Cape Breton's Magazine

A PAIR OF STOCK SKATES, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 Alex made the blocks from ash. He roughed out the shape with an axe and then whit? tled the form he wsuited. The blocks of stock skates are like a boat, the blades the keel. The blocks are much narrower than the foot that rides them, and continue to taper to the blade. They are made so that there is the least chance of wood touch? ing the ice. The openings for the straps are 1" x l/4" slots, cut 5/l6" down from '4; the top of the bl,ock. He first drilled three holes in from each side with a 3/4" " drill, then chiseled out the slot. He worked from both sides toward the center, and once open he ran a hot bar of metal through the slot. He finished the three slots, then turned the block bottom up in the vice, drew a line down the center, sawed on the line to get started • then chiseled.out a slot to receive the feathered edge of the blade. He chipped a space wide enough at the heel to set the screw hole flush with the wood. There are a number of ways of attaching the blade to the block. The block could have been drilled through from side to side and a pin driven the hump on the blade, but Alex felt a tighter job could be had by drilling two tiny holes down from the top, putting a strong wire through the hole in the hump and feeding the ends up through the tiny holes. He gripped the wires in pliers, ptilling up and twisting them toge? ther, drawing the blade tight. He drove the wires into the wood. Then he put in the screw at the heel. Qualified Dispensers Always in Attendance OWL DRUG STORE D. I. MacDonald, Propo Your Northside DOROTHY GRAY DISTRIBUTOR Convalescent and Sick Room Supplies , Sales & Rental Drug Sundries and Cosmetics P,0,Box 125 794-3611 North Sydney ALWAYS AT YOUR SERVICE Cape.Breton's Magazine/20 CHICKEN CHALET frkA 'ijip-''. 4 outlets to serve you- Blowers SL, North Sydney Sydney Shopping Centre, Prince St Sterling Road, Glace Bay CB. Shopping Plaza, Sydney River 794-3534 564-6322 849-6689 564-6646