6390. Pencils for Writing on Glass

6390.    Pencils for Writing on Glass. Take 4 parts stearic acid, 3 parts mutton suet, and 2 parts wax; melt them together and add 6 parts red lead and 1 part purified carbonate of potassa, previously thoroughly triturated together. Set the mixture aside for an hour in a warm situation, stirring frequently, then pour it into glass tubes or hollow reeds.

6391. Elastic Cement

6391.      Elastic Cement. Dissolve 1 drachm gutta-percha in 1 ounce or more bisulphide of carbon, so as to make a fluid that will easily pass through coarse filtering paper. After filtering, add about 15 grains pure india-rubber, and let it dissolve; or, when it has become soft and gelatinous, quickly rub the whole smooth with a palette knife on a slab.

6392. To Mend a Balloon or Gas-Bag

6392.    To Mend a Balloon or Gas-Bag. Paint 4 or more coats of the varnish described in the last receipt, around the hole in the bag, allowing each coat to dry before the application of the next. Treat a piece of fine strong muslin in the same way. The last coat on each should be pretty thick, and, when nearly dry, apply the patch to the bag, and press evenly and quite firmly together. "When at last the whole is dry, press with a warm iron, and then paint the surface of the new piece with a coat or two of the varnish. If nicely done, the bag will be as strong as ever. Chloroform may be used in place of the bisulphide of carbon.

6393. Improvement in Ink-Erasers

6393.     Improvement in Ink-Erasers. The Great Lightning Ink-Eraser may be used instead of a knife or scraper for erasing ink, in order to rectify a mistake or clean off a blot without injury to the paper, leaving the paper as clean and good to write upon as it was before the mistake or blot was made, and without injury to the printer's ink upon any printed form, or the ruling upon any first-class paper. Take of chloride of lime 1 pound, thoroughly pulverized, and 4 quarts soft water. The above must be thoroughly shaken when first put together. It is required to stand 24 hours to dissolve the chloride of lime; then strain through a cotton cloth; after which add a tea-spoonful of acetic acid (No. 8 commercial) to every ounce of the chloride of lime water. The eraser is used by reversing the pen-holder in the hand, dipping the end of the pen-holder into the fluid, and applying it, without rubbing, to the word, figure, or blot required to be erased. "When the ink has disappeared, absorb the fluid with a blotter, and the paper is immediately ready to write upon again. Chloride of lime has before been used with acids for the purpose as above proposed; but in all previous processes the chloride of lime has been mixed with acids that burn and destroy the paper.

6394. To Preserve Clothes Pins

6394.      To Preserve Clothes Pins. Clothes pins boiled a few moments and quickly dried, once or twice a month, become more flexible and durable. Clothes lines will last longer and keep in better order if occasionally treated in the same way.