Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-07-19
MENDING THINGS.
Value of n Sand BOX to Hold
Fractured Parts.

picture frames, not to name casts,
require each different cement-in
fact, several different cements. Glass
may be beautifully mended, to look
at, but seldom so as to be safely used.
For clear glass the best cement is
isinglass dissolved in gin. Put two
ounces of isinglass in clean, wide
mouthed bottle, add half pint of
gin and set in the sun until dissolved.
Shake well every day, and before
using strain through double lawn,
squeezing very lightly, says the Wash.
ington Star.
Spread white cloth over the mend
ing table and supply it with plenty
of clean linen rags, strong rubber
bands and narrow white tape, also
a basin of tepid water and clean,
soft towel. Wash the broken glass
very clean, especially along the
break, but take care not to chip it
further. Wet both broken edges well
with the glue, using came's hair
pencil. Fit the break to nicely,
then slip on rubber bands length and
crosswise-every way they will hold.
If they will not hold true, as upon
a stemmed thing, vase, or jug, or
scent bottle, string half a dozen
bands of the same size and strength
upon bit of tape and tie the tape
about neck or base before beginning
the gluing. After the parts are joined
slip the tape through the same bands
and tie it up above the fracture; thus
with all their strength the bands pull
the break together. The bands can
be used thus on casts or china-in
fact, to hold together anything mend
able. In glass mending the greater
the pressure the better-if only it
stops short of the breaking point.
Properly made, the isinglass cement
is as clear as water. When the pieces
fit true, one on the other, the break
should be hardly visible, il the pres
sure has been great enough to force
out the tiny bubbles, which otherwise
refract the light and make the line
of cleavage distressingly apparent.
Mended glass may be used to hold
dry things-as rose leaves, sachets
and violet powder-even candies and
fruits. But it will not bear to have
any sort of liquid left standing in it,
nor to be washed beyond quick
rinsing in tepid water. In wiping it,
always use very soft towel, and pat
the vessel dry, with due regard for
it's infrmities.
Mend a lamp loose in the collar
with sifted plaster of paris of parts
mixed to a very soft paste with beat
en- white of an egg. Have everything
ready before wetting up the plaster
and work quickly so it may be set in
place. With several lamps to mend
wet enough plaster for one at time.
1t takes less than five minutes
to set, and is utterly worthless
ii one tries working it over. Metal
work apart from the glass needs the
soldering iron. Dust the break well
with powdered rosin, tie the parts
firmly together, lay the stick of
solder above the break and fetch the
iron down on it lightly but firmly.
When the solder cools remove the
melted rosin with q cloth dipped in
alcohol.
Since breakables have so malicious
a knack of fracturing themselves in
such fashion they cannot possibly
stand upright one needs sand box.
1t is only box Of handy size with
eight inches of clean, coarsish sand
in the bottom. Along with it there
should be some small leaden weights,
with rings cast in them, running from
an ounce to quarter pound. Two
of each weight are needed. In use,
tapes are tied in the rings, and the
pair of weights swung outside the
edges Of the box, so as to press in
place the upper part OF a broken
thing in which the tapes have been
| fastened.
Set broken Taatters on edge in the
sand box, with the break up. The
sand will hold them firm, and the
broken bit can be slapped on. 1t is
the same with plates and saucers
None of these commonly require
weighing. But very fine pieces where
invisible seam is wanted should be
geld firmly until partly set, then have
the pair of heaviest weights accurate
ly balanced across the broken piece
The weights arc also very useful tc
prop and stay top-heavy, and bal
ance them SO that they shall not gel
out of kilter. A cup broken, as is SC
common with them, can have the tap,
passed around it, crossing inside tn,
handle, then be set firmly in the sand
face down, and be held by the hang
ing weights pulling one against tn,
other.
The most dependable cement fol
china is pure white lead, ground il
linseed oil, so thick it will barrel,
spread smoothly with knife. Givel
time enough to harden, some tire,
months, it makes seam PRACTICAL,
indestructible. The objection to it i
that it always shows staring whit,
line. A better cement for fine chin,
is white of egg and plaster. Sift tn,
plaster three times, and tie gen
erous pinch of it loosely in mosquit,
netting. Then beat the egg until /
will stick to the plaster. Have tn
broken egg very clean, cover boil
with the beaten egg, dust wei
with the plaster, fit together at once
tie, using rubber bands, if possible
wrap loosely in very soft tissue pape
and bury head and ears in the san,
box, taking care that the break lie
SO that the sand will hold It together
Leave in the box "a hours. After
week the superhuous plaster may b
gently scraped away.