The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1914-07-02
Hints About Tools

more frequent and urgent use for labor
saving tools than any other man. Yet
the rule on farms is that the tools are
Of inferior make, poorly cared for and
not sufficiently variegated. To the
shiitless farmer the axe is the same as
hairpin is TO a woman. He uses it
for thousand purposes it was not de-
signed to be used for. And the
chances are Aine in ten that it is dull,
and dubbed at the edge, and unfit TO
cut wood with. AS for the hatchet on
the average rented farm, it would not
cut butter in July unless force we're
applied. The less said about the
shiitless farmers saw the better. 1t
may have saw better days." but it
doesn't saw the wood. Gimlets, CHS
els, reamers, boring bits for wood and
metal, planes, and the many others
requisite for his work the shiftless
farmer (and some who are not really
shiItless) does without.
Last winter the writer aided at sew
eral country hog killings, and there
was not sharp knife at any Of the
places except his own. In only en-
instance did the farmer have a grind
stone, and it was out Of order. One
time boy was sent a mile and half
10 borrow a butchers steel in order
that the knives might be sharpened.
When he returned with it, it was found
TO be worn so smooth that it would
not raise an EDGE on piece Of hoop
iron.
This experience is an excuse for
giving a few practical suggestions to
farmers and gardeners who wish to Go
their work as easily as possible.
Get the best tools that are to be
bought. They cost very little more
than the cheap grades. Keep them in
condition. There is no excuse for a
dull axe, dull hatchet, or saw that
wont cut. Any boy can learn to
sharpen an ak or file saw.
See that your tools are cleaned after
they are used. A spade or hoe that
is put away with mud on ii will not
cut when it is brought out again un-
less it is freshly sharpened.
1t is good plan to oil both the
blades and hanles Of all tools when
they are put aside.
No hunter will leave his gun un,
cleaned after a days shooting il he ex'
poets il to remain in effective con-
dition.
No soldier is allowed to permit his
accou.rements 10 accumulate rust and
mould, unless he be soldier under a
power that is doomed to extinction.
Why should the farmer let his tools
decsy1
Here is a list Of the absolutely in
despenslble articles for the farm car
penter shop, according TO an expert:
Two good axes, one for light and
the other for heavy work; three saws,
one a keyhole; a set Of chisels; draw
knife; a grindstone; cold chisel; a
crowbar; a wooden wise and an iron
wise; three planes; an anvil and forge;
hammers Of different weights and kinds,
including a sledge and a soft hammer
pliers and tongs oi various sizes and
sorts; a glass cutter and putty knife
spirit level; a niter box and saw
good steel square and a cheap iror
one; a brace, a set ol bits and a set o
drills; an augur or two; gimlets anC
serewdrives; a monkeywrench.
With these tools any man Of intelli
gence can keep his place in order ant
save many trip to the blacksmith.
The little matter Of glass cutie
that will not work has caused many
truck farmer in hurry 10 make no
bed frame to despair. yet a very ei
fcient tool OF the sort can be bough
for 10 or IS cents. The trouble is tn
man who buys it forgets to learn hoV
TO use It. He tales it home and get
piece oil glass and runs the whee
over with all his force and is surprise,
that It jumps and does not cut easil
and regularly. This is the right va
to work il:
Get a good regulation make Of glas
cutter, soak il in kerosene for hall a
hour. Place your glass on a periectl
smooth surface; square of the lin
where you want to cut, and run tn
cutter over the line with a light bt
steady pressure. The pane will brea
as evenly Tor an amatuer who follow
these instructions as Il will for a prt