Evening star., 1941-05-10
First Aid
For the
AMng
By ROGER b. WHITMAN.

One of my readers explains that
he lives in an old two-family house,
and that many times during the day
and night the volume from his radio
would change from loud to soft; in
audible one minute and the next
minute blaring. Without realizing
1t, he goes to the root Of the trouble
In adding that it happens when the
people upstairs turn the switches
on and off. Being an old house, the
wiring that was put in took care
of only the few lights used in those
days. AS time had gone on, more
lights had been added. and in par
ticular, many appliances are now
In use; radio, vacuum cleaner,
cooking appliances, and so forth.
The wiring is now called on to
supply far more current than it
was intended for, and is not big
enough to carry currents for all the
demands. 1t can be compared to
putting several faucets on a water
pipe only big enough to supply
single faucet; when additional
faucets are turned on, the pipe has
not the capacity for full supply.
For convenience the house should
be reWired, and rewriting is neceS-
sary for safety. An overloaded
electric wire will become heated to
such an extent that it may become
a fire risk. Rewriting calls for the
services of a trained and licensed
electrician.
Paint on Wallpaper.
Q. We have lived in our house
only a short time and find that
under several coats of paint on
the upper walls of our bathroom
is layer of wallpaper. Before re-
painting, we should like to take off
the wallpaper, for it causes the
paint to chip How can we do it?
A. Wash the wall repeatedly with
q solution of two pounds of washing
soda to the gallon of water. This Is
q paint remover and in softening
the paint it will go through the wall
paper and loosen it. Do not let the
solution spatter on paint or varnish
work that you want to keep, for it
will have a damaging effect. After
taking off the wallpaper, wash with
clear water TO remove traces of the
washing soak and allow the wall
to dry thoroughly before painting.
One or Two Boilers.
Q. My two-f1at building has hot
water heating boiler for each fiat,
and want to burn oil. One COM
pany says to put a burner in each
boiler and another recommends re-
placing the two boilers with one new
boiler, which I would prefer. What
Is your advice?
A. A single boiler should be more
economical and less trouble. A COM
petent and responsible burner COM
pany will advise you on the type of
burner best suited to your condi-
tions. Keep away from a cut-rate
installation. For best service and
greatest economy in the long run.
60 to a reliable dealer and pay a
good price.
Cracked Tank
Q. A porcelain flush tank is
cracked How can I mend it?
A. Empty the tank, wipe 1t dry in
side along the crack. and paint the
crack with roofing cement, slightly
thinned with turpentine. Put on a
second coat after the first has hard
ened.
Soiled Plywood.
@. Little by little I have been re-
placing the plaster walls of my
kitchen with plywood. The job is
nearly finished. but the first part
now has finger marks and dirt
stains. What cleaning compound
can I use on the bare plywood?
What would be a suitable finish?
A. Clean the p1ywood with cloths
damp with suds of pure soap; do not
have them U-rinpinp wet SO that the