Page 457

FURNITURE AND FIREPLACE FITTINGS
rivets are hammered tight the asbestos
will be pressed in hard between the metal
joints, making the hood absolutely tight.
A 2-inch angle iron is fitted all around the
fireplace opening and the hood is set into
this frame and screwed through it to the
brick. The edge of the hood is reinforced
by a similar iron, and if a touch of deco-
ration is required an embossed pattern
may be hammered at the top of each of the
side panels.
  This hood is intended for a very large
fireplace opening of the kind that is com-
ing more and more into use, but it can be
made to fit any sized opening quite as well.
We have given no dimensions, because in
each case the hood is to be fitted to the
particular fireplace for which it is made,
but this design can be adapted to almost
any size or shape, the hood, of course,
being either fastened to the chimneypiece
above, or made shorter to fit a lower open-
ing. A similar latitude may be used in
making the andirons, which also in this
case are intended for a large fireplace.
They can be made quite as easily with the
dimensions all reduced in proportion. The
extra long poker and shovel are, of course,
for use in a fireplace where the heat is
radiated from the hood to such a degrec
that it is not comfortable to stand very
close to it or to brush against it in mend-
ing the fire. If the hood were merely
fastened to the brick or stone of the
chimneypiece above the fireplace opening,
it would not radiate so much heat, and the
ordinary length of shovel and poker could
quite as well be used, although these long
FIREPLACE FITTINGS.
ones are much more decorative as adjuncts
to a fireplace large enough to take in good-
sized logs.
  To finish the surface of the iron and
prevent it from rusting, the best and sim-
plest method is to clean off the roughest
part of the surface with an emery cloth
and then rub over the whole piece with a
cloth dipped in prepared floor wax. Let
this wax burn into the metal as it will
and when the iron shows signs of rusting
clean off the worst of the rust with the
emery cloth and give the piece another
coat of wax. It is not advisable to take
off the rust entirely, because under the
wax treatment it adds great charm to the
color of the iron.