GENERAL HINTS

Evening Star, Issue 20958, 24 November 1931, Page 2

GENERAL HINTS

REVIVING RED PINE DOORS. Tho method of reviving red pine doors depends upon their previous treatment. If they have been badly varnished remove the varnish by rubbing with benzine (or, if necessary, with benzol), then sandpaper, and give two thin successive coats of shellac dissolved in methylated spirits, or a coat of eggshell fiat varnish. USE FOR BRIQUETTE ASHES. To clean inside of grates, instead of using yellow ochre, mix briquette ashes with hot or cold water, preferably hot, and apply with brush. CLEANING GARBAGE TIN. When the garbage tin has been emptied, insert a newspaper, sprinkle it with sulphur, and set fire to it. Flies will never come near a garbage tin so treated. CONVENIENT LETTER-BOX. When making a letter-box lor the front ffenco insert a panel of glass in the back so that you may see at a glance, without going right to tho box, whether there is any mail for you. STAINED BOARDS. To remove stain of grease and oil from boards scrub them with hot water, using a hard brush which has been dipped in a mixture of one part slaked lime and three parts of silver sand. Scrub in the direction of tho grain of the wood, and rinse well. A paste of Fuller’s earth and water spread over the stains overnight will assist m their removal. USEFUL KNAPSACK. A knapsack for hiking may be made from a sugar bag in the following way: —Take a clean sugar bag and cut out about half of one side, leaving the bag half its original size, with the uncut side acting as a flap. Hem the rough edge and fold the flap over, fastening with short straps. Complete by sewing soft shoulder straps firmly on the back. The remnant may be used to make a handy pocket inside the flap, but care must be taken to sew it on top, so that it will bo upright when tho flap is folded over to tie the sack.

GLUEING MATERIAL BY THE EDGES; When ‘ glueing sik or other material to the back grille in a wireless set, always fasten clown the top edge first (using deterino in preference to glue), and let it set thoroughly. Then glue down one side, and let that set. Finally fasten down the other two edges. PASTE FOR TILES. To fix tiles on a hearth in such a manner that they may be removed easily, mix a thick flour paste and spread this evenly over the hearth. Lay the tiles on this and press down firmly. Leave them set for two hours. Tiles fixed in this way will stand as firmly as if they were set with cement. CHEAP FIRE SCREEN. To make a cheap and useful fire screen take oft, or enough to measure from side to side of fireplace, of Cyclone wire. Frame each end with wood. Paint frame or silver frost it. Place a hook on each side of the fireplace and hook on the screen.