Making Round Rods for Fish Poles
In looking forward to the enjoyment that may be had in the spring, it is well to prepare and overhaul the fishing apparatus or the shooting equipment. In doing so, it may be necessary to make a joint for the fish rod or perhaps a rod for the gun. These can be easily cut if they are sized and run through holes made in a piece of thin metal as follows: Make several holes of the desired sizes in a steel plate, and ream them out with a rather dull taper reamer, so as to leave a bur on one side. This bur should be filed down almost level with the surface of the metal, leaving the edges flat and sharp. If a rod of wood from which the article is to be made is put in a hole and drawn through from the opposite side to the bur, a nice round rod will result. As the rod becomes smaller, use a smaller hole until the required diameter is obtained. A saw plate that is not too thin is about the proper thing to use for the steel plate. It will be necessary to draw the temper to make the holes, but it is not necessary to retemper it after the holes are made.
¶Celery keeps well in a small box of dry sand.
A Ski Sled
By GEORGE J. EGELBERG
The sled is built low and wide so that it will not tip easily. The skis, or runners, are cut 10 ft. long and 6 in. wide, from 1-in. ash boards that are straight-grained. At the points where the curve is to be formed, plane off about ¹⁄₄ in. on the upper side, but do not plane off any at the very tip end. This will allow the skis to be more easily bent. If it is not handy to steam the skis, put them in boiling water, and be sure that at least 1¹⁄₂ ft. of the points are covered. Provide a cover for the vessel, so that only very little steam may escape. Let them boil for at least one hour. A good method of bending the points is shown. When the skis are taken from the water, put them as quickly as possible in the bending blocks, side by side, and bend them with a slow, even pressure. Weight the extending ends and leave the skis in the blocks 8 or 10 hours to dry. Sharpen the points after they are bent.
The Runners are Shaped Like a Ski and are Joined Together with Knees for the Top Board
The sled will run easier if the skis have a slight rocker curve. To make this curve, have the center block 6 in. while the two end blocks are 5¹⁄₂ in. high. A ¹⁄₄-in. flat-head bolt is run through the ski, the block, and the cross strip. The holes are countersunk in the surface for the heads of the bolts. The top is made of three 6-in. boards, fastened to the crosspieces. It is a good plan to brace the tips of the skis with a 2-in. strip.