The floor space in our high-school shop is somewhat limited, leaving no room on the floor for the gluing press, and during a large part of the year the temperature on the floor is too low for gluing. We met these conditions with the gluing press illustrated.
Three pairs, or sets, of steps, A, were made of pine, 2 in. thick, and fastened in a series by strips B, so that they all would move forward or backward between the guides C, which are nailed to the floor above the shop. On one of the steps—the corresponding one in each pair—rests a piece of wood, D, 4 in. wide and 2 in. thick, through which, near its ends, are bored holes to receive lengths of 1-in. gas pipe, E. Over these holes and screwed to the wood piece are 1-in. floor flanges, F. The pipes E are threaded at one end so that they will screw through the floor flanges about 3 in. On the other ends of the gas pipes are fitted pieces of material, 4 in. wide and 2 in. thick, G, resting on washers, which in turn rest on the locknuts H. The locknuts H prevent the tees J from unscrewing in operating the press. A rod is used through the tees as a handle for screwing the pipes E on or out of the floor flanges F. On top of the pieces G rests the floor K, on which are placed the pieces to be glued. On the under side of the ceiling joists, and directly over the floor K, is spiked the 2-in. piece L, between which piece and the floor K the material is pressed. For the sake of stiffness and lightness the floor K is built up of 1-in. material, as shown in the detail. This floor may be raised or lowered by the windlass M. The windlass is simply a ³⁄₄-in. gas pipe turning in bearings fastened to the under side of the ceiling joists.
The Gluing Press is Attached to the Ceiling Where It Is Out of the Way and Where the Temperature Is More Correct for Making a Strong-Holding Joint
Supposing the press to be standing as shown in the drawings, it is operated as follows: The pipes E are unscrewed so that their upper ends are flush with the top surface of the floor flanges F. The ropes N are wound up a trifle on the windlass M, thus raising the pieces D, the pipes E, and the floor K. Lifting D clear of the steps releases the latter so that the entire series may be moved to the right by pulling the rope O. In unwinding the ropes from the windlass, D is let down on the lowest step, which has just been drawn directly under it. This operation lowers the floor K to its lowest limit and the pieces to be glued are placed, one on the other, on this floor. If the total thickness of the material to be glued is sufficient to nearly fill the space between the floor and the piece L, a rod is thrust through J, and the pipes are screwed up, thus pressing the material between the floor K and the piece L. If, however, the material does not fill the space well, then the ropes N are wound up on the windlass M, thus raising the floor and its contents as far as possible, and by pulling the rope P the steps are drawn as far to the left as possible and D rests on a higher step, thus lessening the space to be taken up by the screws. The pipes are then screwed up tightly as in the first operation. Our press is operated from a mezzanine floor where all the gluing is done.
A Luminous-Minnow Fish Bait
Make a plug of light wood, preferably cedar or white pine, 1³⁄₄ in. long and ³⁄₄ in. in diameter at the large end, tapering to ¹⁄₄ in. at the small end. Finish it to the shape of a minnow and bore a ⁵⁄₁₆-in. hole, 1 in. deep, in the large end. Make a lead plug, with a hole through the center, to drive tightly into the hole in the head of the minnow, and finish the front end smooth and even with the wood. Run a wire through the minnow and form an eye at the tail for hooks, and another at the head for the swivel. A three-cornered piece of tin inserted ¹⁄₂ in. back of the head on each side and bent so that the water will cause it to turn gives motion to the lure.
Bait Shaped Like a Minnow and Coated with Luminous Paint for Night Fishing
Two coats of luminous paint will be sufficient for the illumination. Expose the minnow to the light for several hours, and it will give a luminous glow in the dark that makes it easily seen by the fish as it is drawn through the water. As most game fish are night feeders, it makes a very effective lure.—Contributed by Charles Carrol, Saint Cloud, Fla.