Plain Butts Used as Double-Swing Hinge
By placing two ordinary plain butt hinges so that two of their wings overlap completely, they may be made to serve as a double-swing hinge. If the holes do not correspond in the adjoining wings, drill new ones, disposing them to give the best hold in the wood. Allowance must be made in applying the hinge, for the double thickness of the center portion.
¶A rubber finger tip is convenient in counting sheets in that the paper is not soiled, since moistening of the finger is unnecessary.
Portable Skylight for Home Portraiture
By W. W. IRVINE
Photographers who wish to construct a part of their equipment may be interested in a portable skylight, which I made and use with thorough satisfaction, for home portraiture. Covered with imitation leather, it is quite presentable in carrying it about. Figure 9 shows the case closed, with stand, flash lamp, box of flash powder, and a white-cloth reflector inside. The apparatus set up for work is shown in Fig. 5, and the details of construction in the other sketches.
First make the frames for the top and bottom of the case, A, of ³⁄₈ by 2¹⁄₂-in. wood, and B, of ³⁄₈ by 1¹⁄₄-in. stock, lengths and construction as shown in Fig. 3. Cut from extra-heavy mount board, two 21 by 28-in. pieces, C, and tack one to one side of each of the frames. Cut a similar piece, E, 15 by 26¹⁄₂ in., and hinge it with strong cloth, or thin leather, to the inner side of the thicker frame, to form the roof E, Fig. 5. Hinge the two frames with three butt hinges.
The frame is then ready for covering, and for this purpose imitation leather is economical and practical. Two yards of 36-in. material is needed. Use hot glue, first on the bottom half of the case, applying it smoothly, and press the fabric into place. Then cover the sides, the upper half, and the roof. The covering must be in one piece to prevent the smoke from escaping at the joints. Glue down the edges inside of the case, and set it aside for 24 hours to dry.
While waiting for the case to dry, the work on the bag can be done. Two yards of close-woven white muslin, or one yard of 60-in. sheeting, is required for the front. For the sides, closely woven black material should be used. Figures 1 and 2 show the dimensions, the white portions representing patterns, and the shaded portions material for hems and seams. The material is folded over the pattern, basted down, and hemmed at the dotted lines, 1¹⁄₂ in. from the edge. Sew the front to the curved sides. Allowance for shrinkage, when the bag is washed and fireproofed, has been made in these sizes.
| Fig. 1 | Fig. 5 | Fig. 7 | |
| Fig. 2 | Fig. 8 | ||
| Fig. 3 | Fig. 9 | ||
| Fig. 6 | |||
| Fig. 4 | |||
This Homemade Skylight was Made at a Cost of $3, Gives Satisfactory Service, and Is Not Unsightly
For fireproofing the bag, the following formula is good: water, 60 oz., ammonium phosphate, 4 oz., ammonium chloride, 8 oz. Soak the fabric half an hour, wring it out slightly, and hang it up to dry.
Cut a hole, 6 in. square, in the lower half of the case for the door F, Fig. 5. The door is of galvanized sheet iron, 7 in. square, covered on one side with imitation leather and provided with a leather handle. The door slides in guides of mount board, or metal, as shown in Fig. 4. Figure 8 shows the notch below the door to allow play for the spring of the flash lamp, in place in Figs. 5 and 6. Mine was made for cartridges, but by attaching a pan of heavy tin, I use it for flash powder.
The leather socket, into which the top of the holder G, is slipped, is shown in detail in Fig. 7. Suitcase catches, D, lock the apparatus in open or closed position. The roof E, is supported by two folding desk slides.
To fasten the bag in place, slip a cheap yardstick, or strip, cut to the proper length, in each of the hems at the edges, and set them snugly inside and against the sides of the open case and under the edge of the roof. Fasten them with screws, as shown at the edges in Fig. 5. The bag is easily removed by withdrawing the screws and the strips, for washing and fireproofing it again. The front must hang away from the lamp before the charge is fired, or the bag may be burned. After firing the flash, the skylight is carried out and the smoke expelled.