CRACKED CHINA CUP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21951, 7 November 1934, Page 5

CRACKED CHINA CUP

In answer to a request from O.K. as to a method of remedying a cracked china cup, M.H. writes as follows: A crack once formed in china articles generally tends to spread slowly under repeated cooling and heating when hot liquids are placed in it, but, given a chance to set well, the following cements would stop the leak, provided hot liquids were not kept in cups for long periods at a time, nor followed immediately by cold ones. Get some thick, old mixed, white lead or zinc paint, place a little on the track on either side of the cup, and rub it well into crack with the tip of the finger or a little piece of cloth. Repeat till you think the crack along its whole visible length is well filled in with the paint. Hub off the residue; bind a string or wire tightly round the cup to hold the crack pressed as firmly together as possible, and set it in a cool, dry place to set for two or three months. This resists heat well. A better way, however, is as follows: Make a strong solution of magnesium chloride and dissolve some magnesia in it till you have worked up a stiff paste. Hub a little of this quickly into the crack from either side as before along its full length. Bind firmly and leave to set a week. This sets as hard as stone and is almost unaffected by heat, unless very long continued.

LINEN BLINDS After they have been in use for several years linen blinds begin to look worn and faded at the bottom, while the top end, which is rarely exposed, is still in good condition. It is well worth while to reverse the blind so as to bring the unladed portion into use. It is easy to make a hem in this part to hold the wooden slat. If the blind is fitted with a short tasselled cord care must be taken to reverse the slat before slipping it into the hem so as to give a fresh surface for the small screws by which the cord-holder is attached. if they are screwed into the.ir old holes they soon work loose again.