Evening star., 1941-01-18
First Aid
For the
Aiing House
By ROGER b. WHITMAN.

@. am closing my log cabin for
the winter months. The windows
are not watertight and I am PLAN
ming to put up shutters permanently,
which could be left open during the
summer when the cabin is occupied.
My husband tells me that shutters
are not at all in keeping with the
style of log cabin and urges me
to have the windows boarded. What
do you think? Would shutters look
ridiculous?
A. The slat type of shutter would
not look we'll but "batten" or plank
type of shutter could be used and
would be in keeping with log cabin.
Local dealers in lumber and mill
work can supply them.
Cracked Porch Floor.
@. My front porch has a cement
floor inches thick In the center
Is a crack the entire thickness of
porch. Heavy rains or snow 90 all
the way through. How can rem
edy this?
A. To mend the crack the patch
ing must 60 in deep. 1t will not last
If only applied to the surface. First
widen the crack with cold chisel
cutting the under surface wider
than the upper, and clean out all
loose particles. Soak the crack with
water and then pack with a mixture
OF one part cement and three parts
clean building sand, with only
enough water added to make
workable mixture. All patches
should be kept damp for several
days to obtain full density. Do not
do the work in freezing weather.
Trisodium Phosphate.
Q. Where can I get trisodium
phosphate?
A. Large paint stores usually
carry 1t under its own name: 50 do
dealers in mason supplies. You can
get 1t under trade names at grocery
stores. Ask for a white crystal
cleaning powder that is not soapy
ana That does not make suds.
Stained Zinc Top.
Q. Our kitchen sink has a zinc
top that spots easily Nothing I
have tried cleans it satisfactorily.
Can you suggest something?
A. Zinc oxidizes very readily when
wet. You can remove the spots bv
rubolng with scratchless securing
powder, but the spots will return
very quickly. A fair amount of
success can be had by applying a
coat OF floor wax and then rubbing
the surface we'll. The tendency of
zinc to stain is one of the reasons
why 1t is not in more general use for
sink and table tops. Good linoleum
porcelain or even wood would be an
improvement on zinc.
Plywood Walls In Basement,
Q. covered my basement walls
ana ceiling with plywood, which I
WISH TO varnish, but I am afraid the
varnlsh might sink in. What do
you think?
A. Varnish will be all right, ap-
piled In two coats. Dull the oIoss
OF the first coat by rubbing down
with fne sandpaper. and wipe off
the dust before applying the second
coat. Or you could first put on a
coat OF good shellac. thinned half /
and-half with denatured alcohol IN
be followed later with a coat of way
Another good finish would be two
coats OF penetrating wax.
Pipe Coverings.
question: My new seashore house
VIII have hot-air heat. Specifica-
tlons call for asbestos covering on
the neat ducts in the cellar. but the |
contractor advises against it: saws
tnat 1t Is not efficient, and that at
the shore covering will retain damp |
ness that In turn will injure the |
ouct. He recommends painting, |
What are your views?
Answer-If the ducts are of bright
TIN. as is presumable, I should leave
them so, for there is little radiation
OF heat from polished metal sur |
faces. Later, If the tin becomes
dull. 1t can be finished with bright
aluminium paint. Asbestos paper
covering on heat ducts is not eftec-
tive. and agree with the contractor
that it is likely to do definite harm
to the tin
Clipped Marble Lamp.
question: I have a white marble
lamp which is Clipped. How could
I repair it?
Answer-At marble or stone yards
you can get a special patching
cement intended for repairing
Clipped marble. But If your lamp
Is Of any value you had better have
the job done by professional.
Cleaning Plaster.
Question: Plastered walls in my
house are not painted or papered |
and are getting dirty. How can I
clean them?
Answer-Unfinished plaster is 50
porous that any liquid cleaner will