Evening star., 1901-05-18
M EN- D | N G 7 H | N g s
CEMENTs FOR BROKEN CHINA OR
GLASS.
The Great Value of n Sand Box to
Hold Fractured
Parts.
wr,-+en for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
Broken glass china bric-a-brac and pic
ture frames not to name casts, require
each different cement-in fact, several
different cements. Glass may be beautiful
Iv rnanded. 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 a 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.
Spread a white cloth over the mending
table and supply it with plenty of clean
linen rags, strong rubber bands and mar
row white tape, also basin of tepid water
and clean, soft towel Wash the broken
glass very clean. especially along the break.
but take care not to chip 1t further. Wet
both broken edges well with the glue, using
a camels hair pencil Fit the break to a
nicely, then slip rubber bands length
and crosswise-every way they will hold.
If they will not hold true, as upon stem
med 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 base before begin
ming the glUinS. After the parts Joined
slip another 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
anything mendable. 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 Wis
ible. if the pressure has been great enough
to force out the tiny bubbles, which other
wise refrdct 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 stand
ing in it. nor to be washed beyond a quick
rinsing in tepid water In wiping 1t always
use very soft towel. and pat the vessel
dry. with due regard for its infirmities.
Mending Lamps.
Mend a lamp loose in the collar with
sifted plaster of paris mixed to a very soft
paste with beaten white Of an egg. Have
rythiIg ready before wetting up the
plaster and work quickly so it may set in
place With several lamps to mend wet
enough plaster for one at a time. 1t takes
less than five minutes to set and is utterly
worthless IL one tries working 1t over
Metal work apart from the glass needs the
soldering iron. Dust the break we'll with
powdered rosin. tie the parts firmly to-
sether lay the stick of solder above the
break and fetch the iron down on 1t lightly
but firmly. When the solder cools remove
the melted rOsin with a cloth dipped in al
cOhol.
n Sand Box.
SirCe breakables have so malicious a
knack of fracturing themselves in such
fashion they cannot possibly stand upright
one needs a sand box 1t is only a 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 a 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 or the box, as to press
in place the upper part OF q broken thing
TO which the tapes have been fastened.
Set broken platters 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 requires
weighing. But very fine pieces where in
visible seam is wanted should be held firm
until partly set, then have the pair of
heaviest weights accurately balanced across
the broken piece. The weights are also
Very useful to prop and stay top-heavy
ana balance them so they shall not get out
or kiIteT- cup broken, as is So common
with them, can have the tape passed around
IL, crossing inside the handle then be set
hrmly In the sand. face down, and be held
by the hanging weights pulling one against
the other.
The most dependable cement for china is
pure white lead. ground in linseed oil, so
thick II will barely spread smoothly with
a knife Given time enough to harden
SDA44r N-liS LlOLtLS, II HdheS d seam prdc-
ticaiIy indestructible The objection to it
Is that II always shows in a staring white
line better cement for fine china is
white of egg and plaster. Sift the plas-
ter three times. and tie generous pinch
OF it loosely in mosquito netting Then
beat the egg until 1t will stick to the plat
ter Have the broken egg very clean. cover
both with the beaten egg. dust well with
the plaster, mt together at once, tie using
rubber bands, II possible, wrap loosely in
very soft tissue paper and bury head and
ears In the sand box, taking care that the
break lies so that the sand will hold it to-
gether- Leave in the box twenty-four
hours After a week the supernuous plas-
Ter may be gently scraped away.