Laboratory and Shop Notes
Alvin Muilenburg, C.P., C.O. *
A Column of Practical Ideas
Fig. 1
Contributing Editors, Alvin L. Muilenburg, Chairman; G.E. Snell, C.O. Anderson, Erich Hanicke, Joseph Martino.
A convenient and economical item for shop safety has been suggested by Joseph Martino, United Limb & Brace Co. It is a protective mask that can be used while grinding wood neoprene or any other material. It is of light weight aluminum with a gauze pad and adjustable elastic. The masks with a couple of refills cost 30c each and the refills can be purchased separately for S2.50 per hundred. Source of supply: Martindale Electric Co. Box 617 Edgewater Branch, Cleveland 7. Ohio.
A helpful suggestion for aid in lamination procedures was received from Alvin Norell, Fit-well Artificial Uimb Co. Adding a little white pigment to the resin with regular Caucasian leg color will eliminate the problem of dark and light areas of wood showing through the lamination.
Mr. Norell also suggests the purchase of used vacuum cleaners to be attached to sanders and grinders. At a second hand store he was able to purchase a half dozen at $2 each, He found it easy to install one on each machine. The vacuum is turned by the same switch as the machine.
Nylon leather coating frequently peels if not properly applied. James McFarlen, J.E. Hanger Co., Dallas, stales that healing both the leather and the nylon liquid in an oven before applying will eliminate this problem.
Richard Locke, J.E. Hanger Co., Orlando, Fla., offers this very helpful information. Smoothing the edges of a plastic lamination is made relatively simple by using a hard felt cone on a high speed arbor or flexible shaft. Buffing with this cone after sanding the edges will make a very smooth surface. He states that Southern Prosthetics have a cone for this purpose in stock.
Our comments concerning taking a cast of the inside of a socket inspired a suggestion from Norm Nelson, Minneapolis Artificial Limb Co. They no longer grease the inside of a socket but use a prophylactic which stretches easily as it is filled with plaster. This is especially helpful when taking a cast of leather sockets and foot build-ups.
These are the contributions we have to date. We hope that we will hear from many of you very soon.
|
