Wednesday, March 18, 2015
How to Make a Crossbow Out of Wood
In making of this crossbow it is best to use maple for the stock, but if this wood cannot be procured, good straight-grained pine will do. The material must be 1-1/2 in. thick, 6 in. wide and a trifle over 3 ft. long.
The bow is made from straight-grained oak, ash, or hickory, 5/8 in. thick, 1 in. wide and 3 ft. long. A piece of oak, 3/8 in. thick, 1-1/2 in. wide and 6 ft. long, will be sufficient to make the trigger, spring and arrows. A piece of tin, some nails and a good cord will complete the materials necessary to make the crossbow.
Details of the Bow-Gun and Arrow Sling
The piece of maple or pine selected for the stock must be planed and sandpapered on both sides, and then marked and cut as shown in Fig. 1. A groove is cut for the arrows in the top straight edge 3/8 in. wide and 3/8 in. deep. The tin is bent and fastened on the wood at the back end of the groove where the cord slips out of the notch; this is to keep the edges from splitting.
A mortise is cut for the bow at a point 9-1/2 in. from the end of the stock, and one for the trigger 12 in. from the opposite end, which should be slanting a little as shown by the dotted lines. A spring, Fig. 2, is made from a good piece of oak and fastened to the stock with two screws. The trigger, Fig. 3, which is 1/4 in. thick, is inserted in the mortise in the position when pulled back, and adjusted so as to raise the spring to the proper height, and then a pin is put through both stock and trigger, having the latter swing quite freely. When the trigger is pulled, it lifts the spring up, which in turn lifts the cord off the tin notch.
The stick for the bow, Fig. 4, is dressed down from a point 3/4 in. on each side of the center line to 1/2 in. wide at each end. Notches are cut in the ends for the cord. The bow is not fastened in the stock, it is wrapped with a piece of canvas 1-1/2 in. wide on the center line to make a tight fit in the mortise. A stout cord is now tied in the notches cut in the ends of the bow making the cord taut when the wood is straight.
The design of the arrows is shown in Fig. 5 and they are made with the blades much thinner than the round part.
To shoot the crossbow, pull the cord back and down in the notch as shown in Fig. 6, place the arrow in the groove, sight and pull the trigger as in shooting an ordinary gun.
The arrow sling is made from a branch of ash about 1/2 in. in diameter, the bark removed and a notch cut in one end, as shown in Fig. 7. A stout cord about 2-1/2 ft. long is tied in the notch and a large knot made in the other or loose end. The arrows are practically the same as those used on the crossbow, with the exception of a small notch which is cut in them as shown in Fig. 8.
To throw the arrow, insert the cord near the knot in the notch of the arrow, then grasping the stick with the right hand and holding the wing of the arrow with the left, as shown in Fig. 9, throw the arrow with a quick slinging motion. The arrow may be thrown several hundred feet after a little practice.
—Contributed by O. E. Trownes, Wilmette, Ill.
Excerpt from the book:
THE BOY MECHANIC
VOLUME I
700 THINGS FOR BOYS TO DO
WITH 800 ILLUSTRATIONS
1913, BY H. H. WINDSOR CHICAGO
POPULAR MECHANICS CO. PUBLISHERS
Read more »
The bow is made from straight-grained oak, ash, or hickory, 5/8 in. thick, 1 in. wide and 3 ft. long. A piece of oak, 3/8 in. thick, 1-1/2 in. wide and 6 ft. long, will be sufficient to make the trigger, spring and arrows. A piece of tin, some nails and a good cord will complete the materials necessary to make the crossbow.
Details of the Bow-Gun and Arrow Sling
The piece of maple or pine selected for the stock must be planed and sandpapered on both sides, and then marked and cut as shown in Fig. 1. A groove is cut for the arrows in the top straight edge 3/8 in. wide and 3/8 in. deep. The tin is bent and fastened on the wood at the back end of the groove where the cord slips out of the notch; this is to keep the edges from splitting.
A mortise is cut for the bow at a point 9-1/2 in. from the end of the stock, and one for the trigger 12 in. from the opposite end, which should be slanting a little as shown by the dotted lines. A spring, Fig. 2, is made from a good piece of oak and fastened to the stock with two screws. The trigger, Fig. 3, which is 1/4 in. thick, is inserted in the mortise in the position when pulled back, and adjusted so as to raise the spring to the proper height, and then a pin is put through both stock and trigger, having the latter swing quite freely. When the trigger is pulled, it lifts the spring up, which in turn lifts the cord off the tin notch.
The stick for the bow, Fig. 4, is dressed down from a point 3/4 in. on each side of the center line to 1/2 in. wide at each end. Notches are cut in the ends for the cord. The bow is not fastened in the stock, it is wrapped with a piece of canvas 1-1/2 in. wide on the center line to make a tight fit in the mortise. A stout cord is now tied in the notches cut in the ends of the bow making the cord taut when the wood is straight.
The design of the arrows is shown in Fig. 5 and they are made with the blades much thinner than the round part.
To shoot the crossbow, pull the cord back and down in the notch as shown in Fig. 6, place the arrow in the groove, sight and pull the trigger as in shooting an ordinary gun.
The arrow sling is made from a branch of ash about 1/2 in. in diameter, the bark removed and a notch cut in one end, as shown in Fig. 7. A stout cord about 2-1/2 ft. long is tied in the notch and a large knot made in the other or loose end. The arrows are practically the same as those used on the crossbow, with the exception of a small notch which is cut in them as shown in Fig. 8.
To throw the arrow, insert the cord near the knot in the notch of the arrow, then grasping the stick with the right hand and holding the wing of the arrow with the left, as shown in Fig. 9, throw the arrow with a quick slinging motion. The arrow may be thrown several hundred feet after a little practice.
—Contributed by O. E. Trownes, Wilmette, Ill.
Excerpt from the book:
THE BOY MECHANIC
VOLUME I
700 THINGS FOR BOYS TO DO
WITH 800 ILLUSTRATIONS
1913, BY H. H. WINDSOR CHICAGO
POPULAR MECHANICS CO. PUBLISHERS
The Monkey and the Crocodile Jataka tales in English
A Monkey lived in a great tree on a river bank.
In the river there were many Crocodiles.
A Crocodile watched the Monkeys for a long time, and one day she said to her son:
"My son, get one of those Monkeys for me. I want the heart of a Monkey to eat."
"How am I to catch a Monkey?" asked the little Crocodile.
"I do not travel on land, and the Monkey does not go into the water."
"Put your wits to work, and youll find a way," said the mother.
And the little Crocodile thought and thought.
At last he said to himself:
"I know what Ill do.
Ill get that Monkey that lives in a big tree on the river bank.
He will wish to go across the river to the island where the fruit is so ripe."
So the Crocodile swam to the tree where the Monkey lived.
But he was a stupid Crocodile.
"Oh, Monkey," he called, "come with me over to the island where the fruit is so ripe."
"How can I go with you?" asked the Monkey.
"I do not swim."
"No—but I do. I will take you over on my back," said the Crocodile.
The Monkey was greedy, and wanted the ripe fruit, so he jumped down on the Crocodiles back.
"Off we go!" said the Crocodile.
"This is a fine ride you are giving me!" said the Monkey.
"Do you think so? Well, how do you like this?" asked the Crocodile, diving.
"Oh, dont!" cried the Monkey, as he went under the water.
He was afraid to let go, and he did not know what to do under the water.
When the Crocodile came up, the Monkey sputtered and choked.
"Why did you take me underwater, Crocodile?" he asked.
"I am going to kill you by keeping you underwater," answered the Crocodile.
"My mother wants the heart of a Monkey to eat, and Im going to take yours to her."
"I wish you had told me you wanted my heart," said the Monkey, "then I might have brought it with me."
"How queer!" said the stupid Crocodile.
"Do you mean to say that you left your heart back there in the tree?"
"That is what I mean," said the Monkey.
"If you want my heart, we must go back to the tree and get it.
But we are so near the island where the ripe fruit is, please take me there first."
"No, Monkey," said the Crocodile, "Ill take you straight back to your tree.
Never mind the ripe fruit.
Get your heart and bring it to me at once. Then well see about going to the island."
"Very well," said the Monkey.
But no sooner had he jumped onto the bank of the river than—whisk! up he ran into the tree.
From the topmost branches he called down to the Crocodile in the water below:
"My heart is way up here! If you want it, come for it, come for it!"
Read more »
In the river there were many Crocodiles.
A Crocodile watched the Monkeys for a long time, and one day she said to her son:
"My son, get one of those Monkeys for me. I want the heart of a Monkey to eat."
"How am I to catch a Monkey?" asked the little Crocodile.
"I do not travel on land, and the Monkey does not go into the water."
"Put your wits to work, and youll find a way," said the mother.
And the little Crocodile thought and thought.
At last he said to himself:
"I know what Ill do.
Ill get that Monkey that lives in a big tree on the river bank.
He will wish to go across the river to the island where the fruit is so ripe."
So the Crocodile swam to the tree where the Monkey lived.
But he was a stupid Crocodile.
"Oh, Monkey," he called, "come with me over to the island where the fruit is so ripe."
"How can I go with you?" asked the Monkey.
"I do not swim."
"No—but I do. I will take you over on my back," said the Crocodile.
The Monkey was greedy, and wanted the ripe fruit, so he jumped down on the Crocodiles back.
"Off we go!" said the Crocodile.
"This is a fine ride you are giving me!" said the Monkey.
"Do you think so? Well, how do you like this?" asked the Crocodile, diving.
"Oh, dont!" cried the Monkey, as he went under the water.
He was afraid to let go, and he did not know what to do under the water.
When the Crocodile came up, the Monkey sputtered and choked.
"Why did you take me underwater, Crocodile?" he asked.
"I am going to kill you by keeping you underwater," answered the Crocodile.
"My mother wants the heart of a Monkey to eat, and Im going to take yours to her."
"I wish you had told me you wanted my heart," said the Monkey, "then I might have brought it with me."
"How queer!" said the stupid Crocodile.
"Do you mean to say that you left your heart back there in the tree?"
"That is what I mean," said the Monkey.
"If you want my heart, we must go back to the tree and get it.
But we are so near the island where the ripe fruit is, please take me there first."
"No, Monkey," said the Crocodile, "Ill take you straight back to your tree.
Never mind the ripe fruit.
Get your heart and bring it to me at once. Then well see about going to the island."
"Very well," said the Monkey.
But no sooner had he jumped onto the bank of the river than—whisk! up he ran into the tree.
From the topmost branches he called down to the Crocodile in the water below:
"My heart is way up here! If you want it, come for it, come for it!"
High density Housing for Bryozoans
This beautifully geometric piece of natural architecture is produced by the animal commonly called the sea-mat and scientifically known as a bryozoan (which means moss-animal). This particular species is Membranipora membranacea and I picked it up yesterday, in a rock-pool on the seashore at Seaburn, near Sunderland.
Membranipora forms extensive, fast-growing colonies resembling a lacy mat, that spread over the surface of kelp fronds. Its common on all coasts around Britain and has been introduced into shallow seas in other parts of the world where there is some concern that its rapid rate of growth could suppress the reproduction of some marine algae.
Each calcareous compartment, secreted by the animal inside, contains an individual animal (zooid) that extends a feeding arm called a lophophore, for filtering out plankton.
The zooids retract into a tube within their walled enclosure at the slighest hint of danger but when theyre all extended they resemble a garden of transparent flowers, gently waving their arms..
Each walled enclosure has a small tower at the junction with its neighbours walls and ......
....there are often gaps in the walls, which give the colony a degree of flexibility as the supporting kelp frond bends in the sea currents. The gaps tend to be most conspicuous in older sections of the colony.
There are at least two kinds of zooid - the flower-shaped feeding lophophores and these translucent cylindrical forms.
Im not sure what their function is but my guess is that they provide additional surface area for oxygen uptake or maybe waste disposal.
You can find out more about bryozoans here or take a look for yourself - these are low-power micrographs (maximum magnification x50) but you can see the living zooids with a hand lens if you put a piece of the colony in a shallow dish of seawater. You can find them all year-round and fine specimens are often attached to kelps that are washed up on beaches after storms.
Daedalus and Icarus Myth Greek Mythology Legends
Daedalus, a descendant of Erechtheus, was an Athenian architect, sculptor, and mechanician. He was the first to introduce the art of sculpture in its higher development, for before his time statues were merely rude representations, having the limbs altogether undefined.
But great as was his genius, still greater was his vanity, and he could brook no rival. Now his nephew and pupil, Talus, exhibited great talent, having invented both the saw and the compass, and Dædalus, fearing lest he might overshadow his own fame, secretly killed him by throwing him down from the citadel of Pallas-Athene. The murder being discovered, Dædalus was summoned before the court of the Areopagus and condemned to death; but he made his escape to the island of Crete, where he was received by king Minos in a manner worthy of his great reputation.
Dædalus constructed for the king the world-renowned labyrinth, which was an immense building, full of intricate passages, intersecting each other in such a manner, that even Dædalus himself is said, upon one occasion, to have nearly lost his way in it; and it was in this building the king placed the Minotaur, a monster with the head and shoulders of a bull and the body of a man.
In the course of time the great artist became weary of his long exile, more especially as the king, under the guise of friendship, kept him almost a prisoner. He therefore resolved to make his escape, and for this purpose ingeniously contrived wings for himself and his young son Icarus, whom he diligently trained how to use them. Having awaited a favourable opportunity, father and son commenced their flight, and were well on their way when Icarus, pleased with the novel sensation, forgot altogether his fathers oft-repeated injunction not to approach too near the sun. The consequence was that the wax, by means of which his wings were attached, melted, and he fell into the sea and was drowned. The body of the unfortunate Icarus was washed up by the tide, and was buried by the bereaved father on an island which he called after his son, Icaria.
After this sad event, Dædalus winged his flight to the island of Sicily, where he met with a kind welcome from king Cocalus, for whom he constructed several important public works. But no sooner did Minos receive the intelligence that his great architect had found an asylum with Cocalus than he sailed over to Sicily with a large army, and sent messengers to the Sicilian king demanding the surrender of his guest. Cocalus feigned compliance and invited Minos to his palace, where he was treacherously put to death in a warm bath. The body of their king was brought to Agrigent by the Cretans, where it was buried with great pomp, and over his tomb a temple to Aphrodite was erected.
Dædalus passed the remainder of his life tranquilly in the island of Sicily, where he occupied himself in the construction of various beautiful works of art.
Text:
Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome
Author: E.M. Berens
Published: 1880
The Project Gutenberg E-Book
Produced by Alicia Williams, Keith Edkins and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Read more »
But great as was his genius, still greater was his vanity, and he could brook no rival. Now his nephew and pupil, Talus, exhibited great talent, having invented both the saw and the compass, and Dædalus, fearing lest he might overshadow his own fame, secretly killed him by throwing him down from the citadel of Pallas-Athene. The murder being discovered, Dædalus was summoned before the court of the Areopagus and condemned to death; but he made his escape to the island of Crete, where he was received by king Minos in a manner worthy of his great reputation.
Dædalus constructed for the king the world-renowned labyrinth, which was an immense building, full of intricate passages, intersecting each other in such a manner, that even Dædalus himself is said, upon one occasion, to have nearly lost his way in it; and it was in this building the king placed the Minotaur, a monster with the head and shoulders of a bull and the body of a man.
In the course of time the great artist became weary of his long exile, more especially as the king, under the guise of friendship, kept him almost a prisoner. He therefore resolved to make his escape, and for this purpose ingeniously contrived wings for himself and his young son Icarus, whom he diligently trained how to use them. Having awaited a favourable opportunity, father and son commenced their flight, and were well on their way when Icarus, pleased with the novel sensation, forgot altogether his fathers oft-repeated injunction not to approach too near the sun. The consequence was that the wax, by means of which his wings were attached, melted, and he fell into the sea and was drowned. The body of the unfortunate Icarus was washed up by the tide, and was buried by the bereaved father on an island which he called after his son, Icaria.
After this sad event, Dædalus winged his flight to the island of Sicily, where he met with a kind welcome from king Cocalus, for whom he constructed several important public works. But no sooner did Minos receive the intelligence that his great architect had found an asylum with Cocalus than he sailed over to Sicily with a large army, and sent messengers to the Sicilian king demanding the surrender of his guest. Cocalus feigned compliance and invited Minos to his palace, where he was treacherously put to death in a warm bath. The body of their king was brought to Agrigent by the Cretans, where it was buried with great pomp, and over his tomb a temple to Aphrodite was erected.
Dædalus passed the remainder of his life tranquilly in the island of Sicily, where he occupied himself in the construction of various beautiful works of art.
Text:
Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome
Author: E.M. Berens
Published: 1880
The Project Gutenberg E-Book
Produced by Alicia Williams, Keith Edkins and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
SUDDAHAM CHORU PODUM CLEANLINESS IS GODLINESS
SUDDAHAM CHORU PODUM
Dear friends
The reason for selecting the topic is there is a saying "suddham choru podum" which I feel 100% correct. If we are neat, we will get fed. Neatness brings a gracious look to our homes.
I could always see an Old lady staying near our house doing some cleaning, mostly with brooms. She is a widower for the past more than 2 decades and living alone though she has well settled children and grandchildren. Gardening too makes the premises neat. I try to use my spare times for maximum possible cleaning and gardening. It is a cultivated habit. Let me go in to cleaning.
1. Coconut brooms
The earliest cleaning equipment is broom made out of coconut leaves. The central stem of the healthy and long leaves is used to make the broom. Mostly while coconuts are plucked thandan will cut 3 or 4 outer matals also from the tree from which the leaves are taken. Removing the leaves from the stem is an art. The stem is called Eerkil in Malayalam. Broom is called "Chool" and in Tamil " Thudappam.
After getting sufficient stems, which could well hold with in Hand, arranged for length, bottom is trimmed and tied firmly with a string. The other end is also trimmed.
These coconut brooms could not be replaced with any other substitute so far. All houses irrespective of its posh ness require one broom with in house. With all granite, marble, and fine tiles, to kill insects like Pazhuthara (Pooran), Cockroach etc which make sudden appearance, every body search for coconut brooms rather than for cleaning!!!
Lengthy Coconut brooms were once the cleaning equipment inside. Now too in houses with cement flooring coconut broom is used for cleaning. When it gets somewhere and tear after a months use it is used to clean out side and when 30% worn out it is called Kutti chool. This is used for cleaning compound and out side.
Today the kuttichool find its application in cleaning compounds, water tank, and sumps in the house.
Builders for all there use the fresh coconut brooms with a good trimming cleaning works. In practice 70% of the coconut workers use brooms and now if we require a coconut broom, we have to go to Hardware shop mostly.
2. Flower broom (Poomthudappam)
These types of brooms are made from the flowers with long stems of a variety of Palmirah type tree. It has its origin in Maharashtra and widely available in Chennai. It comes with convenient length, and best suited for polished floors like Granite and Marble and tiles.
This broom sweeps away the tiny dusts too. However the lacuna is it cannot be used for outside compound cleaning or street cleaning or even more wastes areas like a marriage hall. The flower broom will simply break. The life period is approximately three months. Once used it has to be thrown away.
The broom is available in different forms. The one fixed with wooden handle and flowers stitched to bottom fitting is more suitable for offices, shops, hospitals etc.
3. Fibre brooms
For toilet cleaning an experimented model of fibre brooms are available. It looks neat and tidy but suitable only for bathroom. It is lengthy and only about 2 feet in length.
4. Chooral brooms
The brooms made by using split choral for cleaning fitted with long handle and stitched to bottom of a handle and spreaded for above one foot is mostly used by Muncipal workers to remove rough objects from the streets put as waste from our houses. Though costly, it is convenient and some times available in shops also.
5. Fibre brooms with long handle for cleaning
In markets now a day available fibre brooms with long handle, fibre fitted in a similar fashion like choral broom. I have purchased this for use, but found not as good as choral broom.
6. Fibre and Nylon brushed brooms
In markets now a day available fibre and Nylon bushed brooms with long handle, Brush made to size of 8"x 2" is fitted to a long handle. I have purchased this for use, and found excellent for granite, marble and tiled floorings. When lady servant is not available I make use of it. But it can be used only for cleaning floor. Not for lofts or cupboards.
7. Universal coconut broom
Like universal port and adapter of my laptop, coconut broom find application every where. Good quality coconut brooms can be used in granite flooring also.
8. What broom used before sage Viswamithra
I have read coconut tree is the invention of sage Viswamithra. Before him generations were there. I get a doubt what was the material used earlier to him.
9. Keeping brooms
Though broom is doing all cleaning, still broom is a favour of Alakshmi. Alakshmi is the elder sister of Lakshmi. Lakshmi appeared along with nectar. Alakshmi appeared along with Kalakooda poison. Keeping brooms in the front of house is felt inauspicious. Normally brooms are kept by the inner side of door in work area for inside use and at the back side for outside use.
Some keep broom inside a shelf below wash basin.
10. Alakshmi in House
Whatever it is one good quality coconut broom will be available in a convenient access position. There is saying there is no Lekshmi with out Alekshmi. Suddham is there if asuddham is cleared. Darkness getting cleared is light. We have to make some provision for Alekshmi also every where.
11. Cobweb stick
Cobweb stick is a close cousin of broom. To remove the cobweb it is essential and no house can be with out having co web. Earlier cobweb stick was sold through streets. It is normally made out of coconut fibre fitted to top of a bamboo stick. Now a day fibre has changed to nylon and stick has changed to aluminum with flexibility of adjusting length. This is more handy and nice looking comparing to old model. But it is more fragile.
12. Muram
Muram is an essential item. However it is of two types One for spreading things for drying. Normally chillies, dhalls, etc for drying are kept on it. This type of muram square in shape and made of cut Panambu or chooral is made use by sasthrikals too. For many samskaras this type of muram is essential.
It is the other type, smaller and one side slope is used for cleaning. Now a day this type of muram is available in plastic, fibre and metal. The metal ones made steel are the best. Next come fibre type. The waste cleaned with brooms has to be taken in Muram for taking to out side. Hence Muram is an essential companion with broom. One special broom and muram has to be kept, inside, best being in our new houses in the cabin below wash basin.
13. Sakunam and direction
Both Muram and broom are bad omen. There is a saying brooms should not be grouped. Quarrels will be there in the house. Muram also should not be kept slanting.
But irrespective of position of Muram and broom, quarrels do occur in a family. It is because of Alekshmi. These aggravate the quarrels. So it is preferable to keep them separate and not slanting the muram.
14. Dust bin and mop.
In olden days the dustbin idea was not there. Moping was done with cloth. Now ready made mops are available in shops. Dust bins of different models also. We make now day rooms neat by keeping waste things in waste box. The municipality collects waste and dispose, in Chennai. Every day they come in morning, collect wastes and they are given a monthly charge.
15. Keeping cleaning items
Now a day with flat system and neat houses, where to keep these things is and make an asthetic look is a problem. Bed rooms, dining rooms, Halls are barred to keep these. The only area is work area, which too now our women want to keep neat to look. The mop, cobweb stick, outside cleaning and tank cleaning coconut brooms… If outside has to look neat, then where to keep these cleaning items? ….
I have made a cup board in the 1st floor below a stair case. It has partially solved the problem. But it is inconvenient every time to go , open and take and specially keep back.
Dear friends
The reason for selecting the topic is there is a saying "suddham choru podum" which I feel 100% correct. If we are neat, we will get fed. Neatness brings a gracious look to our homes.
I could always see an Old lady staying near our house doing some cleaning, mostly with brooms. She is a widower for the past more than 2 decades and living alone though she has well settled children and grandchildren. Gardening too makes the premises neat. I try to use my spare times for maximum possible cleaning and gardening. It is a cultivated habit. Let me go in to cleaning.
1. Coconut brooms
The earliest cleaning equipment is broom made out of coconut leaves. The central stem of the healthy and long leaves is used to make the broom. Mostly while coconuts are plucked thandan will cut 3 or 4 outer matals also from the tree from which the leaves are taken. Removing the leaves from the stem is an art. The stem is called Eerkil in Malayalam. Broom is called "Chool" and in Tamil " Thudappam.
After getting sufficient stems, which could well hold with in Hand, arranged for length, bottom is trimmed and tied firmly with a string. The other end is also trimmed.
These coconut brooms could not be replaced with any other substitute so far. All houses irrespective of its posh ness require one broom with in house. With all granite, marble, and fine tiles, to kill insects like Pazhuthara (Pooran), Cockroach etc which make sudden appearance, every body search for coconut brooms rather than for cleaning!!!
Lengthy Coconut brooms were once the cleaning equipment inside. Now too in houses with cement flooring coconut broom is used for cleaning. When it gets somewhere and tear after a months use it is used to clean out side and when 30% worn out it is called Kutti chool. This is used for cleaning compound and out side.
Today the kuttichool find its application in cleaning compounds, water tank, and sumps in the house.
Builders for all there use the fresh coconut brooms with a good trimming cleaning works. In practice 70% of the coconut workers use brooms and now if we require a coconut broom, we have to go to Hardware shop mostly.
2. Flower broom (Poomthudappam)
These types of brooms are made from the flowers with long stems of a variety of Palmirah type tree. It has its origin in Maharashtra and widely available in Chennai. It comes with convenient length, and best suited for polished floors like Granite and Marble and tiles.
This broom sweeps away the tiny dusts too. However the lacuna is it cannot be used for outside compound cleaning or street cleaning or even more wastes areas like a marriage hall. The flower broom will simply break. The life period is approximately three months. Once used it has to be thrown away.
The broom is available in different forms. The one fixed with wooden handle and flowers stitched to bottom fitting is more suitable for offices, shops, hospitals etc.
3. Fibre brooms
For toilet cleaning an experimented model of fibre brooms are available. It looks neat and tidy but suitable only for bathroom. It is lengthy and only about 2 feet in length.
4. Chooral brooms
The brooms made by using split choral for cleaning fitted with long handle and stitched to bottom of a handle and spreaded for above one foot is mostly used by Muncipal workers to remove rough objects from the streets put as waste from our houses. Though costly, it is convenient and some times available in shops also.
5. Fibre brooms with long handle for cleaning
In markets now a day available fibre brooms with long handle, fibre fitted in a similar fashion like choral broom. I have purchased this for use, but found not as good as choral broom.
6. Fibre and Nylon brushed brooms
In markets now a day available fibre and Nylon bushed brooms with long handle, Brush made to size of 8"x 2" is fitted to a long handle. I have purchased this for use, and found excellent for granite, marble and tiled floorings. When lady servant is not available I make use of it. But it can be used only for cleaning floor. Not for lofts or cupboards.
7. Universal coconut broom
Like universal port and adapter of my laptop, coconut broom find application every where. Good quality coconut brooms can be used in granite flooring also.
8. What broom used before sage Viswamithra
I have read coconut tree is the invention of sage Viswamithra. Before him generations were there. I get a doubt what was the material used earlier to him.
9. Keeping brooms
Though broom is doing all cleaning, still broom is a favour of Alakshmi. Alakshmi is the elder sister of Lakshmi. Lakshmi appeared along with nectar. Alakshmi appeared along with Kalakooda poison. Keeping brooms in the front of house is felt inauspicious. Normally brooms are kept by the inner side of door in work area for inside use and at the back side for outside use.
Some keep broom inside a shelf below wash basin.
10. Alakshmi in House
Whatever it is one good quality coconut broom will be available in a convenient access position. There is saying there is no Lekshmi with out Alekshmi. Suddham is there if asuddham is cleared. Darkness getting cleared is light. We have to make some provision for Alekshmi also every where.
11. Cobweb stick
Cobweb stick is a close cousin of broom. To remove the cobweb it is essential and no house can be with out having co web. Earlier cobweb stick was sold through streets. It is normally made out of coconut fibre fitted to top of a bamboo stick. Now a day fibre has changed to nylon and stick has changed to aluminum with flexibility of adjusting length. This is more handy and nice looking comparing to old model. But it is more fragile.
12. Muram
Muram is an essential item. However it is of two types One for spreading things for drying. Normally chillies, dhalls, etc for drying are kept on it. This type of muram square in shape and made of cut Panambu or chooral is made use by sasthrikals too. For many samskaras this type of muram is essential.
It is the other type, smaller and one side slope is used for cleaning. Now a day this type of muram is available in plastic, fibre and metal. The metal ones made steel are the best. Next come fibre type. The waste cleaned with brooms has to be taken in Muram for taking to out side. Hence Muram is an essential companion with broom. One special broom and muram has to be kept, inside, best being in our new houses in the cabin below wash basin.
13. Sakunam and direction
Both Muram and broom are bad omen. There is a saying brooms should not be grouped. Quarrels will be there in the house. Muram also should not be kept slanting.
But irrespective of position of Muram and broom, quarrels do occur in a family. It is because of Alekshmi. These aggravate the quarrels. So it is preferable to keep them separate and not slanting the muram.
14. Dust bin and mop.
In olden days the dustbin idea was not there. Moping was done with cloth. Now ready made mops are available in shops. Dust bins of different models also. We make now day rooms neat by keeping waste things in waste box. The municipality collects waste and dispose, in Chennai. Every day they come in morning, collect wastes and they are given a monthly charge.
15. Keeping cleaning items
Now a day with flat system and neat houses, where to keep these things is and make an asthetic look is a problem. Bed rooms, dining rooms, Halls are barred to keep these. The only area is work area, which too now our women want to keep neat to look. The mop, cobweb stick, outside cleaning and tank cleaning coconut brooms… If outside has to look neat, then where to keep these cleaning items? ….
I have made a cup board in the 1st floor below a stair case. It has partially solved the problem. But it is inconvenient every time to go , open and take and specially keep back.
Cerebrospinal fluid definition
Cerebrospinal fluid is a clear, watery substance that flows around the brain and spinal cord, protecting and insulating these structures.
Cerebrospinal fluid assists the supply of nutrients to the brain, and it assists in the disposal of waste substances.
A blockage in cerebrospinal fluid flow, as may occur with a blood clot, congenital structural abnormalities, or certain infections, can result in serious complications, such as hydrocephalus.
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Cerebrospinal fluid assists the supply of nutrients to the brain, and it assists in the disposal of waste substances.
A blockage in cerebrospinal fluid flow, as may occur with a blood clot, congenital structural abnormalities, or certain infections, can result in serious complications, such as hydrocephalus.
The Big Move
This week, I was graciously invited to join the Southern Fried Science blog network. I accepted, and so will be relocating to www.cephalove.southernfriedscience.com . All of the old posts have been copied to that site, and no new posts will show up here. Im sorry if this is a hassle for all of you generous souls who link to me, but please continue to link to me at my new and improved location!
Thanks so much to all of my readers, and those of you who put up with my rambling comments on your own blogs. If there is one reason I have enjoyed blogging, its your feedback and encouragement.
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Thanks so much to all of my readers, and those of you who put up with my rambling comments on your own blogs. If there is one reason I have enjoyed blogging, its your feedback and encouragement.
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