Gas Mantles Made at Home
I spent several interesting hours in experimenting with gas mantles which I made at home, and the process should be of interest to others. While I did not succeed in making mantles of the quality of the commercial article, they were nevertheless successful and gave light. Magnesium produces a white light when ignited. By using common Epsom salts, which contain magnesium sulphate, I made a strong solution in distilled water. I soaked a piece of gauze bandage in the solution, dried it carefully and soaked it again a number of times, drying it after each immersion. By this time the cloth was stiff with the dry salt. When held in a flame, the cloth catches fire and burns out, leaving the skeleton of magnesium sulphate. This framework, when held in the flame, glows with an intense white light. I shaped a piece of the gauze like a commercial mantle and dipped it into the solution as explained. It proved quite satisfactory.—Contributed by Victor E. Carpenter, South Bend, Ind.