The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Care And Repair Of The House

If the boards on the first floor can not be driven down by either of these methods, it might be advisable to drive a thin strip of wood between the bottom of the flooring and the top of the joist, or to nail a cleat of wood to the side of the joist sufficiently high to support the flooring and eliminate the play. This nailing can be done from the basement.

2. RELIEVING A STICKING DRAWER

Damp weather often causes drawers to stick and overloading of drawers sometimes makes them warp and bind.

The wood in the drawer and in the adjoining partitions swells as a result of absorbing moisture. The paint or varnish may also become soft and sticky during prolonged wet spells. Some woods also become warped, and overloading of drawers makes them difficult to open.

Tools.

Plane.

Materials.

Small quantity of paraffin.

Remove the drawer and lay it on a work bench or on the floor and plane the bottom edges or the sides until the drawer slides in and out readily. Never plane the top edges, as this would spoil the appearance when the drawer is open. Then apply paraffin to the runways and to the bottom edges of the drawer to make it run smoothly.

3. HOW TO MAKE A MITER BOX

For sawing molding, weather strips, bridging strips, or small sized lumber where diagonal ends are desired, the best and quickest work is done with a miter box. The ordinary miter box is a 3-sided, or trough-shaped box, having both ends open, and with slits cut down through the sides to guide the saw. (See fig. 30.)

There are many kinds and grades of adjustable metal boxes on the market, which are desirable, but for occasional use in home repairs, a homemade wooden box will prove satisfactory and is quickly and easily made.