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Show FIRST-AID I to the AILING HOUSE y ROGER B. WHITMAN Roger B. Whltman-WNU Feature.. REFRACTORY CEMENT Question: The heat of the past winter's fires has burned out the mortar between the bricks. I was 'told that I should use fire clay and that the fire back should have been laid up with fire clay instead of lime and plaster. I am told that lime and cement mortar are used in fireplaces. fire-places. None of the lumber yards here know anything about fire clay. What can I use to repair the back wall of the fireplace? Answer: Mason material dealers and plumbing and heating supply houses handle refractory cement and fire clay. Refractory cement is generally used and preferred as a mortar between fire brick. If you cannot get the material, try the following: fol-lowing: Rake out the old cement to a depth of a half -inch or more; then brush out the loose particles. Soak the spaces with plenty of clear water and pack the joints with a fairly stiff mixture of one part port-land port-land cement, one part hydrated lime and five parts of clean, coarse sand. Keep the new mortar damp for several sev-eral days and do not use the fireplace fire-place for at least one week. CHIPPED SINK Question: How can I improve the appearance of my kitchen sink? Parts of the porcelain have been rubbed off, showing the black iron surface. Answer: If the damaged places are not below the water line, get a white enamel made especially for patching chipped porcelain surfaces. After cleaning the spots brighten the exposed metal by rubbing with steel wool, then wipe with turpentine and apply a coat of special undercoat and follow with porcelain enamel. Blackened Sills Question: I have had plants on my varnished window sills, and the water from these plants has gone on the sills and turned them black. Is there anything I can do to get them clean again? The black seems to be in the wood. Answer: Take off the finish down to the wood with paint remover. The stains can be bleached out with a saturated solution of oxalic acid and denatured alcohol. Apply this liberally and allow to remain for several hours. Rinse well with clear water and allow the wood to dry thoroughly. Finish with a top quality spar varnish. If the woodwork wood-work has had a stain, try to match the color with the other woodwork before applying the varnish. Javelle Water Question: Will you please tell me how Javelle water is mixed? Answer: Dissolve one-half pound of washing soda in a quart of cold water, adding one-quarter pound of chloride of lime with the lumps crushed. This mixture is allowed to stand until the sediment has settled; then the clear liquid is drawn oft, strained through a thickness of cloth and bottled. In use, one part of the solution should be diluted with three parts or more of water. If used for laundering, remember to rinse out very thoroughly; for, otherwise, the : fabrics will be weakened if not : ruined. Cleaning Aluminum Question: How can I remove a black line from the inside of one of my aluminum saucepans? This line was caused by a liquid standing too long. Answer: Boil a half-and-half mixture mix-ture of vinegar and water in the pan for 20 minutes or so; further rubbing with a special aluminum cleanser (to be had from your grocer) gro-cer) or fine steel wool and soap may be needed. . . Galvanized Pipe Question: I would like to take down my galvanized furnace pipe. What can I do to prevent water forming on the pipe? Would the attic at-tic be a good place to store it? Answer: After giving the pipe a good cleaning to free it from dust coat both sides with light oil and store in the attic. If there are any rust spots, rub them off with steel wool or fine sandpaper before applying apply-ing the oil. . Rusted Caster Holders Question: I am using a metal bed that had been stored and the casters are attached on sections that fit m the legs of the bed. The holders are quite rusty. What should I do to make them usable now? Answer: Take out the caster holders hold-ers and soak them in kerosene. After a half-hour or so, the rust can be Amoved by rubbing with steel woo or sandpaper. When the metal is 1 I on ffive it a coat of light oil or Tnish8 This will retard further rusting. Refinishing Maple Floor . nd level, scraping with a -"rreTuoseXrels varnish or floor sealer. |
