LITTLE REPAIRS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 12 May 1928, Page 17

LITTLE REPAIRS.

Homely Hints for the Housewife. With glue, screws, nails or cement, in addition to common sense, most ordinary household repairs may be carried out. Get the best glue, keep it in a warm place when in use, and, after removing every trace of old adhesive, he sure to warm the edges of the article you are mending before applying it. Other things to remember are these: dry the glue under pressure; hot glue alone will join light breakages, but heavy things will need screws as well. FOR BROKEN ORNAMENTS. Ornaments which have jagged breaks and will not mend with ordinary cement may be built up and renewed in the following manner: Tear up tissue paper, put it in a basin, cover with water and leave it to turn into a. pulp; put this pulp into a saucepan, adding sufficient size to make it adhesive, and simmer for 45 minutes. Strain and use, first patting a thin layer into place, and then building up the desired shape; make smooth and dry thoroughly. When dry, paint stain or dye may be employed to colour the pulp to match the ornament under repair. Flake white, such as is to be found in the ordinary paint box, though slow to dry, makes an excellent cement for mending china. Leave the pieces to dry, strapped in place with adhesive tape. ELECTRIC BELLS.

Trouble with electric bells may be overcome by simply cleaning out the batteries which work the bells, and recharging them with the following mixture —-water six pints, sal-ammoniac one pound l ; make the water hot, put it into a basin and- dissolve the salammoniac in it. The mixture,, when cool, (should be poured into the jars.

TO FILL IN A CRACK. To stop a. crack or hole in ceiling or wall, remove all loose plaster and fill the crack to a third 1 ol : its thickness with plaster of pans, first moistening the part to be filled. Let this dry hard ; repeat the operation, adding the plaster in this way until the space is level with the rest of the ceiling or wall.