Evening star., 1939-06-10
First Aid
For the
AHinq House
BY ROGER b. WHITMAN.

Question: How can I eliminate
leakage through the horizontal bars
of French windows in heavy driving
rain?
Answer-That leakage is due to
faulty putty, the putty having drawn
away from the wood to leave fine
hairline crack. This can be closed
by painting, although if the putty
shows signs of general cracking and
deterioration, it should be replaced.
After taking off the old putty, the
wood should be given coat of paint
to prevent oil in the new putty from
being absorbed. Ordinary putty can
be improved by adding one-fifth as
much white lead paste.
Patching Concrete.
Question: What is the best method
Of recementing and mending break
offs and cracks in cement sidewalks
and driveways? Patching cement
soon cracks out.
AnsWer-A crack should be cut out
with a cold chisel to make room
for the patch. The cut should be
made wider at the bottom than on
the surface. so that in hardening
the patch will lock itself in. The
patching material should be one
part portland cement and three
parts sand, with only enough water
to be workable. Before patching the
old concrete should be soaked with
water. The patch should be kept
wet for several days for thorough
curing. Where appearance is not
important, cracks can be filled with
roofing cement, which is most easily
applied by melting and pouring in.
Noisy Water Pipes
Question: There is always air in
our water pipes. which are under city
pressure. 1t does no harm, but I
wonder if it has something to do
with the loud noise we always get
when drawing water The noise can
be heard through the house and is
annoying.
Answer-If the air is from high
pressure or from pumping, your
nelghbors are having the same
trouble. and the local plumbers are
so familiar with it that any one of
them could put in a reducing valve
or an air separator that will stop
the noise If your neighbors are not
having the trouble, the reason is in
your own house and is likely to be
from loose and worn washers in the
faucets. This should be looked into.
Furnace Paint.
Question: Please give me infor-
nation on heat-proof aluminium
paint for steel furnace and air.
conditioning plant.
Answer-All makers of aluminium
paint have varieties intended for
high temperatures, which can be
had A paint stores. The liquid part
IS high-Qualitv varnish When
heated the varnish disappears and
the aluminium fakes seem to weld
themselves to the metal In applica-
ton. the metal must be thoroughly
clean and free from paint 1t should
be gone over with steel wool
Vacuum Cleaner on WaSps.
A correspondent describes his
method for disposing of his attic
waSps with his vacuum cleaner.
ION a day when they we're out of
their nests and congregated in the
sunshine, wlde-mouthed tool was
applied, and the wasps we're in
stantly drawn in. This was easy. and
after they were all picked up. moth
gas was drawn into the cleaner until
the noise subsidized The dust
chamber was then emptied into a
bucket of boiling water"
Cleaning Furniture
Question; How can spots and dirt
be removed from overstuffed furnl-
ture?
Answer-If the color of the up
holstery material is fast. YOU can
do the Job with shampoo prepara-
ton to be had at A department
store Directions for use are on
the label. If the material is not
fast. dry cleaning will be needed.
Door Through Cement Block Wall.
Question: In changing the en-
trance to a basement apartment.
We would have to go through a wall
OF cement blocks How can the
blocks be cut? Would this be an
enormous expense?
Answer-As cement blocks are
hollow cutting is not difficult or
expensive process. 1t can be done
with cold chisel and hammer. but
the quickest and easiest way is with
an electric chisel. A mason con-
tractor will have this tool, and
would do the Job as no great cost
Your very first move should be to
set heavy timber in the wall to
form the upper edge of the open
Ing that will be cut. to take the
weight Of the wall above it when
the wall below has been removed.
Round Table.
Question: Where can l get the di-
mensions for a portable round ia
BILE, to seat 10 persons, the kind of
table used in hotels?
Answer-A space of 2 feet is al
lowed per person, which would make
the diameter of such a table about
6l4 feet. Height of the table top
is 2 feet 6 inches, while the height
Of the knee space is feet l inch.
Rocking Chair.
Question: In removing rockers
from a chair, should they be
knocked off or sawed off? Should
the legs be all the same length from
the bottom Of the seat at the cor
ners? Would the chair then be