hanger. 



No oil is needed and the leather will 

 wear for a long time. 



The squeaking drug store sign can be 

 silt^nced with two pieces of leather 



