** How to Make a Pocket Skate Sharpener [166]

Secure a square file and break off a piece, Fig 1, the length of a paper clip, Fig. 2.  Draw the temper in the ends of this piece of file, but do not heat the center.  This can be done by wrapping a wet piece of cloth or asbestos around the middle and holding it in the jaws of a pair of tongs which will only leave the end uncovered and projecting from the tongs about 1/2 in.  Hold this projecting end in a flame of a plumber’s torch until it is a dull red.  Allow this to cool slowly while in the tongs.  When cold treat the other end in the same way.  This will draw the temper in only the ends which are filed, as shown in Fig. 1, and holes drilled in them.  Also drill a hole in each end of the spring on the paper clip to match those drilled in the piece of file.  Fasten the file in the clip with small bolts, as shown in Fig. 3.  When the file gets filled with filings it can be removed and cleaned.  Place the runner of the skate in the clip and hold flat on the surface of the runner.  If the piece of file is fitted to the same width as the skate runner the sides of the paper clip will hold the file level with the surface of the runner without any trouble.  Push the clip back and forth until the skate is sharpened.

[Illustration:  Sharpener for Skates]

** Old-Time Magic [167]

** Trick with a Coin in a Wine Glass [167]

The accompanying sketch shows a. trick of removing a dime from the bottom of an old fashioned wine glass without touching the coin.  The dime is first placed in the bottom of the glass and then a silver quarter dropped in on top.  The quarter will not go all the way down.  Blow hard into the glass in the position shown and the dime will fly out and strike the blower on the nose.

[Illustration:  Coin Trick]

** Untying-a-Knot Trick [167]

Tie a double knot in a silk handkerchief, as shown in the accompanying sketch and tighten the last tie a little by slightly drawing the two upper ends; then continue to tighten much more, pulling vigorously at the first corner of the handkerchief, and as this end belongs to the same corner it cannot be pulled much without loosening the twisted line of the knot to become a straight line.  The other corner forms a slip knot on the end, which can be drawn out without disturbing the form, or apparent security of the knot, at the moment when you cover the knot with the unused part of the handkerchief.  When the trick is to be performed, tie two or three very hard knots that are tightly drawn and show your audience that they are not easy to untie.  The slip knot as described then must be made in apparently the same way

[Illustration:  Knot Trick]

and untied with the thumb while the knot is in the folds of the handkerchief.

** Gear-Cutting Attachment for Small Lathes [167]

When in need of small gears for experimental or model machines the amateur usually purchases them, never thinking that he could make them on his own lathe.  A small attachment can be made to fasten in the tool post of a lathe and the attachment made to take a mandrel on which to place the blank for cutting a gear.  The frame is made from a 1/2 in. square iron bent as shown in the sketch with the