THE PYROTECHNIST'S TREASURY. ROMAN CANDLES. TO MAKE A ROMAN CANDLE. inches PROCURE a straight piece of brass tube, of an inch external diameter, and 16 long. Saw or file off a piece, 1 inch long, fig. 1. This is for the star former, and is drawn of the correct size. In the other piece, of 15 inches, fix a fig. 7. handle, as shown, in diminutive, in This is for the case former. It should be filed smooth at the end. Take another piece of brass tube or of an inch external diameter, and about 16 inches long. In this also fix a handle, Invert it, and or fix it into a handle, fig. 4. set it upright in a flower-pot, filled with sand or loose mould. Melt some lead in a ladle, and pour it slowly into the tube, leaving room for the air to escape up the side, till it is full. If the lead is poured in rapidly, the confined air, expanding, jerks the metal B up, and may cause serious injury. A pound or more of lead will be required. When cold, drive the end of the lead in with a hammer, and file it smooth. This is for a rammer. Take a piece of deal, fig. 6, about 12 inches long, 6 broad, and thick; and, on the top, screw a handle, like one on a copper-lid, or black-lead brush. This is for a rolling-board. An iron door-handle would serve, and may be obtained at any ironmonger's, for about 2d. or 3d. A wooden one, however, about an inch thick, not cylindrical, but slightly flat, and rounded at the edges, is preferable, as it gives more purchase for the hand. Cut a piece of tin, or zinc, or thin board, into the shape of fig. 8, in which the distance between the arms a and b, across the dotted line, shall be of an inch. This is for a gauge, with which to measure the external diameter of the case. Write upon it," space." Procure some 60 lb., 70 lb., or 84 lb. imperial brown paper: the size of a sheet will be 29 inches by 221. Cut a sheet into 4 equal parts, each 14 by 11: paste the 4 pieces on one side, and lay them one on another, with the pasted face upwards, putting the fourth piece with the pasted side downwards, upon the pasted side of the third piece. Turn them over take off the now top piece, and lay it flat on the near edge of a table, pasted side upwards. Take the former, fig. 7, and paste the tube all over. Lay it along the edge of the paper, bend the paper over with the fingers of both hands, and roll it tightly up, until the external diameter of the case about fits the gauge, fig. 8. If the paper should be too long, of course a piece must be cut off; if it should not be long enough, more must be added, taking care to bind in the second piece with 3 or 4 inches of the first piece; for if the whole of the first piece be rolled up before beginning the second, the latter, when dry, will probably slip off, and spoil the case. The case having been rolled up, take the handle of the former in the left hand, lay the case flat on the near side of the table, take the rolling-board, fig 6, in the right hand, press the front part of it on the case, and drive it forwards 5 or 6 times, like a jack-plane, letting the handle of the former slip round in the left hand. This will tighten the case, and render it, when dry, as hard as a book-cover. |