Polishing with a Hand Drill
A Hand Drill Clamped in a Vise and Used to Polish Round-Head Screws
There are certain desired effects in polishing metal that can only be obtained with a true rotary motion. There is no amount of handwork that will produce a proper finish on the round head of a brass screw. Therefore, when small pieces of metal are to be shaped up with the file and polished, simply set them in a three-jaw chuck of a hand drill, and then clamp the drill in a vise, as shown in the illustration. Operate the drill with the left hand and hold the file, or emery paper, with the right, and a finish will be obtained that can in nowise be distinguished from lathe work. It is surprising how different round-head brass screws appear when treated in this manner.
Releasing a Parachute from a Kite
Pull In About a Yard of the Kite String and Release It, Tripping the Parachute
Parachutes may be released from suspended kites readily by providing tripping loops on the kite tail, as shown in the illustration. Form a loop on one end of a piece of cord, and tie the other end to the kite tail. Make a loop in one end of another piece of cord and tie the other end to the top of the parachute. Tie a piece of cord around a nail close to its head and fix this also to the kite tail. Pass one loop through the other and insert the nail, as shown in the sketch. To trip the parachute, pull in about a yard of string and release it quickly. The parachute will trip without fail. The end of the string may be fastened to a stake driven into the ground or it may be held in the hand.
A Trick Blotter
An ordinary blotter may be transformed easily so that it will remove ink completely when applied instead of leaving sufficient to recognize the script, by steeping it in a solution of oxalic acid. Permit it to dry after several applications of the acid. It will be the source of much amusement, and is useful as well.