Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber’s Notes

Text printed in italics and bold face in the source document has
been transcribed _between underscores_ and _between equal signs=
respectively. Small capitals have been transcribed as ALL CAPITALS.
Text ~between tildes~ represents letter-like shapes rather than
characters. Text +between plus signs+ was printed in the specific
font mentioned, or in a sans-serif font.

More Transcriber’s Notes may be found at the end of this text.

HANDICRAFT FOR BOYS

HANDICRAFT
FOR BOYS

BY
A. FREDERICK COLLINS

INVENTOR OF THE WIRELESS TELEPHONE

_Author of “Inventing for Boys,” “The
Boys’ Book of Submarines,” etc._

_WITH 185 ILLUSTRATIONS AND DIAGRAMS_

NEW YORK
FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY
PUBLISHERS

_Copyright, 1918, by_
FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY

_All rights reserved_

TO
MY NEPHEW AND NIECE
CLARENCE AND MAY ZEITLER

A WORD TO THE BOY

Your life, if you live it like the average boy, is split up into four parts and these are (1) eating, (2) sleeping, (3) working and (4) playing.

Now I haven’t a word to say about the first three phases of your existence for you will attend pretty well to the eating and sleeping ends, and your elders will quite likely see to it that you get enough work to do in and out of school.

But when it comes to playing I want to edge in, for this is a very important and often a sadly neglected part of your daily routine. There are three kinds of playing, namely (a) where your mind only is engaged as for instance at dominoes, checkers or chess, (b) where your body is chiefly in action as in gymnastics and outdoor games, and (c) where your mind and body are doing something more or less constructive.

This book which I have written for you deals with playing of the latter kind and while I don’t want you to get so interested in any of the various arts and crafts described to the extent of using all your spare hours doing it, still it is a great mistake not to have a hobby such as jig-sawing, printing, die-sinking or the like. There is something tremendously fascinating about visualizing things in your brain and then fashioning them with your hands and you ought to do it.

Different from other kinds of playing the by-products of these arts and crafts last a long time after your efforts have been spent upon them and it is a source of great pleasure to look at them once in a while and know that you made them with your own hands.

Not only is there the fun of planning and doing the things I have described, but you will at the same time pick up a lot of information and, what is of far more value, your brain and eyes and hands will learn to work together like a dynamo direct connected to an engine, and then you can depend on them to serve you well whenever the occasion may arise.

A. FREDERICK COLLINS.

“The Antlers,”
Congers, N. Y.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. CARPENTRY WORK AND CABINET MAKING 1

THE TOOLS YOU NEED -- THE KINDS OF TOOLS -- SOME HINTS ON
USING TOOLS

How to Hold a Hammer -- How to Use a Saw -- How to Use
a Plane -- How to Use Chisels and Gouges -- How to Use
a Brace and Bit -- How to Use a Rule -- How to Use a
Marking Gauge -- How to Use Hand Screws and Clamps --
How to Use a Nail Set -- How to Use a Gimlet -- How to
Drive Nails and Screws -- How to Make a Glue-Pot -- How
to Make Good Glue and How to Use It

HOW TO SHARPEN YOUR TOOLS

About Sharpening Saws -- About Sharpening Chisels and
Plane Bits -- About Sharpening Auger Bits

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR TOOLS -- REMOVING RUST FROM
TOOLS -- TO ETCH YOUR NAME ON TOOLS -- KINDS OF WOOD TO
USE

Pine; Cedar; Mahogany; Oak; Birch; Walnut

HOW TO MAKE JOINTS

Edge Joints -- Corner Joints

ABOUT WORKING DRAWINGS -- THINGS FOR YOU TO MAKE

How to Make a Work Bench -- How to Make a Tool Chest

II. SCROLL SAWING, WOOD TURNING, WOOD CARVING, ETC. 24

ALL ABOUT SCROLL SAWING

SCROLL SAWING OUTFITS -- A CHEAP SCROLL SAWING OUTFIT

How to Use the Scroll Saw

A FEW OTHER HELPFUL THINGS

A Hand Saw-Table -- Files for Scroll Work -- A Twist
Drill Stock -- A Pair of Pliers -- A Small Hammer --
Scroll Saw Blades

HOW TO TRACE A DESIGN ON WOOD -- DESIGNS FOR SCROLL
SAWING -- FOOT-POWER SCROLL SAWS

The Cricket Scroll Saw -- The Lester Scroll saw --
The Fleetwood Scroll Saw

HOW A FOOT-POWER SCROLL SAW WORKS -- HOW TO SAW ON A
FOOT-POWER SCROLL SAW -- FANCY WOODS FOR SCROLL SAW
OUTFITS -- TABLE OF SCROLL SAW WOODS -- TRIMMINGS FOR
BOXES, ETC.

TURNING IN WOOD

GET A LATHE FIRST

How a Lathe is Made

THE CHEAPEST LATHE YOU CAN BUY

Attachments for the Companion Lathe

TURNING TOOLS FOR WOOD -- HOW TO TURN WOOD

THE ART OF WOOD CARVING

YOUR SET OF CARVING TOOLS -- THE BEST WOODS FOR CARVING
-- KINDS OF WOOD CARVING

Chip Carving -- Panel Carving -- Carving in Solid
Wood

PYROGRAPHY, OR WOOD BURNING

THE NECESSARY TOOLS

How to Make an Etching Tool -- How to Make an Alcohol
Lamp -- A Better Outfit -- About the Designs -- How
to Burn in the Designs

COLORING AND STAINING WOOD

Where to Buy Stains -- Ebony Stain -- Fumed Oak

III. METALS AND METAL WORKING 56

YOUR KIT OF TOOLS -- THE VARIOUS KINDS OF TOOLS -- SOME
HINTS ON USING THE TOOLS

About Sharpening Tools

METALS AND THEIR USES

Iron
Wrought Iron
Steel
Tin
Zinc
Lead
Copper
Aluminum

A FEW USEFUL ALLOYS

Brass Type-Metal Pewter

HOW TO DO METAL WORK -- FIRST SKETCH YOUR IDEAS --
SHEET METAL WORK

Cutting and Sawing -- Making Seams and Joints

HOW TO SOLDER METALS

Fluxes Solders

BOLTS AND RIVETS -- BENDING SHEET METAL -- FINISHING UP
METALS -- COLORING METALS

Bluing Steel -- Bluing Brass -- Giving Brass a Green
Color -- Giving Brass a Dull Look -- Frosting Brass
Articles -- Lacquering Brass and Copper -- How to
Make the Lacquer

IV. VENETIAN IRON, REPOUSSÉ, PIERCED BRASS AND PEWTER WORK 76

VENETIAN BENT IRON WORK

THE TOOLS YOU MUST HAVE -- THE MATERIALS YOU NEED --
WHAT TO DO FIRST

Making a Simple Design

HOW TO MAKE A TOASTER -- HOW TO MAKE AN EGG BOILER --
HOW TO MAKE A VENETIAN PLATE HOLDER

A Dead Black Finish for Iron Work

DOING REPOUSSÉ WORK

TOOLS NEEDED FOR REPOUSSÉ WORK -- HOW TO PREPARE THE
WORK -- TRACING THE DESIGN -- BOSSING THE WORK -- HOW
TO MAKE A FLAT CANDLESTICK -- HOW TO MAKE A PHOTO FRAME

Cleaning and Polishing Metal Work -- Finishing,
Coloring and Lacquering Metals

PIERCED METAL WORK

THE OUTFIT TO DO IT WITH -- HOW TO DO THE WORK

CASTING AND WORKING PEWTER

SOMETHING ABOUT PEWTER -- HOW TO MAKE PEWTER -- ABOUT
WORKING PEWTER -- HOW TO CAST PEWTER -- THE PATTERNS
NECESSARY -- MAKING THE MOLD -- FINISHING THE WARE

ENGRAVING ON METAL

THE TOOLS THAT ARE USED -- HOW TO ENGRAVE ON METAL

V. DRAWING SIMPLY EXPLAINED 103

FREE-HAND DRAWING

TALENT VERSUS PRACTICE -- PICTURES FOR YOU TO DRAW --
SIMPLE LINE SKETCHES -- SKETCHING SIMPLE OUTLINE
FIGURES -- THE PROPORTIONS OF THE HUMAN FIGURE -- HOW
TO DRAW FACES -- SKETCHING STILL LIFE OBJECTS --
DRAWING IN PERSPECTIVE

The Vanishing Point

HOW TO SHADE A DRAWING

WORKING DRAWINGS

DRAWING TOOLS YOU SHOULD HAVE -- SIMPLE WORKING
DRAWINGS

Making Plain Drawings -- Isometric Perspective
Drawings

SOME SIMPLE AIDS TO DRAWING

HOW TO DRAW A CIRCLE -- HOW TO DRAW A SPIRAL -- HOW TO
DRAW AN ELLIPSE -- HOW TO MAKE AND USE A PANTAGRAPH --
HOW TO MAKE A REFLECTING DRAWING BOARD -- HOW TO MAKE
TRACINGS -- TO MAKE LASTING IMPRESSIONS -- THE ANCIENT
AND HONORED ART OF CUTTING SILHOUETTES -- TRANSFER
PICTURES OF DECALCOMANIA

How to Transfer the Pictures

VI. SOME KINKS IN PHOTOGRAPHY 131

HOW TO MAKE BLUE PRINTS

The Materials Required

ANOTHER KIND OF CONTACT PRINTING

To Tone and Fix the Pictures -- Receipt for a
Combined Toning and Fixing Solution

THE SIMPLEST KIND OF A CAMERA -- HOW TO DEVELOP A DRY
PLATE

How to Make the Developer -- How to Make a Fixing
Bath

A GOOD AND CHEAP CAMERA -- HOW TO MAKE AN ENLARGING
APPARATUS -- HOW TO MAKE AN ENLARGEMENT

A Developer for Bromide Paper

HOW TO MAKE A REFLECTOSCOPE

How to Use the Reflectoscope

HOW TO MAKE A MAGIC LANTERN

How to Work the Lantern

HOW TO MAKE LANTERN SLIDES -- HOW TO MAKE RADIUM
PHOTOGRAPHS

TRICK PHOTOGRAPHY

SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHS -- ONE WAY TO CATCH BIG FISH --
TAKING CARICATURE PHOTOGRAPHS

VII. PRINTING AND ITS ALLIED ARTS 157

KINDS OF PRINTING PRESSES -- THE PARTS OF A SELF-INKING
PRESS -- HOW THE PRESS WORKS -- SIZES AND PRICES OF
PRESSES -- THE OUTFIT YOU NEED

Outfit for a 3 × 5 Press -- Outfit for a 5 × 8 Press
-- Outfit for an 8 × 10 Press

ABOUT TYPE AND TYPE SETTING

Relative Number of Type Letters -- Styles of Type --
The Parts of a Type -- The Sizes of Type -- Table of
Type Sizes -- Your Type Cases -- Setting the Type

MAKING READY -- PRINTING THE JOB -- HOW TO CLEAN TYPE
-- ABOUT DISTRIBUTING TYPE -- THE INK AND ROLLERS --
PRINTING IN COLORS -- PRINTING IN GOLD -- AND FINALLY
YOUR STOCK SUPPLY

THE ART OF PAPER MAKING

WHAT PAPER IS -- HOW TO MAKE PAPER

Making the Pulp -- The Molds You Need -- Laying the
Paper

SIZING AND FINISHING

HOW TO BIND BOOKS

Making the Cover -- Sewing the Book -- Putting on the
title

VIII. RUBBER STAMPS, DIE SINKING, BURNING BRANDS AND STENCILS 183

RUBBER STAMPS

HOW TO MAKE RUBBER STAMPS

The Materials Needed

MAKING THE MOLD -- VULCANIZING THE RUBBER -- MOUNTING
THE RUBBER -- HOW TO USE A RUBBER STAMP

How to Make an Ink Pad

HOW TO MAKE RUBBER STAMP INK -- HOW TO MAKE A COPYGRAPH
PAD -- HOW TO COPY A LETTER -- HOW TO MAKE HECTOGRAPH
INKS

DIE SINKING

HOW TO MAKE BADGES, NAME PLATES, ETC. -- HOW TO SINK
THE LETTERS -- FINISHING UP THE BADGE

BURNING BRANDS

HOW TO MAKE A BURNING BRAND

How to Use the Burning Brand

STENCILS

HOW TO CUT STENCILS

Cutting Paper Stencils -- Cutting Brass Stencils --
How to Use Practical Stencils -- How to Make Stencil
Ink -- How to Use Decorative Stencils -- Mixing
Colors for Stenciling Borders

IX. THE ART OF WORKING GLASS 202

WHAT GLASS IS -- HOW TO CUT GLASS -- HOW TO USE A GLASS
CUTTER -- HOW TO FINISH OFF GLASS EDGES -- HOW TO DRILL
HOLES IN GLASS -- A COUPLE OF WAYS TO CUT GLASS TUBING
-- HOW TO CUT GLASS DISKS -- HOW TO BEND GLASS TUBING

What a Bunsen Burner Is

HOW TO BLOW GLASS -- TO ROUND THE ENDS OF TUBES -- TO
BORDER THE ENDS OF TUBES -- TO SEAL ONE END OF A TUBE
-- TO MAKE A GLASS NOZZLE -- TO MAKE A HOLE IN A TUBE
-- TO JOIN TWO TUBES OF THE SAME SIZE -- TO JOIN A TUBE
TO THE SIDE OF ANOTHER TUBE -- TO BLOW A BULB ON THE
END OF A TUBE

How to Make a Blowpipe -- How to Blow a Bulb

HOW TO ETCH GLASS

The Sand Blast Process -- How to Make Ground Glass --
The Acid Process

HOW TO CEMENT GLASS -- A SIMPLE WAY TO FROST GLASS

SUBSTITUTES FOR GLASS

Mica
Gelatine

HOW TO SILVER A MIRROR

X. TOYS FOR THE KIDDIES 227

HOW TO MAKE A POLICEMAN’S PUZZLE -- HOW TO MAKE AN
AUTOMOBILE TRUCK -- HOW TO MAKE A SWELL COASTER -- HOW
TO MAKE A NIFTY WHEELBARROW -- HOW TO MAKE A HIGH-LOW
SWING -- HOW TO MAKE A STICK HORSE -- HOW TO MAKE A
PONY AND CART -- HOW TO MAKE A LIFE-LIKE GOOSE -- HOW
TO MAKE A DANCING SAMBO -- HOW TO MAKE A WIRELESS PUP

XI. HOME MADE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 252

THE MUSICAL COINS

How to Make Them -- How to Play Them

THE MUSICAL TOMATO CANS

How to Make Them -- To Play the Musical Tomato Cans

THE MUSICAL GLASSES

How to Make Them -- How to Play the Glasses

THE TUBULAR HARP

How to Make It -- How to Play the Harp

THE MUSICAL PUSH PIPE

How to Make It -- How to Play the Push Pipe

THE CURIOUS XYLOPHONE

How to Make It -- How to Play the Xylophone

THE PECULIAR TUBAPHONE

How to Make It -- How to Play the Tubaphone

THE CATHEDRAL CHIMES

How to Make Them -- How to Play the Cathedral Chimes

THE AEOLIAN HARP

How to Make It -- How the Wind Plays It

AN EGYPTIAN FIDDLE

How to Make It -- How to Make the Bow

XII. SOME EVENING ENTERTAINMENTS 274

CARTOONS WHILE YOU WAIT

Drawing the Cartoons

THIRTY MINUTES OF CHEMISTRY -- THE MYSTIC GLASS OF MILK
-- THE MAGIC FOUNTAIN -- THE VICIOUS SOAP BUBBLES --
THE UNCANNY WHEEL -- GIVING A TRAVELOGUE -- AN
ELECTRICAL SOIRÉE -- DEMONSTRATING ELECTRICITY WITHOUT
APPARATUS

The Electrified Papers -- How to Electrify a Person
-- How Like Repels Like

MAKING EXPERIMENTS WITH APPARATUS

The Induction, or Spark Coil -- Demonstrating
Wireless Telegraphy

READING PALMS FOR FUN

How to Read Palms

A TALK ON THE STEAM ENGINE

Making the Model Engine

HOW THE ENGINE WORKS

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

A Model Engine, Showing the Principal Working Parts _Frontispiece_

Some Useful Wood Working Tools 3

A Few More Common Wood Working Tools 5

A Clamp Often Comes in Handy 7

How Edge Joints Are Made 17

How Corner Joints Are Made 19

An Easily Made Work Bench 20

A Wood Vise for Your Work Bench 21

A Carpenter’s Tool Chest 22

The Tray for Your Tool Chest 23

A Simple and Cheap Sawing Outfit 25

The Right Way to Use a Hand Scroll Saw 27

A Hand Scroll Saw Table 28

Some Necessary Scroll Sawing Tools 29

Mechanical Masterpieces Made With a Scroll Saw 31

The Cheapest Foot-power Scroll Saw Made 32

The Lester Scroll Saw with Turning Lathe Attachment 33

The Fleetwood Scroll Saw 34

The Chief Parts of a Turning Lathe 37

The Cheapest Wood Turning Lathe Made 39

A Set of Wood Turning Tools 41

Putting the Rough Wood in the Lathe 42

The Right Way to Hold a Wood Working Tool 42

Sizing the Turned Work 43

Kinds and Sweeps of Carving Tools 45

Markers for Stamping in Backgrounds 46

Schemes for Holding Work When Carving 46

Kinds of Carving 48

A Carved Watch Case Holder 49

The Tool Used for Pyrography 52

An Outfit that Burns Benzine Vapor 53

How the Tool is Heated 54

Burning in the Design 54

The Chief Metal Working Tools 58

Some Other Metal Working Tools 59

How Metal Seams and Joints are Made 70

Materials You Need for Venetian Iron Work 77

A Useful Bent Iron Toaster 79

How to Make an Egg Boiler 80

An Artistic Venetian Plate Holder 81

A Sconce for a Candle 83

How to Hold a Repoussé Hammer 84

A Punch and Punch Designs for Repoussé Work 85

How to Hold a Repoussé Punch 85

A Repoussé Candlestick 87

A Repoussé Photo Frame 89

The Tools You Need for Pierced Brass Work 90

A Pierced Brass Candle Shade 91

A Pierced Brass Toast Sign 93

Iron Ladle for Melting Pewter 95

How a Pewter Casting is Made 96

Home Made Pewter Ware 98

Tools for Engraving on Metal 99

How to Hold a Graver 100

An Engraving on a Sheet of Copper 101

A Simple Line Drawing of a Man and a Horse 104

A Simple Outline Drawing of a Boxer and a Race Horse 105

The Proportions of the Human Body 106

A Full View of the Face 107

A Profile View of the Face 108

The Vanishing Points of a Perspective Drawing 109

How to Find the Vanishing Point 110

The Vanishing Points Put to Use 111

The Drawing Tools You Need 112

The T Square and Triangle on the Drawing Board 114

The Plan Drawing for a Box 115

The Box Drawn in Isometric Perspective 116

How the Lines for Isometric Drawings are Made 117

A Sheet of Isometric Drawing Paper 118

The Proportions of an Isometric Ellipse 119

How to Draw a Circle with a Thread 120

How to Draw a Spiral with a Thread 121

How to Draw an Ellipse with a Thread 122

How a Pantagraph is Made and Used 122

How a Reflecting Drawing Board is Made and Used 123

A Lasting Carbon (Soot) Impression of Your Hand 125

Silhouettes of Your Great-Grand-pa and Great-Grand-ma (When They
Were Young) 127

A Photo Printing Frame 131

An Easily Made Pin-hole Camera 135

The Pin-hole Camera Complete with Cloth and Rubber Bands 137

Two Cheap and Good Cameras 139

A Home-made Enlarging Apparatus 141

A Home-made Enlarging Apparatus 143

A Home-made Enlarging Apparatus 144

A Cheaply Made Reflectoscope 145

A Cross Section Top View of the Reflectoscope 146

The Reflectoscope Ready for Use 147

The Parts of a Home-made Magic Lantern 149

The Magic Lantern Ready for Use 150

A Photograph of a Coin Made with Radium 152

One Way to Catch a Cod 155

How Caricatures are Made 156

A Model Self-inking Printing Press 159

An Outfit for a Model Press 162

The Parts of a Type 165

How the Type Cases are Arranged 167

The Upper Case 168

The Lower Case 168

How to Hold a Composing Stick 169

Putting a Stick of Type in the Chase 170

Tools for Locking Up a Chase 171

A Frame for Paper Making 177

How to Cut Boards and Cloth for Book Binding 179

Sewing on the Muslin Flap 180

The Bound Book Complete 181

The Matrix Frame, Chase and Boards for Making Rubber Stamps 184

The Type in the Chase. Plaster of Paris Impression in the Matrix
Frame 186

The Matrix with the Rubber Gum in Place Ready to Vulcanize 187

The Rubber Stamp Ready to Use 188

Pulling an Impression from the Copygraph 191

First Steps in Making a Badge 192

The Badge on a Flat-iron in a Vise. Sinking in the Letters 193

Steel Letters and Figures for Die Sinking 194

Last Steps in Making a Badge 195

A Burning Brand of Iron or Copper 197

Stencil Letters and Stencils 199

Glass Cutters 204

The Right Way to Hold a Diamond Point Glass Cutter 205

How to Cut a Pane of Glass 205

A Cutter for Glass Tubes 207

A Circular Glass Cutter 208

Kinds of Bunsen Burners 210

Bordering the End of a Tube 211

Sealing Off the End of a Tube 212

How to Make a Hole in a Tube 212

Welding Two Tubes Together. Making a T Tube 213

A Regular Blow-Pipe 214

Cross Section of a Home-made Blow-pipe 215

The Glass Blowing Arrangement Ready to Use 216

A Regular Foot Bellows 217

First Steps in Blowing a Glass Bulb 218

Making a Thick Ring of Glass 218

Last Step in Blowing a Glass Bulb 219

Part of the Apparatus for Sand Blast Etching 220

Sand Blast Apparatus Put Together Ready for Etching 221

Etching Glass with Acid 223

A Policeman’s Puzzle, or Now Will You Be Good 228

Plans for the Automobile Truck 229

The Automobile Truck Ready to Run 230

Plans for a Swell Coaster 231

The Coaster Ready to Ride On 232

Plans for the Nifty Wheelbarrow. The Barrow Ready to Wheel 234

Plans for the High-low Swing 236

The Swing Ready to Swing Low, Swing High 237

Ride a Stick Horse to Banbury Cross 238

Plans for a Pony and Cart. The Pony and Cart When Done 240

How the Life-like Goose is Made 241

Goosie, Goosie Gander, Where Shall I Wander 242

The Dancing Sambo 243

The Mechanism of the Dancing Sambo 244

The Wireless Pup, the Slot in the Floor of the Dog House 245

The Back End of the Dog House 246

The Spanker with Electric Solenoid Control 247

Cross Section Side View of the Wireless Pup Ready for Action 248

The Front End View of the Wireless Pup House 249

When You Call the Wireless Pup or Clap Your Hands He Comes Out of
His Dog House in a Hurry 250

The Musical Coin 253

How to Hold the Musical Coin to Spin It 254

The Chopin Tomato Can 255

The Musical Glasses 257

The Harp of a Thousand Thrills 258

How to Play the Harp 259

Parts of a Musical Push Pipe 261

How the Push Pipe is Played 263

A Xylophone. The Bars are Made of Wood 264

A Tubaphone. The Bars are Made of Metal Tubes 265

The Cathedral Chimes 266

The Harp of Aeolus 268

Plans for an Egyptian Fiddle 271

How the Bow is Made 272

How the Fiddle is Played 273

How an Easel is Made 276

First Principles of Cartooning 278

Three Simple Cartoons that You Can Do 279

The Oracle of Amor, or Are You in Love? 280

The Mystic Fountain 282

Making Hydrogen Chloride Gas 283

The Vicious Soap Bubbles 285

The Uncanny Wheel 287

The Electrified Papers 291

A Simple Wireless Demonstration Set 294

Cross Section of the Coherer Showing Its Construction 295

The Parts of the Hand Named According to Science 296

The Parts of the Hand Named According to Palmistry 298

Working Drawings for the Demonstration Steam Engine. Cross Section
Side View of the Engine 302

End View of the Engine. The Crank Shaft. The Rocker Arm 304

Top View of the Engine 306

The Steam Engine Ready to Demonstrate 309

HANDICRAFT FOR BOYS