hes for small fine work, some
hooks for the stove, a pair of pliers, a few bits of broom handle cut
into short lengths and made taper, so as to fit into the tubes, etc.,
of bicycles and other work, so as to keep the hands as free from the
japan as possible, some emery powder, pumice-stone powder, tripoli,
putty powder, whiting, and a piece of felt or cloth. If he is also
doing any common work, a stumpy brush of bristles and a soft leather
will also be requisite, together with a file or two. These will about
comprise the whole of the articles required, not very expensive, all
of which will really not be required by a beginner.

Owing largely to the strides made in the cycle trade enamelling is
stoved by means of gas, and of this a plentiful supply is necessary.
Enamelling stoves may really be described as hot-air cupboards or
ovens, and for a stove which will answer most requirements--say one of
6 feet by 6 feet by 3-1/2 feet--six rows of atmospheric burners will
be necessary to heat it, while it will be also advisable to fix pipes
of 1-1/4 inch internal diameter from the gas meter to the stove. The
atmospheric burners can be made from the requisite number of pieces of
1-1/4-inch gas tube 3-1/2 feet in length, one end of each being
stopped, and having 1/3-inch holes drilled therein at intervals of
about 1 inch, the other end being left open for the insertion of
ordinary 3/8-inch brass gas taps. Another plan preferred by some
japanners is to have three rows of burners the full length of the
stove, which, under some circumstances, due to structural conditions,
will be found more suitable. Anyway, whatever the position of the
stove, allowance must be made for a temperature up to 400 deg. F. to be
raised. In old-fashioned ovens the heat is applied by means of
external flues, in which hot air or steam is circulated, but this
system is generally unsatisfactory, the supply of heat having to be
controlled by dampers or stop-cocks, and this has given place to the
gas apparatus. Another simple form of oven, though not one which I
shall recommend, is a species of sheet-iron box, which is encased by
another and larger box of the same shape, so placed that from 2 to 3
inches of interspace exists between the two boxes. To this interspace
heat is applied, and a flue will have to be affixed to this apparatus
to carry off the vapours which arise from the enamel or japan. For
amateur or intermittent jobbing work the oven illustrated in Fi