A. Weight, 15 pounds 8 ounces. Covering power, 53 square yards. Q. What kind of varnishes are used for interior work on hard wood? A. Copal, hard oil finish, and many interior varnishes manufactured by different firms. Q. What varnishes are used for work exposed to the weather? A. Spar varnish and coach varnish. Q. What is meant by "fat paint,” and what causes it to become so? A. Paint becomes "fat" if left too long exposed to the air in an open pot, and is unfit for use. It may be reclaimed, however, if it has not been standing too long, by removing the fatty oil and paint skins from the top, and thinning with a little turpentine and linseed oil. Q. Describe the process of making common putty, and red lead putty. A. Common putty is made of Spanish whiting and linseed oil. White lead putty, by mixing white lead, ground in oil, with Spanish whiting or dry white lead. Red lead putty, by mixing dry red lead with linseed oil. A little Japan drier should be added to each of the above; the quantity of dry material, and oil, is governed by the consistency desired. Q. Describe the process of applying gold-leaf. A. See page 751. Q. Describe the proper care of paint brushes after use. Q. Describe the method of softening hard paint brushes. A. Stand the brushes about 10 hours in soft soap and clean them in warm water, after which clean in benzine and turpentine. Brushes that are very hard and dry can be softened by suspending the bristles about 10 hours in a solution of one part but soda to three parts water; the solution must be kept warm, not too hot, as this would spoil the bristles; a temperature which the hand can bear will be about right. After this clean with warm water and soap, and finally clean with benzine or spirits of turpentine. Q. Describe the process of finishing hard wood, such as oak and mahogany furniture. A. See pages 727 and 754. Q. How is Portland cement mortar mixed? A. One part cement to two parts of sand mixed with fresh water. This is to be mixed in small quantities to prevent settling prior to application, and in general should be mixed as wet as can be worked under the trowel. Q. How should iron or steel surfaces be prepared before applying Portland cement? A. Thoroughly cleaned down to the bare metal, and care should be taken to clean off all oil, dirt, paint, scale and other foreign matter. Q. In what places aboard ship is Portland cement generally used? A. As a base for tiling, places difficult to access in stem casting around shaft tubes, pockets in deck landings on stem casting, the space between bounding angles and corrugated divisional bulkheads, the pockets of staples in the seamen's head, in built-in ash and garbage chutes, and in general where structural arrangements form small pockets which are inaccessible or will not drain by gravity. Q. When a space of considerable depth is to be filled, what other substance is used in connection with cement? A. In confined spaces where filling has a depth over three inches, coke crushed to small size is used as a bottom filling. A thin coat, about 1 inch thick, of cement mortar, is first put on, the coke is then mixed with a thin cement mortar, and the space filled, leaving 1 inch at the top, which is then finished off with a 1-inch coat of fresh mixed cement mortar, sufficiently stiff to be troweled to a surface. For further data on Portland cement, see text page 732. Q. Where is asphalt cement used? A. To fill in spaces which are subject to vibration, such as between shell and shaft tube, bottom of chain lockers, etc. Q. How should the surface be prepared before applying asphalt cement? A. Thoroughly cleaned and given a coat of asphalt priming (formula No. 58). Q. What is cork paint and why is it used? A. Cork paint is pulverized cork held on to the surface by a sizing over which paint is applied in the usual manner. Cork paint is applied only to such interior surfaces in living quarters, storerooms, magazines, etc., as are directly exposed to chilling by conduction through metal from the action of wind or water, or where sweating would occur due to opposite extremes in temperature. Q. Describe the process of applying cork paint. A. See page 725. Q. Describe the method of cleaning and repolishing metal furniture. A. See page 728. Q. What precautions should be taken to prevent lead poisoning? A. See page 736. Q. Describe the operation of laying linoleum. A. See page 29. Q. Describe the operation of laying tiling. A. See page 764. CHAPTER VIII. PROMOTION IN ARTIFICER BRANCH. Many more opportunities for promotion are offered young, progressive mechanics in the artificer branch of the Navy than they would ever obtain in civil life. This is true because the number of vacancies in positions above the lower ratings in the service are so much greater, in proportion to the available, competent men to fill them, than is found in civil establishments. A man to gain this promotion, however, must first prove himself worthy of it. This is done by striving to do your work well, by diligently and zealously performing your duties, by a strict observance of the rules and regulations of the Navy, and by unqualified obedience of the orders of your superior officers. The following are the ratings, beginning with the lowest, and their respective rates of pay: Carpenter's mate, 1st class.. Chief carpenter's mate, acting appointment 44.00 per month. 55.00 per month. Men are required to serve a probationary term of one year in each rating, after which they are entitled to be advanced with an acting appointment to the next higher rating, provided, however, that their proficiency, obedience and general deportment show that they deserve such promotion. QUALIFICATIONS FOR CHIEF CARPENTER'S MATE. The following are the qualifications necessary for a chief carpenter's mate to receive a permanent appointment: He should be able to read and write English and have some knowledge of arithmetic. He should have been in the service for a period of not less than three years. He should be an excellent mechanic, thoroughly familiar with all wood-working repairs generally required on board ship, and be fairly well acquainted with ship construction. He should have sufficient knowledge of the pumping and drainage to pump compartments. He should have a fair knowledge of the steam steering engine, and be thoroughly familiar with the capstan, windlass and deck winches, and be able to operate same. He should know what valves to close when the drydock is being flooded preparatory to a vessel being taken out. He should be well posted on the care of air ports, manholes, battle hatches and water-tight doors. He should have sufficient knowledge of stores to enable him to exercise full care of them. |