An empty bottle-neck rifle cartridge can be easily made into a leather punch by grinding the edge of the opening sharp and cutting a hole near the top in one side. The hole is for removing the leather slugs and should be just a little larger in diameter than the inside diameter of the shell. The cartridges can be had in various sizes and almost any size of punch can be made.—Contributed by Merhyle F. Spotts, Shelby, Ohio.
A Wood-Scraper Handle
In using a plain scraper on the surface of wood the task grew exceedingly tiresome and I lightened the tedious work to some extent by making a handle for the scraper. The handle consisted of a piece of wood, 1 in. thick, 3 in. wide, and 6 in. long. A cut was made in the edge of the wood the width of the scraper blade and about 3 in. deep, and a bolt run through a hole bored centrally in the side, about 2-1/2 in. from the lower edge. The blade was clamped in place with the bolt.—Contributed by J. D. Keiley, Yonkers, New York.
A Handle Attached to a Plain Scraper Blade Makes the Work Much Easier
Polishing Gunstocks
The fine polish applied to gunstocks and wood parts of tools will not wear well, and if one cares for a fine finish, a much better and more durable polish can be applied as follows: Soak the wood in linseed oil for a week and then rub the surface with an oil-soaked cloth for a short time every day, for a couple of weeks.
A Prick-Punch Center Gauge
A simple instrument for finding and marking the center of shafting, etc., can be easily made of three pieces of sheet brass and a small prick punch.