Or hold a red-hot iron on the head of the nail to expand it and draw at once. As it begins to cool, it will draw out readily.
Screws. — Screws can be driven more easily if oiled, soaped, or even thoroughly wet in the mouth with saliva. If the wood is soft, dip the screw in liquid glue. This will make it hold better. Or first make a gim let, hole, somewhat smaller than the screw, fill it with powdered rosin, and heat the screw before driving it. To remove a rusted screw, apply a hot iron to the head before using the screw-driver. To loosen the screw of a nut, pour a little kerosene oil over it and wait until it has had time to soak in. Jar the nut slightly with a hammer to loosen the rust.
Saws.—Saws are of many kinds, but for ordinary use, two or three will be found sufficient. These are the crosscut saw, the rip saw, and the keyhole saw. The teeth of the crosscut saw are finer and set more closely together, giving the sawdust a fine granular appearance. The teeth of the rip saw are larger and set wider apart. The keyhole saw is small and pointed, so that it can be inserted in small openings and the like. The labor of sawing will be much lightened by using a saw adapted to the work in hand, and by oiling or greasing the saw blade oc casionally, especially if the wood is wet or gummy.
To Recut Files Chemically.—Dis solve 8 ounces of soda in 2 quarts of water, immerse the files in this, and boil 15 minutes to clean them. Rinse with cold water, pour over them in an earthen vessel a solution, of 1 pint of sulphuric acid in 4 quarts of water, and let stand over night. Remove them, wash with hot water, and oil them to prevent rust. The acid water may be bottled and used again.
Sandpaper. — To make sandpaper, grind in an iron mortar a quantity of broken window glass and sift it through a coarse or fine sieve, accord ing to the quality of sandpaper re quired, on a piece of cartridge or other tough, smooth paper, previous ly coated with glue. Cut the paper to convenient size, tack it on a board, and apply by means of a brush thin hot glue of about the consistency of mucilage in such a way as to leave a half inch margin all around. Let stand until the glue is stiff and apply the glass. Shake off and save the surplus of glass, which may be used again. Care must be taken not to breathe the flying fragments of glass, as they are very poisonous.