cal care of solder are listed
below.

CARE OF 1/2 AND 1/2 SOLDER.--

_First_, do not drop melted solder on the floor or dirty bench.

_Second_, use all small ends by melting on a new bar.

_Third_, put clean paper under work and use droppings.

_Fourth_, have the mold free from dirt when pouring.

CARE OF WIPING SOLDER.--

_First_, do not heat red hot.

_Second_, do not file brass where the filings will get into the
solder.

_Third_, do not allow lead chips to get into the solder.

_Fourth_, clean the solder occasionally.

_Fifth_, learn to distinguish solder from lead by its hardness.

_Sixth_, have different-shaped pot for lead and solder.

_Seventh_, do not _tin_ brass by dipping into solder.

_Eighth_, do not put cold or wet ladle into hot solder.

A pot holding about 15 pounds of solder is the size commonly in
use.

CHAPTER IV

MAKING AND CARE OF WIPING CLOTHS

A good wiping cloth is essential for wiping joints. The exact size
and the flexibility of the cloth depend a great deal upon the
mechanic who handles the cloth. Some mechanics like a stiff cloth,
but the writer has always used a flexible cloth. The sizes, shape,
and methods of folding and breaking in as shown in Fig. 21 below
have proved successful. Cloths made of whalebone ticking are
inexpensive and make the best for ordinary use.

[Illustration: FIG. 21.--Folding a wiping cloth.]

Size of cloth open Size of cloth folded
14-1/2 by 14-1/2 inches equals 3-1/4 by 3-1/4 inches
13-1/2 by 13-1/2 inches equals 3 by 3 inches
8-1/2 by 12-1/2 inches equals 2 by 3 inches

For the joint-wiping jobs to follow, the above sizes are the best.
The largest size, 14-1/2 by 14-1/2 inches is used for _catch
cloth_. The 13-1/2 by 13-1/2 inches is the _wiping cloth_. The
8-1/2 by 12-1/2 inches is the _branch cloth_.

Proceed as follows to cut and complete a cloth:

_First_, lay the ticking on the flat bench and square the sides
14-1/2 by 14-1/2 inches.

_Second_, the ticking should be cut off with shears and not torn
or cut with a knife.

_Third_, fold as shown in the cut.

Each fold should be moistened with a little water and pressed with
a hot iron. The cloth should not be pulled or stretched, but should
be kept as square as possible.

The first and second folds require a little care; t