| How to Make a Play Telephone Posted: 07 Jan 2022 04:00 PM PST Do you wish you could have your very own phone? All you have to do is follow these steps to learn how to make your own tin can and string (or cup and string) telephone. This craft also makes for a good science project to learn about how sound travels. - Get a piece of string and two empty cans (preferably soup cans). If you don't have cans or you don't want to work with them, you can also use cups (preferably plastic),such as the ones shown here. Plastic is a little easier to work with than metal. Styrofoam cups do not work well because they are soft and spongy and absorb sound instead of transmitting it. In a pinch, you can use disposable paper cups, but plastic and metal take more wear-and-tear.
- Punch a hole at the bottom of each can just small enough for string to fit through. You might need your parents or teacher to help with this. You can make the hole with a drill, hammer and a nail, or some other sharp, pointed tool. If you are using plastic cups, you can probably just poke a hole with a push pin or any other sharp point. Make the holes only large enough to put the string through and no larger.
- Pass the string through the hole and into the bottom of one can or cup. It might help to push the string through with the end of a paper clip or thread it through with a bit of wire.
- Tie a knot in the end of the string that is inside the cup. When you're done, pull the string tight so the knot rests in the bottom of the can. You can tie the string around a little piece of a toothpick if you can't get it to stay with just a knot.
- Place the untied end of the string through the bottom of the other can or cup. Tie a knot, as before, and pull the string tight.
- Get a partner.
- Place the open end of one can over your ear and have your partner speak into the open end of the other can. Make the string as tight as you can. If you've made it correctly, you should hear your friend speak, even if it is a long piece of string. Then, talk while your friend listens.
- You can hear your partner better if the string is tighter.
- Using fishing wire instead of string helps sound travel a lot better.
- Can you make "phone calls" around corners? Try it and see.
- Check your sound by speaking and having your friend speak both into and outside of the phone. Does it sound different speaking through the phone?
- Decorate and customize your cups to be more exciting.
- Use a paper clip to make phone line better so that it can vibrate more. And also make sure that the string is straight. If it is not, pull hard but not too hard to snap. If it snaps, tie a knot together to work again.
- Try a three-way call (two strings from one can).
- You can decorate it like a real cell phone, if you want.
- Get 2 tin cans and a piece of string and stick the string on the ends of the tins and it is done!
[Edit]Warnings - Try to use cans that do not have a sharp edge where the lid of the can was removed.
- Be careful when you punch the hole in the can.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Piece of string
- 2 clean food (soup) cans (empty) or cups.
- Tool for creating holes
[Edit]Related wikiHows |
| How to Make Tomato Soup Posted: 07 Jan 2022 08:00 AM PST Tomato soup is a healthy, low-calorie comfort food. It is also a great way to warm up on a rainy day and it goes perfectly with grilled cheese sandwiches or Parmesan crisps. This recipe is for soup made from tomatoes that are roasted, then stewed and pureed. [Edit]Ingredients - 2 pounds tomatoes
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 large onion
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 quart chicken or vegetable stock
- salt and pepper to taste
[Edit]Peeling the Tomatoes - Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Fill the pot about halfway with water, then place it on a burner over high heat and allow it to come to a full boil.
- Cut an "x" shape into the tomatoes. Use a sharp knife to cut an "x" on the tops or bottoms of the tomatoes. It's not necessary to cut too deep - just pierce the skin. This will make it easy to peel off the skin after the tomatoes have been blanched.
- Blanch the tomatoes. Drop a few tomatoes into the boiling water. Let them blanch for about 30 seconds. Remove the tomatoes and place them on a cutting board to cool. Repeat with the remaining tomatoes.
- Don't leave the tomatoes in the water too long. Blanching loosens their skins, but leaving them in the pot for more than 30 seconds will cause them to actually start cooking, which will make them lose their flavor.
- Be careful when removing the tomatoes from the boiling water. The best tools to use are tongs or a large slotted spoon.
- Peel the tomatoes. Take a cooled tomato and insert your finger under the skin where you cut the "x." Pull on the skin to peel it away in large strips. Continue until all the skin has been removed. Repeat with the remaining tomatoes, and discard the skin.
[Edit]Roasting the Vegetables - Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Cut the vegetables into large slices. Cut up the peeled tomatoes, the bell pepper, and the onion. There's no need to make the slices even or bite-sized, since they will be pureed at a later stage.
- Toss the vegetables with oil. Place the cut vegetables into a large bowl. Add the garlic and the sprigs of thyme. Pour the oil over the vegetables and use two large spoons to toss the ingredients together until all of the vegetables are coated in a thin layer of oil.
- Place the vegetables on a baking sheet. Spread them evenly so that each piece is touching the baking sheet, which will ensure that they each caramelize a bit. Arrange the thyme sprigs evenly around the vegetables.
- Roast the vegetables for 30 minutes. Place the baking sheet in the oven and let the vegetables cook. The tomatoes will release a fair amount of juice, which you might hear boiling over the rim of the baking sheet and sizzling in the oven. Let the vegetables keep cooking until the onions are slightly brown on top.
[Edit]Combining the Vegetables and Stock - Transfer the roasted vegetables into a large stockpot. Use a spatula to help you scoop the tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic and thyme into the pot. Transfer all the juices, too.
- Add the stock. Pour the quart of chicken or vegetable stock over the vegetables. If you like thicker tomato soup, you can scale back the stock by 1/2 cup. For thinner soup, add 1/2 cup water to the stock.
- Season the soup and let it simmer. Taste the soup and add a pinch of salt and pepper. Place the pot on a burner and turn the heat to medium. Let the flavors simmer together for 30 minutes. Taste the soup again and adjust the seasonings if necessary.
[Edit]Finishing the Soup - Puree the soup. Working in small batches, transfer the soup to a blender. Puree it until it's smooth in consistency. Pour the pureed soup into a separate container, then puree another batch. Continue until the entire pot of soup has been pureed, then transfer it back into the soup pot so you can keep it warm.
- If you like chunks of tomatoes in your soup, reserve half the soup and puree the rest. Combine the unblended soup with the pureed soup in the original soup pot.
- If you have a stick blender, you may find it easier to puree the soup using that rather than transferring it to a standard blender.
- Serve the soup. Ladle the soup into serving bowls. If desired, garnish it with a dollop of sour cream, a sprinkle of croutons or cheddar cheese, or simply eat it plain.
- If you're not ready to eat the soup immediately, you can also can the soup and save it for later.
- Use heirloom tomatoes for a better taste and flavor in your soup.
- Depending on the age and variety of tomatoes used, the amount of salt should be varied.
[Edit]Related wikiHows
[Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Unclog a Bathtub Drain Posted: 07 Jan 2022 12:00 AM PST A clogged bathtub is frustrating, especially when you want to hop in the shower or take a bath. Fortunately, you may not need to call a plumber to fix your problem. There are several tricks you can use to unclog your bathtub on your own using products you can find at home or the store. [Edit]Using Baking Soda and Boiling Water - Clean the strainer or stopper. You will find that hair and soap residue may have accumulated underneath the strainer or stopper, which is located in or over the drain. Remove any screws securing the strainer, and remove the stopper by twisting and lifting it.[1] Scrub any gunk or hair that has accumulated.
- Boil water in a tea kettle. Fill the kettle to the top with water, since there's no exact measurement of how much water you should use. Allow the water to come to a boil. You can use a large pot to boil water if you do not have a tea kettle.
- Pour the boiling water directly into the drain. This may instantly unclog the drain. Remember to avoid splashing the hot water, as it could burn you. Now, turn on the bathtub to see if it is now draining normally.
- Pour ¼ cup of baking soda and 1 cup white vinegar into the drain. If pouring hot water into the drain did not unclog it, use baking soda and vinegar to remove excessive gunk.[2]
- Wait 15-20 minutes. Allow the baking soda and vinegar to sit for 15-20 minutes. You can use a timer to keep track of the time.\[3]
- Boil more water in the kettle. Once again, fill the kettle up with water and bring it to a boil.
- Pour hot water directly down the drain. The water will react with the baking soda and vinegar to unclog the drain. Test the bathtub to see if this method unclogged your drain, and try another method if this one did not work. Using baking soda and vinegar does not use any chemicals and generally works for small clogs, so this may not work every time.[4]
[Edit]Using a Toilet Plunger - Scrub the strainer or stopper to remove any gunk. Remove any screws securing the strainer with the proper screwdriver. Twist and lift the stopper to remove it. Scrub the strainer and stopper to remove any hair and soap scum.
- Fill the bathtub with a few inches of water. You want to fill the tub with just enough water to submerge the plunger; water is how the plunger gets suction.[5]
- Use the plunger to suction out any obstructions in the drain. Place the bowl of the plunger over the drain, and press and pull it rapidly.[6] You will have to use some force here, and be careful—you may get splashed. Most likely, dirty water and gunk will rush out of the drain while you are plunging it.
- After about 10 plunges, check to see if there is dirty water and gunk coming out of the drain.
- Consider adding more force if nothing is coming out of the drain.
- Keep plunging until the water drains when you remove the plunger.
- If no obstructions are coming out of the drain, you may need to use a different method.
[Edit]Using a Drain Claw - Remove the strainer. Hair and soap often accumulate underneath the strainer, which is located in or over the drain. Though many strainers can be removed manually, some have screws that will need to be removed, too. Remove the screws with the proper screwdriver.
- If you do not know which type of screwdriver to use, match the screwdriver to the screw head.[7]
- The size and shape of the screwdriver head should easily fit into the screw.
- Turn each screw surrounding the strainer until all are loose. Then, place the screws in a safe location while you unclog the drain.
- Remove the stopper. Some drains have tub stoppers instead of strainers, and these are also located in the drain. These are easier to remove because they are not held down with any screws. Simply remove the stopper by twisting and lifting it.[8]
- Remove excessive gunk around the strainer and stopper. A lot of gunk may have accumulated on the strainer or stopper over time. Clean any hair or soap scum; you may have to scrub the strainer and stopper depending on how dirty they are.
- Insert the drain stick down the drain. When the drain stick is inserted deep enough, it will hit a drain trap, which is a curved part of the drain.[9] Keep pushing the drain stick through this trap. The stick is flexible and will bend.
- Pull out the drain stick. The claw has many small interlocking hooks, so it will grab hair and allow you to pull gunk out. Clean the gunk off of the drain stick if you want to save it to use again in the future. Hair and soap can build up in as little as a few months, so having a drain stick often comes in handy.
- Test the bathtub to see if it is unclogged. Water should now go down the drain properly. If this method did not work, try another method.
- Replace the cover or stopper the same way that you removed it. If the drain claw worked, you can now replace your strainer or stopper. Strainers will need to be screwed back onto the top of the drain, whereas you can just place the stopper back in the drain.
[Edit]Using Chemical Drain Cleaners - Buy a chemical drain cleaner from the store. Chemical drain cleaners unclog drains with chemicals such as potassium hydroxide or sulfuric acid.[10] When properly used, they will clear most drain clogs. Choose a type of drain cleaner from your local hardware or discount department store.
- Make sure the product is intended for your system; on the back of the cleaner, it will say what types of pipes it is suitable for.
- Buy a product intended specifically for bathtubs.
- If you are confused about where the cleaners are located or which one to buy, ask an employee for help.
- Read the instructions on the back of the cleaner. These are the manufacturer's instructions, and all drain cleaners will have slightly different ones. Some may require you to wear protective goggles, pour in only a certain amount of liquid, and so on. Reading the instructions on the back is crucial to using the chemical drain cleaner safely.
- Remove any standing water from the bathtub. You may need to use a bucket or large cup to remove any water remaining in your bathtub.
- Pour the required amount of cleaner into the bathtub drain. Drano, for example, requires you to pour half of a bottle (32 oz) down a clogged drain. On the other hand, Crystal Lye Drain Opener requires you to only pour 1 tablespoon. Be careful to not splash the chemical cleaner as you open the bottle and pour the chemicals into the drain.
- Clean up any spills immediately.
- Wear gloves at all times when handling any chemicals.
- Wait for results. Many cleaners say 15-30 minutes will suffice, so let the chemicals sit in the drain for this amount of time. Set a timer to accurately keep track of time.
- Flush the drain with cold water. The drain should be working after you have waited 15-30 minutes. Turn on the cold water faucet in the bathtub, and the water should immediately disappear down the drain.
- Contact a professional plumber if the drain has not been cleared. Mixing different chemicals can be dangerous, so do not try a different chemical cleaner if the first has not cleared the bathtub drain. At this point, you should call a professional plumber for assistance.
[Edit]Cleaning Strainers and Stoppers - Remove the strainer. The buildup of gunk on strainers and stoppers often causes slow drainage. Remove any screws around the strainer with the proper screwdriver. Then, place the screws in a safe location while you clean the strainer. Stopper are easier to remove because they are not held down with any screws, so simply remove the stopper by twisting and lifting it.[11]
- Most bathtub drains have either a strainer or a stopper.
- This method is usually effective on small clogs, so if your drain is badly clogged, it may not be as effective.
- Clean excessive gunk around the strainer and stopper. A lot of gunk may have accumulated on the strainer or stopper. Clean any hair or soap scum; you may have to scrub the strainer and stopper.
- Replace the cover or stopper the same way you removed it. Strainers will need to be re-screwed back onto the top of the drain, whereas you can just place the stopper back in the drain.
- See if it worked. Turn on your bathtub to see if the drain now works properly. If not, you will need to try another method.
- Use rubber gloves when working with the drain.
- Avoiding mixing many chemicals together. This could be dangerous.
- A straightened-out paperclip can be used as a substitute for a drain claw, but it is trickier to manage.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Toilet plunger
- Bucket
- Screwdriver
- Drain stick
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Salt
- Cold water
- Chemical cleaner
- Rubber gloves
- Kettle
[Edit]Warnings - If you use a liquid drain cleaner, and the drain is still clogged, be sure to tell your plumber, so that they can take the appropriate precautions.
- If you should use a liquid drain cleaner, wait a few hours before you decide to take a bath. Remnants of the drain cleaner can seep up from the drain and into your bathwater. Flush the drain well with clear water.
- Use care when handling any liquid drain cleaners. They contain chemicals that can burn your skin.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary Video |
| How to Fix a Bicycle Wheel Posted: 06 Jan 2022 04:00 PM PST Over time, bike wheels will start to wear and require maintenance to keep them safe to ride. If your wheel doesn't spin well, then you may need to adjust the cones and bearings to make your ride smoother. When your rim is bent or it wobbles, you can tighten and loosen the spokes to straighten, or "true," it. If one of your spokes breaks, installing a replacement is necessary before you can ride it again. Once you fix your bike, you'll be able to ride it again! [Edit]Adjusting the Cones - Take the wheel off of the frame. Disconnect the brakes on the wheel you're removing so it doesn't get stuck. Turn your bike upside-down so you can easily access the tire. Find the screw in the middle of the wheel's axle and rotate it counterclockwise by hand to loosen it from the wheel. Once the screw is loose, pull it out from the frame to remove it.[1]
- Set the handlebars on a towel if you're worried about them getting scratched.
- If you're removing the back wheel, you may have to disconnect the chain.
- Loosen the locknut from the wheel's axle. Look in the center of the bike wheel and locate the hexagonal locknut attached to the axle. Grip the nut with an open end wrench and hold the axle in place with another wrench. Rotate the locknut counterclockwise by 2-3 full turns.[2]
- Many bike multi-tools have open end wrenches on them.
- If you're adjusting the cone on the rear wheel, choose the side of the wheel opposite of the gears.
- Use a cone wrench to tighten or loosen the cone. The cone is the piece attached to the axle between the locknut and the bearings. Grip the body of the cone with a cone wrench and rotate it clockwise if your wheel spins too easily or counterclockwise if it's difficult to spin. Only rotate the cone by a quarter turn at a time so you don't accidentally make it too tight or loose.[3]
- You can buy a cone wrench from a sporting goods store or a bike shop.
- Make sure you use a cone wrench that matches the size of your cone or else you may not be able to make your adjustment.
- Check if the wheel spins smoothly. Set the wheel back in the frame and spin it to see how smoothly it rotates. If your wheel is still too sticky or loose, take it out of the frame and adjust the cone again until it spins correctly.[4]
- Always make your adjustments a quarter turn at a time so you don't damage the bearings or cones.
- Tighten the locknut back against the cone. Once you have your adjustment just right, turn the locknut clockwise by hand until it presses up against the cone or spacer. When the locknut is hand-tight, hold the cone in place with your cone wrench and tighten the locknut by an eighth turn to secure it.[5]
[Edit]Truing Your Bike Wheel - Locate the bend in the rim. Turn your bike upside-down so you can easily access and spin the wheels. Spin the wheel slowly and watch near the brakes to see how far the rim is bent away from them. Make note of the area where the bend is the largest by attaching a piece of tape to the nearest spoke.[6]
- Leave your wheel on your bike frame so you can easily spin it and see where the bend is.
- If your rim is severely bent and you can't spin it in the frame, you will need to replace it.
- Tighten the spokes on the opposite side as the bend. Determine whether the rim is bent toward the left or the right. If the rim is bending toward the right, then find the spoke closest to the bend that's on the left side of the wheel. Grip the spoke with a spoke wrench and rotate it counterclockwise to tighten it. Only tighten it by a half turn at a time so you don't damage it.[7]
- You can get a spoke wrench from a sporting goods store, a bike shop, or online.
- Don't force the spoke if it doesn't rotate or spin since you could break it.
- Loosen the spokes that are on the same side as the bend. If the rim bends to the right, then locate the 1-2 closest spokes to the bend. Grip anywhere on the spokes with your spoke wrench and turn them clockwise to loosen them. Only rotate the spokes by a half turn at a time so you don't over-adjust.[8]
- Make sure all of your spokes have an even amount of tension or else your rim will be crooked.
- Spin the wheel to see if it rotates smoothly. As you adjust the spokes, rotate the wheel and watch how far the rim bends away from the brakes. Tightening and loosening the spokes near the bend will straighten out the rim so you can ride it safely again. Keep making any adjustments until the wheel doesn't bend anymore.[9]
- Take your bike or wheel into a bike shop after you fix it to make sure the rim is still safe to ride.
[Edit]Replacing a Broken Spoke - Take the wheel off of your bike. Disconnect the brakes from the wheel you're removing. Flip your bike upside-down and set it down on the saddle and handlebars. Locate the screw in the middle of the wheel and turn it counterclockwise by hand to loosen it. Pull the screw out of the wheel and then pull the wheel out of the bike frame.[10]
- If you're fixing a spoke on the rear wheel, then you also need to remove the gear cassette.
- Remove the tire, tube, and rim tape from the wheel. Let out all the air from the tie by pressing down on the tire valve. Once it's deflated, shimmy a tire lever between the tire and the rim. Pull the tire lever down to pop the tire and tube out of the rim, and then pull it off of the tire by hand. Locate the strip of rim tape on the inside of the rim and pull it off to remove it.[11]
- Don't try to remove the tire when the tube is still inflated since you could pop or damage it.
- Pull the broken spoke out from the wheel. Locate where the spoke connects to the outside of the rim and use a screwdriver to remove the nipple, which is the piece holding the end of the spoke in place. Then grab the spoke near the center of the wheel and pull it toward the center. The spoke will easily slide out from the holes when you remove it. Throw the old spoke away since you can't use it anymore.[12]
- Some spokes are straight while others what a J-shaped hook. If the spoke has a hook on the end, be careful when you remove it so it doesn't accidentally catch on other spokes.
- Thread the new spoke through the holes onto the rim. Put the threaded end of the spoke through the hole closest to the center of the wheel. Look at the pattern of your spokes to see if the new spoke needs to go over or under other spokes while you're threading it in. Guide the threaded end of the spoke through the hole on the outside of the rim.[13]
- You can buy new spokes from bike repair shops or sporting goods stores.
- Make sure the spoke you have is the same length and style as the old one or else it won't fit your bike properly.
- Screw the spoke nipple onto the threaded end of the spoke. Feed the threaded end of the spoke onto the nipple and guide the nipple through the hole in the rim. Rotate the nipple clockwise by hand to tighten it and secure it to the spoke. Once the nipple is hand-tight, use a screwdriver to spin it a quarter turn so you don't overtighten it.[14]
- Use the spoke nipple from the old spoke so you don't have to buy a new one.
- Tighten the spoke nipple with a spoke wrench to add tension to it. Grip the end of the spoke nipple sticking out from the rim with your spoke wrench and rotate it clockwise to tighten it. Compare the tension on the new spoke with the other spokes near it and keep adjusting until they feel the same.[15]
- You can also grab the spoke directly if it's easier than the spoke nipple.
- Put the rim tape, tube, and tire back onto the bike. Apply a layer of rim tape around the outside of the rim so the ends of the spokes don't damage the tube and tire. Slightly inflate the tube before threading it into the tire. Line up the valve stem on the tire with the hole on the rim and push the tire and tube back onto the wheel. Inflate the tube again to secure it in place.[16]
- You can buy rim tape from a bike shop or sporting goods store.
- Keep a bike multi-tool handy since they have many of the tools you'll need during repairs.
[Edit]Warnings - Even if you made the fix yourself, have the wheel checked at a bicycle repair shop to see if it's still safe to ride.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Adjusting the Cones - Open end wrench
- Cone wrench
[Edit]Truing Your Bike Wheel [Edit]Replacing a Spoke - Wrench
- Tire lever
- Screwdriver
- Spoke
- Spoke nipple
- Spoke wrench
- Rim tape
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
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