¶In machine work a way must be provided for removing dowel pins before they are driven in place.
Waterproofing for Fish Lines
Dissolve ¹⁄₂ oz. of orange shellac in ¹⁄₂ pt. of alcohol, and add 1 teaspoonful of Venice turpentine, the same quantity of raw linseed oil, and 2 oz. tincture of benzoin. Shake well, and set in a varnish can in hot water.
Soak the coiled line in the varnish for two hours, then hang it up to dry. Thin the varnish with alcohol, and repeat the dipping. When the line is dry, rub it down well with a wool rag greased with tallow. Silk lines treated in this manner are pliable, and the fibers of the silk are so united by the varnish that the strength of the line is almost doubled.
Making Chest Lock More Secure
As a rule, ordinary chest locks cannot be relied upon, since almost any kind of a similar key will unlock them. I found a good remedy by taking out the pin on which the key fits, and making a new one twice as long as the one removed, then drilling a hole in the key deep enough to fit over the new pin. In case the pin extends too far, a piece of wood block, with a hole in it to admit the key, can be fastened over it to prevent bending the pin. No ordinary key will pass on the pin far enough to turn the lock.—Contributed by Chas. G. England, Washington, Pa.
Driving Screws in Hard Wood
Keep the supply of screws in a box containing a small amount of powdered soapstone. Shake the box occasionally, and the screws will be dusted with the powder, which acts as a lubricant. This is a much cleaner and more convenient method than the ordinary one of rubbing each screw on a bar of soap before driving it in hard wood.