Evening star., 1941-09-06

Bruss Sleeve
Now Made to
Replace Washers
Rr HuSON MUNSEY.


One of the principal minor
troubles of the homeowner is the
faucet. The washer has bad habit
of wearing out and needing replace
rnent at frequent intervals, and,
while the renewal is not a difficult
process, it is a constant source of
annoyance and takes up time that
might be devoted to more satisfying
occupations This constant trouble
can be reduced to a minimum with
a washer replacement that does
away with the washer altogether.
One of the main causes of the de-
struction of faucet washers is in the
seating of the faucet. If this is i'm
perfect and has an uneven surface
or if it has become slightly corroded
the turning of the washer against
it will inevitably wear the washer
out in very short space of time
Even if the seating is ground down
to smoothness it is always possible
that grooves in the seating will per-
init the leakage Of water. This, IN
the case of metered water, is a
serious matter, more serious than is
evident by the slow drip of the
water from the faucet The steady
and useless drip is costly.
= Money Saving.
4 This wasted money can be saved
by the installation of washer sub
stitute that does away with the
washer altogether.
It consists of a lining for the
seating instead of a washer that is
screwed into the stem Of the faucet
The washer and screw that are so
familiar to any one who does his
own minor plumbing are removed
altogether, although, if the screw is
so corroded that it cannot be re-
moved, that doesn't matter either
Instead of the washer and screw
lining for the seating is made.
This lining has brass reinforce
ment on the face through which
the water passes. The covering of
this brass sleeve is made of COM
position that will swell with the
addition of water and so completely
fll the seating between the sleeve
end the seating itself This seat
sining is placed in position and the
steam of the faucet is turned down
On it until it is securely in place.
tnasmuch as the seating lining does
not turn and so is not subjected to
wear and tear and as the material
from which the covering of the
metal sleeve is made will expand
readily to fill any irregularities or
4reases in the surface of the faucet
7eating there is no danger Of water
leakage and the wear and tear is
verv small. One of these washers
should last from three to five years.
They are sold in sets or separately,
The set contain a gauge that Is
useful in determining the size OF
washer needed. 1t consists OF an
aluminium gauge on which are two
prongs that fit into the seating OF
the faucet. When these prongS are
separated so that they touch the
sides of the seating an indicator
shows at the top of the gauge the
size of the seating lining that is re-
quired.
Ten washers from sizes one to six
and the gauge cost only a dollar.
When the seating lining wears, as
all good things do eventually, it can
be removed easily by forcing screw
driver into the brass sleeve and
turning it toward the side of the
seating.
Chair Repairs.
Frequently the glue that holds the
rungs of a chair in place will dry
out and disintegrate with uncom-
Portable results. There is always the
question of what is best to be done
under the circumstances. There are
several devices on the market to
take care of this condition, but one
that has come to the attention of
this column seems to provide a
logical and permanent solution to
the trouble.
This is made of piece of fabric
IN the form of a cross. This fabric
is impregnated with glue. Its method
of application is very simple. First
all the old glue is sCraped away from
the Joint. Then the fabric cross is
soaked in water for half minute
After that, it is placed across the
hole in the article of furniture tc
be repaired. Then the rung is forced
into the hole and the fabric takes
up the space between the rung anc
the hole.
There is, according to the manu-
facturer, no chance that the glue
will dry out and crack away from
the wood under strain.
These patches will repair many
articles including umbrella handles
and the cost is only a cent a patch