Evening star., 1941-09-20
Patent Vacuum Cap
Reported 10 Cure
Smoky Fireplace
New Device Has Effect
Of Increasing Height
Of Chimney FIue
BY DOROTHY DUCAS and
ELIZABETH GORDON.

ELIZABETH GORDON.
At this time of the year, when a
roaring fire on the hearth serves
more than a sentimental purpose, a
smoky fireplace is a distressing
thing. Not only does it destroy the
comfort of the flames, but 1t Is mute
testimony of faultily constructed
chimney, or f1ue, or both.
There are specialists in the cor
rection of chimney drafts, and one
of these has been telling us about
his patented vacuum cap, so con-
structed that it prevents down-draft
conditions that are caused by wind,
surrounding trees or high build
ings near by. This expert tells us
installation of this vacuum cap is
guaranteed to correct smoky fire.
places by regulating the down draft,
which is the cause of most Of this
kind of trouble.
The vacuum cap is placed on the
chimney fue and cemented in place
by a tinsmith Its action is to
double, in effect, the height of the
chimney. If you have a 20-foot
stack and you require a 40-foot
stack for efficient operation of your
fireplace, the vacuum cap will do
the trick, we are told.
Draws OFF Smoke.
The maker of the cap says the
vacuum formed when the wind
strikes 1t draws off the smoke from
the fireplace, which is its purpose.
If it doesn't work, he says there Is
no charge for the unit.
The cap has no movable parts
to get out of order, causes no noise
In the chimney and will not admit
rain, snow or smoke. Water COL
lecting on the top of the disk is
led off through a hole in its center
TO small gutter installed with the
cap.
The vacuum cap comes in six
regular sizes, for s to 12-inch
chimney collar, and costs from Sl2.75
to S33, uninstalled.
Stains for Woodwork.
IF you want color in your wood
work but do not want to hide the
natural granting of your wood, why
not use a stain instead of paint?
We have been looking over 20
samples of wood colored gray. nat
ural oak, walnut, maple, mahogany,
pine, even cherry red and bright
ereen-lovely, clear colors-through
which you can see the lines and
curls of the wood.
The stains used on these samples
are applicable to both hard and
soft woods Easily applied to either,
the only difference is that open
grain woods such as walnut, ma
hogany and oak should be filled
with a good mineral-paste filler
after the stain coat has been ap-
piled. Close-grain woods like birch,
maple, gum, pine and fir require
no filler.
For New Wood Only.
The stains are meant, naturally,
only for wood not previously painted.
After the stain has been applied,
you can finish the wood with var
nish or wax, or for open-grained
woods you can use lacquer If you
wish. Complete instructions for the
use of stain with any of these fin
isheS are printed on the back OF the
color card issued by the maker of
the stains.
The stains are fast to light, will
not raise the grain, and thus ellml-
nate sanding They are quick-dry-
ing and bleeding. Application
of finishing material can be made
the same day. They are suggested
for trim, floors, mantels, doors,
windows and furniture Cost: about
81 40 a quart 80 cents pint; COW
ering approximately $50 square feet
gallon.
Garbage Receiver.
Now, before the frost gets into
the ground, is the time to install an
underground receiver just back OF
your kitchen door.
Most families in the country have
the problem of what to do with
accumulated garbage between COL
lections or burnings. The ordinary
large sized kitchen garbage pail will
not hold more than a 24-hour col
lection, if that, for families OF four
or more-plus weekend guests.
The underground receiver, placed
so that the lid is only an inch above
the ground, come in sizes holding
II or % gallons. They are sug-
gested for families of three or four
and for families of seven or eight.
Set on Stones.
The receiver need not be set in
cement. Just dig a hole 6 inches
deeper than the receiver, throw
broken stone or rock in the bottom
to act as blind drain, place three
bricks or stones in the form of a
triangle and set the receiver on
them. Keep the under edge of the
large cover about 3 inches from
grade level, raising the grade slightly
to within l inch of the under
edge to make a slight watershed
away from the receiver.
This kind of garbage receptacle
Is a lifetime investment. 1t is made
of galvanized steel and cast iron,
with a bottom ring containing a
special centering device, a pinch
ventilating space, and built-in chute
to prevent garbage from falling out
side of the bucket. Its lid is raised
by means of a foot trip, leaving
both hands free to empty garbage.
The smaller size has bucket IA
inches in diameter, % inches high,
with the receiver 20 inches in di-
ameter and 20 inches high. 1t costs
s2475 complete. The larger unit
has an 18-inch bucket "a inches
high, placed in a receiver "a inches
In diameter and 81 inches high. 1t
costs $3575.
Note-For further Information
about any Of the products de-
scribed above, write Misses Ducas
and Gordon, in care of The Eve